If you feel mentally exhausted by the end of the day, struggle to make simple decisions, or find yourself lying awake replaying tomorrow's to-do list, you’re not imagining it. What doesn’t help is assuming poor sleep and mental exhaustion are completely separate problems.

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."