Doomscrolling and News Anxiety: Understanding Their Impact on Your Mental Health 

Absorbing the constant stream of startling headlines, news sources, political tensions, and global issues can feel overwhelming some days –– but we often can’t look away. If this sounds like you, you’re not alone. Most people (83% of adults) today experience stress about the future of the U.S. and news overload. If your mental and overall health are feeling impacted by the modern age’s constant information flow, this guide helps you recognize your doomscrolling habits and protect your well-being.

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What Is Doomscrolling?

Do you find yourself scrolling through headline after news clip after social post that highlights distressing news, even when you know you’re tired or overwhelmed? Many people make doomscrolling a part of their daily life, but it’s taking a toll on our mental health as a society. Defined as constantly consuming distressing news, “doomscrolling” happens because upsetting news triggers your brain’s tendency to scan for danger and remain hypervigilant, even when your mental health is hurting.

You might already have a bad doomscrolling habit and feel its mental effects, but there are ways you can recognize and combat this behavior and better cope with news-related anxiety. As local, national, and global political and cultural landscapes continue to experience tensions and distress, protecting your mental health becomes that much more important.

News Overwhelm: The Mental Health Effects of Doomscrolling

Our self-preservation instinct to absorb more and more news is natural, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t unhealthy if left unchecked. Doomscrolling has proven impacts on society’s mental health, and this issue is growing year by year. A recent American Psychiatric Association study found that in 2024, 43% of adults felt more anxious than they did in both 2023 and 2022.

After doomscrolling, you probably feel anxious, but you might also experience other negative impacts. The following are just a few examples of ways your body reacts when you constantly consume distressing news on social media, television, and other publications:

• Sleep Procrastination: Doomscrolling in the evening can prevent you from getting enough healthy sleep as the scrolling becomes more and more unproductive and upsetting. Your mood and cognitive function might be impacted the next day.
• Worsened Social Connections: Spending significant time and energy scrolling through upsetting news can deplete your mental load, so you have less energy to recharge with friends and family.
• Less Exercise and Sunshine: When you doomscroll inside for hours on end, your body is often sedentary and does not get the exercise and vitamin D it deserves — which can impact your mood and mental well-being.

Staying informed on current events and the news is indeed important, and you might find great value in connecting with others and joining meaningful conversations on social media. Yet, we know that finding the balance between harmful habits and productive change can be challenging. If you are educated on the mental health impacts of scrolling, news coverage myths, and healthy habits for media consumption, you can prevent the negative effects of doomscrolling before they snowball.

Read More: Want to Learn More About the News Cycle and Mental Health? Read Our Guide

Myths About News Consumption and Mental Health: What to Know

You might not be able to completely escape the news, but you can be educated on how to absorb information in a productive, healthy way. As you work to stay informed about current events, keep in mind these three common myths about news consumption:

• Myth 1: Staying Informed Requires Constant Attention: You don’t have to continually consume all media to remain educated. In fact, you can be smart and thoughtful about how and when you take in the news.
• Myth 2: All News Is Complete: News headlines, articles, and stories don’t paint a complete picture. Absorb different perspectives and sources, but know that no piece of news has all the information.
• Myth 3: You Can’t Take Breaks: While it might feel like you have to be in the thick of the news each day, protect your well-being by giving yourself time to learn, space to absorb, and time to reset so you stay healthy.

With these tools, you can balance staying engaged in current events and prioritizing your mental health.

Tips for Managing News Anxiety

A stressful news event might affect you differently than it does someone else. Whether it’s wars, high gas prices, changing healthcare regulations, stories of racism and discrimination, or general violence, the news cycle can trigger different responses in different people. When you’re reading and watching news, keep these general guidelines in mind so you can protect your well-being while you stay informed:

• Be Aware of Your Limits: Taking breaks, muting news, or unfollowing distressing accounts can all help you pace yourself.
• Participate in Your Community: Make an impact by investing time, money, or resources into others for a meaningful cause.
• Use Your Voice: Speak up and act on injustices and distressing events in the world.
• Don’t Neglect Your Feelings: Learn healthy coping mechanisms for managing your feelings, and explore therapy when you need extra support.
• Protect Your Health: You can’t be the best version of yourself without prioritizing your physical, mental, spiritual, and psychological health. Find ways to foster these different components in your life.

Sometimes, news anxiety and overwhelm can feel especially personal and triggering. If you’re seeking support from someone who understands your unique experiences, identities, and feelings, GoodTherapy has a handful of culturally competent professionals prepared to help you navigate mental health challenges related to intersectional identities.

How Therapy Professionals Can Help 

As news and information continue to circulate, you might need the tools to balance being informed with staying mentally healthy. By recognizing the dangers of doomscrolling, keeping general tips in mind, and seeking professional help, you can limit doomscrolling and spend more time making a difference. 

GoodTherapy’s trusted, patient-centered therapists are prepared to help you navigate through whatever mental health needs you have, including achieving a doomscrolling detox. Find the right therapist for you through GoodTherapy and know that you are not alone: there is help for you.

External Sources:

American Psychological Association 

Harvard Health Publishing

University Hospitals

Forbes