Try This to Recover from Doomscrolling

ACEP • September 30, 2020

(by Kirsten Keach, MA, LMFT) When your online world is filled with fear inducing news it can be difficult to turn it off. If you find yourself spending long periods of time reading online content that is sad, depressing, or makes you feel bad inside, you are likely doomscrolling. Doomscrolling is a new term used to describe the experience of continually reading bad news without the ability to stop or step back (On “Doomscrolling” and “Doomsurfing”, 2020).


A run of doomscrolling can leave you feeling hopeless, worried, anxious or fearful. But don’t worry, you don’t have to stay in that difficult emotional place. You can come back to a sense of peace here in the present moment.

One of the quickest and easiest ways to bring yourself back to a calm centered place is to connect with your body. You can do this by practicing a technique called Simplified Self-Havening*. This simple body-based technique helps your body to relax and allows you to return to a sense of peace and calm more quickly. Practice the technique right now by watching the video below and following along. You can also download written instructions in
 English. Spanish will be available soon.


Video: How to do Simplified Safe-Havening

Why It Works

By using energy-based techniques like Simplified Safe-Havening, you help your body reduce stress hormones. This allows you to return to a calm state quickly and easily. Exposure to too much upsetting news can cause your brain to signal your body that you are in danger. This can lead to your system being flooded with hormones that put you in a state of high alert. This is what makes calming down difficult. By using the technique above, you give your body and mind a boost by reducing those stress inducing hormones.


If you haven’t given the Simplified Safe Havening technique a try yet, do it now. Take notice of how your body feels both before and after you use the technique. This technique is just one of many you can use to bring yourself back after you’ve read upsetting news. 

If you found the Simplified Safe Havening technique helpful here are a few more tools you can use to calm anxious feelings: 
 Soothing Butterfly Hug, Healing Head Hold, Calm Breathing.


Need Help From a Professional?

Recovering from trauma and shock is difficult. It’s normal to need help with this. You don’t have to go through this alone. Check-out the ACEP practitioner directory to find a certified ACEP therapist in your area or Online.


Author: Kirsten May Keach, MA, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

Kirsten Keach is a licensed marriage and family therapist based in Orlando, Florida. Her specialty is relationships. She helps couples and singles develop meaningful, lasting, soulful love relationships. In her free time she is an avid traveler, improv comedy performer and amateur salsa dancer. Learn more about Kirsten here.


Video Resources Provided by the ACEP Humanitarian Committee 

The mission of the ACEP Humanitarian Committee is to share energy practices and resources to promote safety, connection, happiness, health and resilience around the world. Learn more here.


Bibliography


On “Doomscrolling” and “Doomsurfing”. (2020). Merriam-webster.com. Retrieved 09 24, 2020, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/doomsurfing-doomscrolling-words-were-watching

By Ted Blickwedel, LICSW, MSW, MEd April 9, 2025
After retiring from the military, I conducted individual and group therapy with combat veterans as a clinical social worker for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) at the VET Center in Warwick, RI. In my work, I've had many experiences showing the power of energy psychology to help heal trauma . One of these amazing stories occurred during my tenure at the VA. Veteran suffers from PTSD A 70-year old Vietnam Veteran suffered for 45 years from chronic PTSD as a result of life-threatening events he endured and injuries he sustained during combat. Let's call him Joe (not his real name). His symptoms included nightmares and waking up profusely sweating every night since he returned from the war 45 years ago. Joe also had insomnia and anger issues. Conventional therapies and medication were not able to alleviate the adverse impact of his trauma. Unfortunately, Joe's experience is common among a vast number of Veterans receiving treatment for PTSD at the VA. Energy psychology resolves trauma-related symptoms In the first energy psychology session, I introduced Joe to Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) and explained the process and its efficacy. During the next 6 sessions, he tapped on the EFT meridian points for 2-3 rounds on each combat trauma we addressed. While he tapped, I guided him to verbally release related negative emotions. We did this until he no longer experienced any disturbance associated with these challenging events, as determined by muscle testing. The results were inspiring. At the end of six 50-minute sessions, Joe reported that his nightmares and night sweats completely stopped, and he felt more rested, peaceful, and significantly less anxious. Joe was even able to stop taking most of his anxiety and depression medication. His wife said she noticed a huge positive shift in his demeanor. Lasting results Over the next 3 years, Joe used EFT on his own to clear other developmental traumas and negative core beliefs. During this time, he only had four nightmares during one two-week period, which were triggered by watching a war movie. Afterwards, he did not have any recurrence of PTSD symptoms. Joe felt joy that he did not experience previously, and he was more emotionally open and affectionate with his wife. This heart-warming story shows the power of EFT to heal rapidly and effectively, with results that last. It's why I love using it. Going forward What a difference could be made with Veterans and their families if the VA and Department of Defense (DOD) used energy psychology techniques like these! They would be free of the devastating impact of PTSD, have better relationships and an improved quality of life. Many ACEP members have stories of hope and healing. Let’s share them! When we tell our stories, we can help inspire practitioners to adopt energy psychology methods that are powerfully grounded in effective healingwith long-lasting outcomes. Get trained and make a difference Are you a teacher or school employee? If so, get trained to bring powerful energy psychology techniques to your school by enrolling in ACEP’s free Mind Body Tools for Children training. If you are a clinician or stakeholder wanting to offer energy psychology to your community, enroll in ACEP’s free Emotional First Aid training . If you would like to get trained in using Emotional Freedom Techniques with clients, sign up for ACEP’s online training that begins with EFT Professional Skills 1 . Author Ted Blickwedel, LICSW, MSW, MEd, is an ACEP member and recipient of ACEP's 2021 Special Recognition Award. He is a retired Marine, combat veteran, former VA VET Center counselor, VA whistleblower, and author of Broken Promises: Marine Combat Veteran Turns Whistleblower Exposing Compromised Mental Health Care at the Department of Veterans Affairs. Photo by RDNE Stock Project
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