August 20, 2025
Find out how constantly reading negative news affects health.
Discover how constantly reading negative news can be harmful to your health.
Are you finding yourself awake late at night, scrolling endlessly through news sites and switching between social media apps? Perhaps you reach for your phone first thing in the morning, barely awake, to check the latest updates—or maybe you check the news dozens of times each day, moving quickly from one story to the next.
Experts warn that there is a crucial difference between staying informed about distressing events like those in Ukraine or Gaza and falling into the pattern of “doomscrolling”—the compulsive habit of consuming a constant stream of negative news and social media posts.
According to Larry D Rosen, professor emeritus at California State University and author of The Distracted Mind: Ancient Brains in a High-Tech World, this behaviour is driven not by genuine interest, but by anxiety. The uncertainty and sense of lacking control over events heighten anxiety, which in turn triggers the release of cortisol, a hormone that, when chronically elevated, can negatively affect both physical and mental health. Rosen points out that technology companies design their platforms to keep users engaged, further amplifying this problem.
Barbara Sahakian, professor at the University of Cambridge’s Department of Psychiatry, describes doomscrolling as a “behavioural addiction.” Stress draws our brains towards perceived threats, causing us to fixate on them and continually seek them out. This creates a compulsive cycle that is difficult to break. Sahakian notes that our brains can easily shift us into negative or positive moods; persistent focus on negative thoughts is a feature of depression, and doomscrolling accelerates this process. Therefore, balancing the need to stay informed with activities that protect your wellbeing is essential.
Sahakian advises developing healthier news habits, such as choosing specific times in the morning and evening to catch up on news and reading something calming before bed. She also recommends balancing negative information with positive action. For example, taking steps to help those affected by troubling news—through donations, fundraising, or volunteering—can give a sense of control and reduce anxiety.
Finally, simple lifestyle habits can bolster mental health: spending time outdoors, exercising, and engaging in enjoyable activities are all beneficial. Sahakian cautions against guilt for taking care of your own wellbeing, emphasising that feeling anxious or sad helps no one. In times of crisis, focusing on your own mental health enables you to better support others.
If you want to avoid common factors that affect anxiety read our post Anxiety- Fix Common Causes
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