{"id":43945,"date":"2025-07-03T10:52:22","date_gmt":"2025-07-03T14:52:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/?p=43945"},"modified":"2025-07-03T10:52:22","modified_gmt":"2025-07-03T14:52:22","slug":"doomscrolling-and-news-anxiety-understanding-their-impact-on-your-mental-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/doomscrolling-and-news-anxiety-understanding-their-impact-on-your-mental-health\/","title":{"rendered":"Doomscrolling and News Anxiety: Understanding Their Impact on Your Mental Health\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"person Absorbing the constant stream of startling headlines, news sources, political tensions, and global issues can feel overwhelming some days \u2013\u2013 but we often can\u2019t look away. If this sounds like you, you\u2019re 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\u2019s constant information flow, this guide helps you recognize your doomscrolling habits and protect your well-being.<\/span><\/p>\n

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What Is Doomscrolling?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Do you find yourself scrolling through headline after news clip after social post that highlights distressing news, even when you know you\u2019re tired or overwhelmed? Many people make doomscrolling a part of their daily life, but it\u2019s taking a toll on our mental health as a society. Defined as constantly consuming distressing news, \u201cdoomscrolling\u201d happens because upsetting news triggers your brain\u2019s tendency to scan for danger and remain hypervigilant, even when your mental health is hurting.<\/span><\/p>\n

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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 <\/span>political and cultural landscapes<\/span><\/a> continue to experience tensions and distress, protecting your mental health becomes that much more important.<\/span><\/p>\n

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News Overwhelm: The Mental Health Effects of Doomscrolling<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Our self-preservation instinct to absorb more and more news is natural, but that doesn\u2019t mean it isn\u2019t unhealthy if left unchecked. Doomscrolling has proven impacts on society\u2019s mental health, and this issue is growing year by year. A recent <\/span>American <\/span>Psychiatric<\/span> Association study found that in 2024, 43% of adults felt more anxious than they did in both 2023 and 2022.<\/span><\/p>\n

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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:<\/span><\/p>\n