The Psychology of Doomscrolling: Why It’s So Hard to Stop

“Doomscrolling” refers to compulsively consuming distressing news or negative content. It became widespread during the pandemic and continues today. Research sheds light on why it’s so addictive and harmful:

Limbic hijacking.

Doomscrolling activates the limbic system—the brain’s fight‑or‑flight center. Harvard Health explains that negative news triggers the amygdala and stimulates stress hormones; this can lead to headaches, elevated blood pressure and poor sleephealth.harvard.edu. A 2023 review found that doomscrolling was associated with lower well‑being and life satisfactionhealth.harvard.edu.

Existential anxiety.

An August 2024 study of 800 adults reported that doomscrolling was linked with greater existential dreadhealth.harvard.edu.

Negativity bias and the dopamine loop.

Our brains are wired to scan for threats; negative information attracts more attention than positive news. UC San Diego psychiatrist Susan Tapert notes that this negativity bias leads the amygdala to continually search for threatstoday.ucsd.edu. Each new piece of information releases dopamine, reinforcing the urge to keep scrollingtoday.ucsd.edu.

Variable rewards.

Platforms mix upsetting news with occasional interesting or uplifting posts, creating unpredictable rewards. This pattern spikes dopamine and weakens impulse controlpmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.

Craving, not connection. Psychologists point out that doomscrolling often stems from craving a sense of control or certainty, not genuine connectionpsychologytoday.com. The unpredictability of new information triggers dopamine loopspsychologytoday.com.

Breaking the cycle. Naming your feelings (e.g., “I feel anxious”) reduces activity in the amygdala and helps regulate behaviorpsychologytoday.com. Journaling or using an “emotion wheel” can turn the impulse to scroll into an opportunity for reflectionpsychologytoday.com. Mindfulness reduces fear of missing out and social media fatiguefrontiersin.org.

Understanding these mechanisms allows us to intervene. Welligama’s Breathe‑to‑Unlock inserts a pause that interrupts the doomscrolling loop. Our wellbeing prompts encourage users to name their feelings, breathe deeply and redirect attention to self‑care rather than endless scrolling.

Sources

  1. Harvard Health article describing how doomscrolling activates the limbic system, raises stress hormones and is linked with lower well‑beinghealth.harvard.edu.

  2. Harvard Health follow‑up noting that doomscrolling increases existential anxietyhealth.harvard.edu.

  3. UC San Diego article explaining negativity bias and how negative news triggers the amygdala and dopamine releasetoday.ucsd.edu.

  4. Modern Day High study on variable rewards and impulse controlpmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.

  5. Psychology Today article on craving vs. connection, unpredictability driving dopamine loops and strategies like naming feelingspsychologytoday.compsychologytoday.compsychologytoday.com.

  6. Frontiers study showing mindfulness reduces FoMO and social media fatiguefrontiersin.org.