Neurologist Links 44-Study Doomscrolling Review to 'Helicopter Brain,' Offers 5 Ways to Calm It
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Oct 12
Neurologist Links 44-Study Doomscrolling Review to 'Helicopter Brain,' Offers 5 Ways to Calm It
2 articles · Updated · Fox News · Oct 12
Summary
A 44-study analysis linked doomscrolling with higher anxiety and psychological distress, and neurologist Steven Resnick said that kind of overload can leave the nervous system stuck on high alert in a state he calls “helicopter brain.”
Resnick said the pattern can show up as headaches, gastrointestinal problems, fatigue, sleep trouble, tingling and dizziness, sending some patients through multiple specialists before stress-driven nervous-system activation is recognized.
Five steps anchor his approach: recognize what you are feeling, name recurring thought or behavior patterns, identify the trigger that starts them, reward a healthier replacement habit, and “float instead of fight” when anxiety hits.
Resnick said the goal is to teach the brain safety rather than reinforce threat responses through avoidance, while stressing that persistent or unexplained physical symptoms still need medical evaluation to rule out other conditions.