Though it may seem soothing to lose oneself in the endless stream of a favorite app, experts caution against overlooking critical warning signs.

If not managed, this habit can spiral into what’s known as “doomscrolling.”

“Doomscrolling refers to the intense focus on social media to the point where it becomes detrimental,” explained Dr. Adam Borland, a psychologist at Cleveland Clinic, in a statement. “You lose track of time and clarity, not fully grasping what you’re consuming or how it impacts you.”

Dr. Borland warns that getting trapped in the infinite scroll can lead to increased stress, heightened anxiety, and disrupted sleep patterns.

According to a bulletin from Johns Hopkins University of Medicine, “Viewing distressing news content triggers the body’s ‘fight or flight’ response.” This response releases adrenaline along with cortisol, the stress hormone, which can result in symptoms similar to those experienced when facing a 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, lesson 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.