How to Stop Yourself From Doomscrolling.
The act of consuming too much negative news online, aka doomscrolling, is especially prevalent now.
COVID-19, social injustice and politics are currently the most common doomscrolling topics.
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Dr. Jason Moser of Michigan State University says doomscrolling can result in “long-term anxiety” and “uncertainty.” .
The problem is, scrolling only has short-term benefits … we never find the answer or relief that lasts that long, Dr. Jason Moser, via Yahoo.
Dr. Erika McElroy, a licensed psychologist at Aurora Mental Health Center, recommends these five steps to stop doomscrolling.
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First, figure out how much time you actually spend doomscrolling.
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Next, set a daily limit for how much time you want to allow yourself to scroll through news or social media.
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Don’t doom scroll before bed, as it can put your brain into “fight or flight” mode and cause sleep disruptions.
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Counteract the negative news with positive activities, such as going for a walk or talking with a friend.
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Take breaks from electronics by physically removing them from your environment.