01/12/2026
DOOMscrolling: What It Is and How Itโs Damaging Your Brain & Health
Doomscrolling is the habit of endlessly scrolling through your phone or computer while consuming content that triggers fear, stress, or emotional distress. It has become so common that the term is now officially recognized by Merriam-Webster and Meanings & Definitions of English Words | Dictionary.com https://ecs.page.link/R9UCw.
Most of us have been there, telling ourselves โjust one more scrollโ and suddenly finding weโve gone deep into a rabbit hole of negative headlines and alarming content, especially during uncertain times.
What Doomscrolling Does to Your Brain
Doomscrolling doesnโt just affect your mood; it changes how your brain functions.
Repeated exposure to negative or frightening information activates the brainโs fear center (the amygdala)
This keeps the nervous system stuck in a constant fight-or-flight state
Over time, this can contribute to:
โช๏ธAnxiety and depression
โช๏ธObsessive or compulsive behaviors
โช๏ธAddictive patterns around phone use
Neuroscience shows that the human brain is naturally wired to focus on threats. From an evolutionary standpoint, this helped keep us safe, but in todayโs world, constant digital exposure overwhelms that system.
Stress, Hormones, and Long-Term Health Effects
According to a survey from the American Psychological Association, 56% of people report that regularly following the news causes significant stress.
Doomscrolling often goes far beyond casual news consumption.
Chronic exposure to stress elevates stress hormones like cortisol, which, over time, can:
๐ซ Shrink key memory centers in the brain
๐ซ Increase inflammation throughout the body
๐ซ Contribute to conditions such as:
๐ซ High blood pressure & cardiovascular disease
๐ซ Memory problems & attention issues
๐ซ Diabetes
๐ซ Anxiety & depression
The Good News: This Is Reversible
The brain is adaptable. With the right support, it can recover and function better.
Research shows that healthy lifestyle changes, including regular chiropractic care, can help improve brain and nervous system function, allowing the body to regulate stress more effectively and heal as it should.
Whatโs Next
This week, our focus will be on:
โ๏ธ How doomscrolling affects your health and relationships
โ๏ธ Practical, realistic tips to break the doomscrolling cycle
โ๏ธ Simple ways to reverse the negative effects and support your brain
Your brain was designed to thrive, not live in constant stress. Small changes can make a powerful difference.
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