The Psychology of Doomscrolling Explained

Estimated Reading Time: 7 minutes

Published on: 13 Nov 2025

Have you ever been upset about something and subconsciously grabbed your phone to scroll, just to distract yourself only to realize you are stuck in a rabbit hole of bad news, controversies and crisis.

You’re not alone. We have all been there.

What starts as a harmful scroll turns into a mental spiral. You are exposed to prolonged doomscrolling that isn’t a habit anymore; it’s a psychological trap of social media algorithms. And to break free, you need to understand the psychology behind why we can’t stop doomscrolling and how it affects us.

What Is Doomscrolling and Why Do We Do It?

Doomscrolling is late-night spiral where you keep consuming overwhelming thoughts even when it makes you feel bad. It allows the algorithm to share more relatable content and makes you feel worse. As a result, you can’t stop scrolling. Usually, it starts with a quick check on the news or social media posts. Before you know it, you are completely detached and drained from all the scrolling.

So why do we do it?

The psychology behind it is pretty simple.

psychology-of-doomscrolling

Here’s an interesting fact: Our brains are wired to pay more attention to threats. Bad news grabs our attention more than good news does. During old times, noticing danger helped us survive. Now, instead of running from predators, we’re endlessly refreshing our Instagram feeds.

Ironically, our brain is just trying to seek control over everything. When the world starts to feel uncertain or chaotic, we start craving information for clarity, even if it’s not pleasing. Our mind convinces us that staying informed will help us feel more empowered.

from-threat-response-to-doomscrolling In simple terms, we doomscroll because:

We’re looking for answers or clarity

We’re trying to soothe anxiety or stress

Social media algorithms are designed to keep us hooked

Our brains are naturally drawn to negative thoughts

Who’s Most Vulnerable and Why?

Studies showcase that a few demographics are more prone to behavioral patterns like doomscrolling, which can impact mental health and other lifestyle habits.

Gen Z and Millennials: These age groups spend most of their time online, having the highest levels of anxiety linked to social media and overconsumption.

Women: Researchers suggested that women are more emotionally impacted by distressed news and engage more in compulsive scrolling.

People with Anxiety or Depression: People with underlying mental health conditions may doom scroll as a coping mechanism. They try to seek control or reassurance through it.

Remote Workers or Students: The lack of structure in corporate or academic institutes raises the concern of increased screen time and chances of falling into the interest of doomscroll trap.

Interesting Fact: According to a 2022 study by the University of Florida, people who are at higher levels of doomscrolling behavior reported significantly higher levels of anxiety, stress, and sleep issues.

How Does It Affect Your Mental and Physical Health?

What seems like endless scrolling could actually impact your mental and physical health more than you could imagine. Here’s how:

Increased Anxiety or Stress

Prolonged exposure to negative or distressing content can stimulate your nervous system. It makes your brain enter a state of hypervigilance, and you are basically waiting for the next threat. This would keep your stress hormones elevated and lead to anxiety, anxiousness, restlessness, and trouble sleeping.

Disrupted Sleep Cycle

Late-night doomscrolling can interfere with your sleep cycle. The blue light emitting from your screen contributes to delayed melatonin (sleep chemical) release, and emotional intensity of the content keeps your mind alert. This state of mind is not ideal when you try to rest at night.

Emotional Numbness or Burnout

When you keep consuming distressing content, your brain starts to desensitize. It basically makes you feel emotionally numb, detached, or fatigued. Over time, you even begin to struggle in processing your own feelings due to this emotional burnout.

Reduced Attention Span

When you are doomscrolling, you constantly jump from one piece of content to another, which affects your brain’s ability to focus. Your brain becomes wired for these mini doses of dopamine in the form of distraction, making it difficult to concentrate on real-life tasks.

Physical Impact on Your Body

These late-night hours of scrolling in poor posture can result in headaches, neck strain, or even dry and tired eyes. A constant scrolling habit contributes to physical inactivity which could become a root cause of many lifestyle diseases, if not controlled.

