SAY ni DOK | Ano nga ba ang doom scrolling at paano ito mapipigilan?
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00Another thing that we will talk about today is the continuous reading of negative news or dismaying events on social media.
00:08But before that, let's watch this first.
00:12Have you experienced stress while reading posts online?
00:18But despite this stress, you still can't stop scrolling negative social media content?
00:26Maybe that's doomscrolling.
00:29Doomscrolling is the non-stop reading of negative news or dismaying events on social media platforms.
00:37This is the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic, where many people are looking for comfort and hope in online news outlets,
00:46even if the news they read is negative and extremely harmful to mental health.
00:53Doomscrolling is also the cause of FOMO, or fear of missing out on trending news or events online.
01:00It is usually caused by addiction, anxiety, procrastination, stress, or depression in those who read
01:09because of the negative content of these news.
01:13In the latest survey of an international telecommunications company last year,
01:1823% of Filipinos said they have been using social media for more than 7 hours.
01:27During this social media screentime, there is a high possibility that it will result in a non-stop reading of negative content.
01:37So let's find out what we can do to avoid doomscrolling here in SayliDoc.
01:49And to explain to us what is doomscrolling, we have Dr. Jan Patrick Tapira Magpantay, Clinical Psychologist.
01:59Good morning and welcome to Rise and Shine.
02:01Good morning everyone.
02:03Good morning.
02:05Good morning, RSP.
02:11First of all, what is doomscrolling?
02:16Doomscrolling is a pattern of behavior wherein an individual is repetitively reading negative news online
02:25from different social media platforms and even from different news outlets.
02:31It is problematic because most of the time, it is all negative.
02:36And there is a sense of compulsion to read and read and watch videos about it.
02:42You find it therapeutic that you receive negative information?
02:48Yes, that's true. It is temporarily therapeutic.
02:53Okay, so there is an effect that can happen. But we'll go on to that later on.
02:58What are the reasons why a person is doomscrolling?
03:03Tell us more about the psychological factors.
03:07Science tells us that our brain, we are programmed to think and to be anxious at the same time to be aware.
03:15So, evolutionarily, we are programmed to worry.
03:20Nowadays, we are not cavemen to worry about predators and the dangers of the environment.
03:28So we have to look for something to worry about.
03:32And one of them is to utilize our internet and technology.
03:37That's why we become aware of the news. It's within our fingertips now.
03:41So our brain seeks for that information for us to feel safe and secured.
03:49But it's not a disease, right?
03:51It's not a disease. It's not a diagnosis.
03:53But it can be one of the factors why a person will have a mental health condition.
04:00So what is it, Doc? Is it a hobby? How can we categorize it?
04:05It's not a hobby. It is actually a behavior. It's a pattern. It's repetitive.
04:12What happens is that it's pathological.
04:15Because most of the time, people spend their time there.
04:20Most of the time, there are negative emotions that are triggered there.
04:26And when you read something that worries you,
04:31for example, there's an outbreak or a war,
04:34you need to know about it and actively seek for more information about it.
04:39Because you have a temporary feeling of sense that,
04:43okay, I am aware. I can be safe.
04:46But it will be repetitive.
04:49Okay. So when should I monitor?
04:52If I am a family member, a friend,
04:54when should I monitor a person who is leading towards a mental health problem,
05:00who is doing a doom scroll?
05:02And also, I want to know about the part of our countrymen,
05:07when it comes to social media, we are affected immediately.
05:11It's like our mood.
05:12But those who are doing a doom scroll, aren't they affected?
05:15They are also very pessimistic.
05:17Right. Right.
05:18To answer the first question, the signs to look at,
05:22first of all, we have active seeking of information,
05:26and that's mostly negative.
05:28Second, a lot of time is wasted in scrolling.
05:34So those are different social media platforms.
05:37Third, they are also suffering from sleep.
05:39They can't sleep.
05:41They are also triggered by overthinking.
05:43And it can lead to isolation.
05:46It can also lead to mood problems or mood changes, even our appetite.
