Why You're Either Doom Scrolling or Checking Out (And How to Stop)

Why the World Feels Like So Much Right Now

Since January 2025, I’ve been observing how the weight of the world has been affecting my clients and loved ones. I’m witnessing many people having bodies with nervous systems that are caught between two extremes. Hyperarousal often looks like anxiety and feelings of bracing for the next blow, due to observing a barrage of systemic injustice and global instability. Conversely, I see people experience the quiet toll of hypoarousal, where the magnitude of these unprecedented times leads to a protective numbness, or a type of freeze, because the world feels like too much to bear. Whether you’ve been experiencing hyperarousal or hypoarousal, challenging yourself to stay within a window of tolerance is an act of resistance and survival.

Tips for reducing hyperarousal:

Engage in physical activity to help the body release excess energy

Splash your face with cold water or hold an ice cube to reset your parasympathetic nervous system.

Tips for reducing hypoarousal:

Use strong, pleasant scents to re-engage the senses.

Stretch to wake up the dorsal vagal system.

The next 3 years will be a marathon, and it’s important to find activities to help regulate your central nervous system so that you can remain mentally, physically, and emotionally healthy!