Doomscrolling in Times of Crisis: How Traumatic Events Amplify It

When disaster strikes, be it a pandemic, a war, or a natural calamity many of us find ourselves glued to our screens, reading every breaking headline, refreshing feeds, trying to “stay ahead” of what’s happening. But this constant scanning of negative news, often called doomscrolling, doesn’t just keep us informed. In times of crisis, it can also amplify our stress, anxiety, and sense of helplessness in ways we often don’t realize.

Why Doomscrolling Intensifies During Crises

Imagine a sudden earthquake in your city. You didn’t experience it, but you’re seeing images, reading survivor stories, and scrolling through updates on the tremors, damage, rescue efforts. Even though you are safe, your mind starts dragging you into that crisis story. That’s part of what’s happening inside our brains when we doomscroll.

A study after an earthquake found that people who experienced more psychological distress tended to doomscroll more and the more they feared the future, the more they scrolled. In short: distress → doomscrolling → more distress, in a feedback loop.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, research showed that people who consumed pandemic-related content via social media daily had higher levels of depression and PTSD symptoms. In fact, in one 30-day diary study, those who checked news and social updates about COVID often ended up feeling worse emotionally.

Another study found that doomscrolling indirectly harmed mental well-being by reducing mindfulness and increasing “secondary traumatic stress” feeling trauma from others’ suffering. In simpler terms: the more you scroll negative news, the harder it is to stay calm in the present moment, and the more you absorb others’ suffering as your own.

A cross-cultural study also showed that doomscrolling was strongly linked to existential anxiety worry about death, meaning, and uncertainty and feelings of distrust or pessimism about humanity.

So in times of crisis, doomscrolling isn’t just “catching up” on news. It becomes a way we try (often unconsciously) to manage fear, but ends up feeding that fear instead.

Case Studies: Pandemic, War, Natural Disasters

Pandemic (COVID-19)

When COVID first hit, the world was starving for reliable information. But news outlets, social media, and messaging apps exploded with updates new case numbers, deaths, preventive measures, and conflicting advice. Endless newsfeeds during a pandemic can dramatically increase mental health risks.

In the U.S., one study showed that people with a history of trauma (like childhood abuse) were especially vulnerable: their doomscrolling tended to cause sharper increases in depression and PTSD symptoms.

Another interesting experiment found that people exposed to just 2–4 minutes of COVID-related negative posts had immediate drops in optimism and positive mood. Meanwhile, reading about kind or helpful acts had no negative effect.

Natural Disasters & Earthquakes

After earthquakes, survivors and observers often feel high levels of future anxiety (worry about what’s next). A study showed that people who had more distress ended up using doomscrolling more; future anxiety acted as a bridge between distress and doomscrolling.

In another study, people not directly impacted by an earthquake but who followed news about it on social media experienced secondary traumatic stress feeling trauma vicariously.

War & Conflict

While fewer formal academic papers focus on war and doomscrolling, many reports warn of vicarious trauma when stepping too deep into images or videos of conflict (like Gaza or Ukraine). Even without being physically present, continuous exposure to violence and suffering can scar our emotional psyche.

In summary: in each crisis, doomscrolling becomes more intense because of fear, uncertainty, empathy, and the compulsion to “stay updated.” But the emotional cost is high.

How Coping Differs (and Needs to Differ) in Crisis vs Normal Times

In everyday times, limiting doomscrolling might be about personal choice, digital hygiene, or a simple self-discipline plan (e.g. “no news after 9 PM”). But during a crisis, people feel a heavier pull: a sense of urgency, responsibility, guilt if uninformed. This means:

• Motivation is higher but so is resistance. You’ll feel drawn in by fear, curiosity, or the hope to help.
• Doomscrolling may feel like self-defense. You think “if I know everything, I can protect myself or others.” But that’s often an illusion.
• Emotional fatigue builds faster. The buffer you usually have (a calm mind, routine) is weaker under crisis stress.
• You may feel guilt if you step away. “What if I miss something important?” That guilt can force you back into the scroll.

Coping Tips

1. Set flexible boundaries, not rigid ones. Maybe check news only at two fixed times a day. Allow yourself to skip a session if emotionally drained.
2. Use trusted filters. Pick a few reliable sources rather than trying to absorb everything. Let those sources summarize major events for you.
3. Activate grounding tools. After reading distressing news, do something calming: step outside, deep breathing, movement, talking with someone. This helps your nervous system settle.
4. Alternate with neutral or positive content. Insert “kindness scrolls” or read something uplifting to balance your feed.
5. Stay mindful and notice triggers. If anger, dread, or compulsiveness rise, pause and ask: “Why am I scrolling now?” Awareness helps you break the autopilot.
6. Community and conversation. Talk with a friend about what you saw, share feelings. Narrative and connection help you externalize stress rather than carry it alone.
7. Limit nighttime exposure. Crises often extend late into the night, but information after dark rarely changes things immediately.

Final Thoughts and a Tool to Help

Crises—whether global pandemics, natural disasters, or conflicts magnify our urge to stay informed. Doomscrolling feels urgent, even necessary. But research is clear: overconsumption of negative news in crises often backfires. It worsens anxiety, fuels existential dread, and can even trigger trauma in those who aren’t directly involved.

The coping strategies in a crisis need compassion, flexibility, and intentional habits. Boundaries, grounding, selective filters, and mindful breaks are not indulgences they’re tools of self-preservation.

If you're looking for something practical and daily to help you shift mental focus, try Matiks, a mental math app designed to engage your brain in short bursts of calculation. Using simple mental math exercises gives your mind a break from news streams, redirects attention, and recharges focus. Every time you feel the pull to scroll endlessly, pause and challenge yourself with a quick mental math puzzle. Over time, this little shift can help you reclaim your attention and protect your emotional balance.

Stay safe, stay informed and remember: your mind deserves moments of calm too.