‘Doomscrolling’ is a thing (and this is how you won't get overwhelmed by it)
In the first weeks that corona was wreaking havoc around the world, I read every push notification, refreshed every livestream, and absorbed every news article. All to know more, more, and even more about that crazy virus. Until I was completely fed up with the news after a few months. I was really struggling with all those reports. Not surprising now, because I was doomscrolling.
One after another, I've been hearing people lately say they are taking a news detox, which simply means they no longer read news, no longer watch news, and do everything possible to avoid following it. They feel miserable due to all the misery in the world, and not knowing what's going on helps. I find that quite drastic. You should be able to follow the news without feeling completely miserable, right?
By the way, it's still quite difficult to avoid consuming news. We humans naturally react to danger, and it's handy to know where that danger is coming from. But following all that news can be just as dangerous for your mental health, especially when it comes to ‘doomscrolling’.
Doom-what? Doomscrolling. News sometimes evokes feelings of fear, anger, or sadness. Because you feel this, you end up scrolling even more. That sounds just as much like going from the rain into the drizzle as it is, because ultimately it can really disrupt your mental health. Research even shows that some cases of anxiety and depression are caused by all that bad news in the world.
But what then? Because it's important to stay informed about the situation in Iran, to know how things are going in Ukraine, and not to find a surprise on your doormat in the form of a higher energy bill. Bedrock describes it very clearly: make sure you go through life a bit more optimistically. Research shows that this helps.
Developing the optimistic side of your character is of course easier said than done, and actually quite easy to do. It helps to literally get moving, for example by walking or exercising. Doing fun things with your friends is beneficial for your mood. And you might find it cheesy, but writing down every day what made you happy is a small trick with enormous results. Psychologists also confirm that people who do this look at the world more positively.
Finally, I would recommend turning off push notifications and just reading or watching the news twice a day. We used to do that too, and back then ‘doomscrolling’ didn't exist at all, which must have something to do with each other.
