National Post (National Edition)
OFF THE TOP
‘DOOMSCROLLING’ IS MAKING US DEPRESSED
Well, here’s an instance where no news can mean good news — for your mental health, at least. The Merriam-Webster dictionary has acknowledged the concept of doomscrolling, defined as “the tendency to continue to surf or scroll through bad news, even though that news is saddening, disheartening or depressing.” Doomscrolling has become common amid the pandemic and social justice movements, and is now on the dictionary’s Words We’re Watching list. “During times of stress people turn to social media for information and doomscrolling has become a ‘coping mechanism’ with the uncertainty in today’s world,” psychoanalyst Babita Spinelli told MindBodyGreen. But doomscrolling can lead to frustration, fear, helplessness and anger since information can be piecemeal and vague. To stay informed, Spinelli recommends choosing only a few direct news sources. Consuming positive content can also balance things out.