Politics has always been heated, but in the digital age, it’s turned into a 24/7 battle zone. If you’ve found yourself glued to your phone, obsessively arguing with strangers, and constantly feeling like the world is on fire, you’re not alone. The endless cycle of doomscrolling, outrage, and online battles might feel like a release, but in reality, it’s slowly draining you. If any of these signs sound familiar, it might be time to take a step back before your mental health pays the price.
1. You’ve Become Consumed By Politics
At one point, politics was just something you followed during election season. Now? It’s all you think about. Every conversation somehow circles back to political debates, and it feels impossible to enjoy anything without viewing it through a political lens. Whether it’s TV shows, sports, or even casual chats with friends, everything now feels like a political statement. According to a 2023 Pew Research Center study, 65% of Americans say they always or often feel exhausted when thinking about politics, while 55% feel angry.
The problem isn’t that you care—it’s that it’s taking over your life. You can’t relax, you can’t unplug, and every little development sends you spiraling. The more you focus on politics, the more it consumes you, and before you know it, you’re trapped in a cycle of endless frustration and stress.
2. You’re Feeling Bombarded And Overwhelmed By The News
Every time you open your phone, it’s another crisis. Another scandal. Another reason to be outraged. The constant influx of bad news is overwhelming, and instead of feeling informed, you just feel exhausted. No matter how much you read, it never feels like enough, and every headline feels like a personal attack on your peace of mind. A survey published in January 2025 found that 75% of Charlie Health clients agree that the current political climate negatively impacts their mental health.
At some point, the nonstop news cycle stops being helpful and starts being harmful. There’s only so much negativity a person can take before it starts affecting their mental and emotional well-being. If every piece of news leaves you feeling drained and hopeless, it might be time to set some boundaries.
3. You’re Struggling To Make Sense Of The Facts
The internet is full of information, but not all of it is accurate. Between biased reporting, misinformation, and outright propaganda, it’s becoming harder and harder to separate fact from fiction. You’ve probably noticed that even reputable sources contradict each other, leaving you feeling confused, frustrated, and unsure of what to believe.
When every issue is twisted and spun to fit a certain narrative, it’s easy to fall into the trap of believing whatever confirms your existing beliefs. But constantly questioning what’s real and what’s not isn’t just mentally exhausting—it’s emotionally draining, making it even easier to get caught up in online debates that lead nowhere.
4. You Check Your Phone Constantly, Even When You Sleep
Your phone is basically an extension of your hand at this point. Whether you’re eating, working, or trying to relax, you can’t stop refreshing your feed for the latest political update. You even wake up in the middle of the night just to check if anything major has happened. Research from Cleveland Clinic indicates that excessive smartphone use, particularly before bedtime, can lead to poor sleep quality and difficulty waking up in the morning. This constant checking behavior can significantly disrupt sleep patterns.
This level of hyperconnectivity isn’t just unhealthy—it’s wrecking your ability to rest. When your brain never gets a break, you’re constantly in a state of heightened stress, making it impossible to unwind. The irony? The more you check, the worse you feel, but you still can’t seem to stop.
5. You’re Feeling Anxious And Paranoid
The more time you spend immersed in political discourse, the more it feels like everything is collapsing around you. Every law change feels like a personal attack. Every headline makes you wonder what’s coming next. The fear of losing control over your future starts seeping into every aspect of your life.
It’s not that your concerns aren’t valid—it’s that they’re magnified to the point where you feel like you’re constantly on edge. Anxiety thrives on uncertainty, and when the world feels like it’s spiraling, that uncertainty becomes overwhelming. If you find yourself in a constant state of fear, it’s a sign that your political engagement is taking a serious toll on your mental health.
6. You’ve Started Doomscrolling Constantly
You tell yourself you’ll just check the news for a second, but before you know it, an hour has passed, and you’re deep in a rabbit hole of worst-case scenarios. Doomscrolling is the habit of compulsively consuming negative news, and while it feels like you’re staying informed, you’re really just feeding your own anxiety. Mayo Clinic reports that doomscrolling starts with a goal of becoming more aware of a situation but can lead to a negative spiral of consuming distressing content.
The worst part? It’s addictive. Even though every new headline makes you feel worse, you can’t stop. You keep scrolling, hoping for something good, but all you find is more doom and gloom. And by the time you finally put your phone down, you feel even more helpless than before.
7. You’re Feeling Angrier By The Day
It used to take a lot to get under your skin, but now? It feels like every comment, post, or headline sends you into a full-blown rage. You can’t believe what people are saying, and the more you read, the angrier you get. It’s like you’re carrying around a constant undercurrent of frustration that never fully goes away.
Anger in small doses can be productive, but when it becomes your default emotion, it starts eating away at you. It clouds your judgment, makes it harder to enjoy anything, and keeps you in a constant state of tension. At some point, you have to ask yourself—who is this anger really serving?
