How Doomscrolling Affects Mood, Sleep, and Stress

November 13, 2025 PCI Centers

Doomscrolling is Affecting your Mental Health

Doomscrolling refers to the persistent consumption of distressing news or crisis-oriented digital content, typically through platforms designed to encourage prolonged engagement. Although information-seeking is a normal response to uncertainty, excessive exposure to negative media can dysregulate emotional processing systems, heighten physiological arousal, and interfere with healthy sleep and coping mechanisms. Increasingly, clinicians are observing doomscrolling as both a symptom and a maintaining factor in anxiety-related conditions.

Neuropsychological Basis of Doomscrolling

The tendency to continue scrolling despite rising distress is linked to neural circuits responsible for threat detection and reward reinforcement. When the brain perceives ambiguous or concerning information, the amygdala activates a vigilance response aimed at identifying potential danger. In parallel, intermittent exposure to novel information triggers dopaminergic reward pathways, reinforcing the checking behavior (Treadway & Zald, 2013).

This combination can produce a feedback cycle:

• Perceived threat → vigilance increases
• Continuous scanning → temporary reduction of uncertainty
• Uncertainty quickly returns → scrolling resumes

Over time, this pattern may become habitual and compulsive rather than intentional.

Doomscrolling’s Effect on Mood Regulation

Sustained exposure to crisis-focused content has been associated with:

• Heightened anxiety and worry
• Increased depressive affect
• Reduced tolerance for uncertainty
• Cognitive rumination and intrusive thoughts

A longitudinal study during the COVID-19 pandemic observed that individuals who consumed high volumes of threat-related media reported significantly elevated anxiety and negative emotional states, independent of direct personal stressors (Bendau et al., 2021). The psychological mechanism resembles hypervigilance, a state commonly associated with trauma and chronic stress conditions.

How Doomscrolling Impacts Sleep and Circadian Rhythm

Doomscrolling frequently occurs at night, when individuals attempt to “catch up” on news or decompress. However, late-night exposure to emotionally charged content can activate the sympathetic nervous system and delay melatonin release, leading to:

• Difficulty initiating sleep
• Increased nighttime arousal or restlessness
• Strengthened cognitive rumination patterns
• Reduced sleep quality and next-day mood regulation

Because emotional regulation is closely linked to circadian rhythm stability, disrupted sleep tends to exacerbate anxiety and irritability, reinforcing the doomscrolling cycle.

How to Combat the Effects of Doomscrolling:

Clinically informed approaches may include:

• Behavioral scheduling to limit unstructured media consumption
• Mindfulness-based strategies to reduce reactivity and rumination
• Sleep hygiene interventions tailored to digital habits
• Psychotherapy focused on tolerance of uncertainty and emotional regulation

Local Support for Doomscrolling-Related Stress and Anxiety in Westlake Village and Thousand Oaks

PCI Centers provides evidence-based treatment for:

• Anxiety and stress-related disorders
• Trauma and hypervigilance patterns
• Sleep disruption related to emotional over-arousal
• Compulsive or maladaptive coping behaviors

Our intensive outpatient programs focus on long-term emotional regulation and nervous system stabilization. Get an assessment today: https://www.pcicenters.com/contact/