04/10/2026
Doomscrolling is the compulsive, repetitive consumption of negative media, primarily through electronic devices. Greenwich Hospital Clinical Psychologist Gregory Berlin, PhD, explains that doomscrolling really started to ramp up when COVID first hit. People were stuck inside their homes, searching for the latest updates.
If doomscrolling 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 Dr. Berlin. “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.”
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.
If you see something that you feel passionate about, find ways to act in real life.
“If you’re feeling this sense of doom after scrolling, ask yourself, how can I get involved? How can I be an agent of change in my community?” said Dr. Berlin. “What can I do with this energy? Because that energy can be a motivator for you to do something that might make you feel more positive.”
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