If you go to bed tired but somehow end up scrolling for another 30 minutes—or wake up feeling mentally exhausted despite getting enough hours of sleep—you’re not imagining it. What doesn’t help is thinking doomscrolling is harmless because you're "just relaxing."

If you eat well, stay active, and generally take good care of yourself—but still experience energy crashes, cravings, or post-meal sluggishness—you’re not imagining it. What doesn’t help is assuming blood sugar issues only affect people with diabetes or poor eating habits.

If your energy, sleep, mood, or weight feels harder to manage than it used to, you’re not imagining it. What doesn’t help is assuming hormones are only influenced by age or genetics.

If your weight seems harder to manage during stressful periods—even when your eating habits haven’t changed much—you’re not imagining it. What doesn’t help is blaming yourself or assuming you’ve suddenly lost willpower.

If your joints feel stiff, achy, or less comfortable than they used to, you’re not imagining it. What doesn’t help is thinking joint health is only about the joints themselves.