05:51So these are the things that a person should monitor.
05:54Well, the doom scrolling is just one of the risk factors for developing mental health conditions.
06:00Okay.
06:01There are more.
06:03It's very complex to look at it, right?
06:06And for us to monitor it, we really need to be aware of what we are reading.
06:12And we are filtering things the way we see it.
06:15But I am a pro, because I am a fan of horror and documentary.
06:20Does that work, Doc?
06:22I don't think so, because that's for entertainment purposes.
06:27So it can be therapeutic.
06:29Now, you enjoy watching such genre, right?
06:32But when it comes to doom scrolling, these are actual news.
06:36Well, it can be misinformation, disinformation, and conspiracies.
06:42It's all mixed up.
06:44But it's beyond the entertainment.
06:47Okay.
06:48But, Doc, what about us journalists?
06:51How about TV reporters?
06:54Of course, we are exposed every day.
06:58Aren't we prone to such things?
07:01There is a risk, but if it's for functionality purposes or work-related,
07:06we need to learn to separate our work from our personal scrolling.
07:13Yes.
07:14That's why journalists and media practitioners are sometimes heartless.
07:19Right?
07:20But anyway, there is still empathy.
07:22On the other hand, since we mentioned that we need to separate our work from our personal lives,
07:28how can we avoid doom scrolling?
07:31Tell us more.
07:32Okay.
07:33So, in doom scrolling, most of the time, it's self-agency.
07:37You need to do it yourself.
07:39First of all, we have to choose what we are watching.
07:43We can unfollow negative pages.
07:47Okay.
07:48Also, we should follow legitimate sources.
07:52Second, we should set time limits.
07:56We need discipline.
07:58If you're going to sleep for one to two hours, don't use your phone.
08:03Okay.
08:04You can turn it off and go to sleep.
08:08Another thing that we can do is through mindfulness.
08:14Okay.
08:15We can have a presence of mind in the here and now.
08:18Okay?
08:19So, most of the time, what we see online can already happen,
08:24or there are futuristic or anticipatory content.
08:30So, bringing ourselves in the present can minimize or reduce the anxiety.
08:35Okay.
08:36At the same time, we need positive distraction
08:39because doom scrolling is a waste of time.
08:43So, instead of doom scrolling, you can do something more productive.
08:47Okay.
08:48Exercise, journaling, reading a book instead of spending your time on the screen.
08:54Yes.
08:55That's how it is.
08:56Okay.
08:57Maybe, Doc, what is your message to those who are experiencing doom scrolling?
09:03Well, there's no quick fix.
09:05It's a gradual process.
09:07It won't happen overnight.
09:10So, the tips that I said, and I believe we have posts about that,
09:16we can follow that.
09:18At the same time, allow yourself to adjust.
09:21And it takes time.
09:22For some people who are experiencing mental health conditions
09:26that include doom scrolling behavior,
09:30it's better to talk to a health professional like a psychiatrist, psychologist,
09:36and even our counselors
09:38to give them assistance in managing their own doom scrolling.
09:43So, you know, there's more life beyond the screen time.
09:47I hope we could break this stigma
09:49that we shouldn't block or invalidate what a family member or friend is experiencing
09:56because we're helping them to address any cases that could worsen.
10:01But I hope we don't do that.
10:02I feel like there's a stigma that if you go to a counselor,
10:06you're going to be criticized.
10:08Yeah, it's crazy.
10:09You're going to be brainwashed.
10:11That's how it is.
10:12Well, at least they told me that
10:14instead of me not being able to check up.
10:16That's true.
10:17And mental health is part of our overall health.
10:19So, we should prioritize that.
10:22All right.
10:23Thank you so much for sharing with us
10:25a lot of information about doom scrolling.
10:27Dr. Jan Patrick Tapire Magpantay,
10:29a clinical psychologist.
10:31Thank you so much for your time, Doc.
10:33Thank you so much with Claudine Barreto tone.
10:36Now, let's go to Dian and Meiji.
10:38Thank you so much.