8. You Can’t Believe Some People’s Opinions
You used to be able to agree to disagree, but now? Some opinions feel so outlandish that you can’t wrap your head around them. The idea that people actually think certain things baffles you, and instead of brushing it off, you find yourself obsessing over how wrong they are.
The problem is, the internet amplifies the most extreme voices. The more you engage, the more you start seeing the worst of humanity. But instead of stepping away, you keep getting pulled back in, arguing with people who were never going to change their minds in the first place.
9. You Can’t Resist Responding To Comments
Every time you see a ridiculous take online, your fingers start itching. You know you shouldn’t engage, but you just can’t help yourself. You have to correct them, put them in their place, or at least let them know how wrong they are. But what starts as a quick response turns into an all-day argument.
The truth is, arguing with strangers online rarely leads to anything productive. Most people aren’t looking to have their minds changed—they just want to be right. And the more time you spend fighting with them, the more drained and frustrated you become. At some point, you have to ask yourself—is it even worth it?
10. You’ve Become Tactless And Mean When You Post
You used to be thoughtful about what you shared online, but now? Your posts are sharper, more aggressive, and less patient. You don’t have time for sugarcoating, and if someone gets offended, that’s their problem. The problem is, this shift isn’t making you feel better—it’s making you feel worse.
Venting can feel cathartic in the moment, but over time, it changes the way you engage with the world. When every interaction is driven by frustration, you start losing sight of the bigger picture. The more you lash out, the more negativity you attract, and before you know it, social media feels like a battlefield rather than a place to connect.
11. You Have Engaged In Online Fights With Strangers
What started as a casual debate has now become a full-on battle with random strangers on the internet. You find yourself arguing for hours, going back and forth, desperately trying to prove your point. It doesn’t matter if it’s a Facebook thread, a Twitter reply, or a Reddit comment—you just can’t walk away.
The problem is, these fights never go anywhere. No one walks away thinking, “Wow, they really changed my mind.” Instead, everyone just digs in deeper. Meanwhile, you’re left feeling drained, frustrated, and wondering why you wasted so much energy on someone who doesn’t even know you exist.
12. You Re-Share Everything That Hits, Even Though It Might Not Be True
You see a headline that makes your blood boil, and before even checking the source, you hit “share.” It’s not that you’re trying to spread misinformation—it’s just that everything is moving so fast, and you don’t always have time to fact-check. If it aligns with what you already believe, it must be true, right?
This is exactly how misinformation spreads. The problem isn’t just that false information exists—it’s that outrage fuels it. The more emotionally charged something is, the more likely people are to share it without thinking. If you’ve fallen into this habit, it might be time to slow down and ask, “Is this actually accurate?” before hitting that share button.
13. You Can Feel Your Mental Health Slipping
Maybe you haven’t said it out loud, but deep down, you know this isn’t healthy. You don’t feel good. You’re constantly stressed, always on edge, and mentally exhausted. The things you used to enjoy don’t feel the same anymore because everything is overshadowed by frustration, anxiety, and negativity.
The harsh truth? Constant exposure to political stress is harming your well-being. Your brain isn’t meant to be in a state of constant fight-or-flight. If you’ve noticed that your moods are worse, your anxiety is higher, and your ability to focus is shot, it might be time to step away from the chaos.
14. You’re Worried You’ll Lose Your Freedoms And Medicaid
It’s not paranoia if there are legitimate concerns, but at the same time, living in a constant state of fear is exhausting. You’re constantly worried about losing access to basic rights, financial support, or healthcare, and every policy change feels like a direct threat to your future.
The problem is, fear-based politics thrives on keeping people in a state of panic. The more afraid you are, the more likely you are to stay engaged. But when fear dominates your life, it doesn’t just steal your peace of mind—it steals your ability to think clearly and take meaningful action.
15. You’re Freaking Out About The Impact On The Planet
Between climate disasters, pollution, and corporations making everything worse, it’s easy to feel hopeless about the future of the planet. The more you read, the more overwhelming it all feels. You find yourself spiraling over things you can’t control, and no matter what you do, it never feels like enough.
Environmental concerns are valid, but constantly fixating on worst-case scenarios can leave you emotionally drained. Instead of letting eco-anxiety consume you, it might help to focus on the actions you can take—no matter how small. Worrying yourself sick won’t save the planet, but making mindful choices and protecting your mental health will help you stay engaged in a sustainable way.
16. You Feel Like There’s No Light At The End Of The Tunnel
The most dangerous part of getting consumed by political stress is the belief that things will never get better. When all you see is corruption, division, and bad news, it’s easy to lose hope. You start feeling like nothing you do matters, and that kind of mindset can break you down over time.
But here’s the thing—despair is exactly what keeps people stuck. The world isn’t perfect, but giving up won’t fix anything. If politics has made you feel hopeless, it might be time to unplug, take a breath, and remind yourself that there’s more to life than constant outrage. Taking a step back isn’t giving up—it’s protecting your peace so you can keep going.