How to Break The Doomscrolling Loop?

Doomscrolling might feel addictive at first but you can easily control your habit with minor lifestyle changes, as mentioned:

1. Make screen time intentional

Set a timer or use apps like Digital Wellbeing or Freedom to limit mindless browsing or screen time. Define a purpose before opening Instagram or any other social platform.

2. Check in with yourself

Use your Notes app or a journal to track your mood before and after screen time for a week. Ask, “Am I feeling better or worse after scrolling?” You’ll spot patterns fast.

3. Replace screen time with mindful pauses

Every time you catch yourself doomscrolling, pause and take 3 deep belly breaths. You can use mindful practice apps like Headspace to replace screen time.

4. Schedule digital breaks during your day

Create a “no phone” zone for the first and last 30 minutes of your day. You can start using Bedtime Mode or Focus Mode on your phone as well.

5. Celebrate small wins

Start using habit trackers like Notion, Habitica, or a sticky note to celebrate your small wins. Not reaching for your phone at night? That’s progress. Reward yourself with a walk, music, or journaling.

Is Doomscrolling Always Bad? (A Surprising Twist)

Doomscrolling is not always bad for your health. It gets you going but when it comes to pros and cons, context is everything. Here are a few checks to determine if you need to take further action:

1. Coping Mechanism

Sometimes, staying informed gives us a sense of control during difficult times in our life. Relying on doomscrolling sometimes can be a balanced coping mechanism.

2. Context Matters

Analyse your intention behind it and how you feel after consuming content. Active information seeking keeps you informed and aware of the surroundings, but passive emotional overload leaves you anxious, drained, and stuck in a loop of doomscrolling. It’s all about the context.

3. Healthy Consumption V/S Unhealthy Spiraling

If you consume information from trusted sources, process it, and move on, it is healthy. While if you keep scrolling headlines or social media platforms, feel anxious or emotionally numb but can’t stop, it is a sign to break the loop.

Final Takeaways

Doomscrolling is more than just a late-night habit; it’s your brain’s way of coping with the chaotic world. It might feel satisfying momentarily but in the long-term, your mental and physical health suffers. By making a few tweaks in your lifestyle like setting small boundaries with your phone and being intentional with your screen time, you can regain your peace and mental space. It’s all connected from your mind and screen to your well-being.

Disclaimer: This blog is intended for informative purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. The content does not make any claims regarding the prevention, cure, diagnosis, or treatment of any health condition. Always consult your healthcare provider before adding anything to your healthcare routine.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Why does doomscrolling feel oddly satisfying at times?

Your brain gets small dopamine hits with every swipe or witnesses a new piece of content, even if it’s negative. It creates an illusion of being productive or staying informed amidst the chaos. This loop makes you feel temporarily in control, even as it drains your mental energy.

Q2. Can doomscrolling impact my relationships or social life?

Yes. When you’re emotionally preoccupied or mentally drained from screen time, you may become less present with loved ones. It can lead to irritability, social withdrawal, or misinterpreting the tone of the person in conversations.

Q3. How do algorithms contribute to doomscrolling?

Algorithms are designed to prioritize content that triggers strong emotions like fear, outrage, or sadness, because that’s what keeps users hooked on the platform. This means that once you engage with a few negative posts, you’ll keep seeing more, creating a deeper spiral.

Q4. Is there a link between perfectionism and doomscrolling?

Absolutely. Perfectionists tend to seek clarity, reassurance, or the "complete picture" before feeling at ease. Doomscrolling is the easiest way of mentally over-preparing, even though the constant information overload can add more anxiety than relief.

Q5. Can doomscrolling affect my physical energy levels?

Yes. The mental strain caused by negative content can lead to real physical symptoms like fatigue and headaches. Even if you’ve done nothing physically, your body feels the stress, and it shows up as low energy.