02/26/2026
If makes us feel bad, why is it so hard to stop?
“Our brains are really peculiar in that we actually seek out negative information rather than positive,” said Gregory Berlin, PhD, clinical psychologist at Greenwich Hospital. “Part of this comes from our evolutionary brain. If we feel there is a threat, the surest way to stay safe is to identify and locate that. Doomscrolling, in particular, preys on this evolutionary mindset, because we are hoping that somewhere we are going to find the glimmer that maybe things aren’t so bad.”
No one is immune from this behavior. If you have a phone, you may find yourself doomscrolling. Those who are prone to rumination, obsessive thinking and worry are especially at risk.
How do you stop once you start?
Put physical limits on your phone. You can put it on airplane mode, set a timer or rely on a screentime app that sets limits on social media use. Then find alternatives to fill that void.
That doesn’t mean you can’t stay informed or up to date. Just think about what is important to you and set some boundaries. Perhaps it’s only giving yourself 30 minutes at lunch to catch up on the news. Once that time frame is up, it’s time to focus on other things.
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