(NEXSTAR) - While it may feel relaxing to put one's mind on pause and endlessly scroll the feed of a favorite app, experts are urging people to beware of certain warning signs.
Left unchecked, the habit could slide into what some call "doomscrolling."
"Doomscrolling is when you're so intensely focused on social media that it becomes problematic. You lose time, and you lose a sense of clarity in terms of what you're actually reading and how it's affecting you," explained Adam Borland, PsyD, a psychologist with the Cleveland Clinic, in a news release.
Sinking into the endless scroll can cause real harm, Borland warns, as doomscrolling can increase stress, anxiety, and difficulty sleeping.
"Watching upsetting news footage starts the body's 'fight or flight' response," a Johns Hopkins University of Medicine bulletin warns. "Adrenaline is then released, and so is the stress hormone, cortisol. When our bodies are in this state, we experience the same symptoms we might experience if we were under threat."
When it comes to news coverage in particular, Johns Hopkins has the following advice for protecting one's mental health:
* Identify your triggers - what subjects or news sources cause anxiety or depression to spike?
* Try to read the news instead of watching it, as studies show the lack of disturbing imagery can, in part, lessen the trigger effect.
* Take action - if there is a subject that most concerns you, consider joining a group to make real-world progress.
* Make sure you vet the sources of your news carefully.
* Remember what makes you happiest and healthiest in life away from your phone or computer, and do more of that.
Borland also recommends setting time limits with an alarm, and when the alarm goes off, it's time to switch to something more mentally beneficial, like taking a walk or enjoying a hobby.
There are a couple of things you can do to lessen the negative effects while still enjoying your phone's apps - check in to see how you are feeling in the moment, and switch up the content you interact with.
"You need to check in with yourself. As you begin scrolling, are you noticing you're getting a headache, muscle tension, or just not feeling well? It's important to recognize when your body is trying to communicate something to you," Dr. Borland said.