Doomscrolling

The thought spiral of death

Most of you know what this is like. You need a little brain break and so you start scrolling through Facebook, or TikTok or the social media time waster of your choice. And you see a post that you don’t even finish before steam starts to come out of your ears. You start fuming “People are such idiots, how can they think that? Don’t they understand what they’re saying!?” That of course leads to an irritated mood, escalating anger and often a ruined day.

At this stage we can probably paraphrase the Apostle Paul:

“Wretched person that I am! Who will rescue me from this social media thought spiral of death?” (Romans 7:24)

But there may actually be a way to keep from getting trapped in this common, destructive pattern, and it also comes from Scripture. In the Christian monastic tradition, each of the times of common prayer start with everyone reciting the verse: “O God come to my assistance, O Lord make haste to help me.” (Ps. 70:1)

So how would this help when you are caught up in raging at the collapse of western civilization? When we pray this verse (from our hearts!) it reminds us that the world does not revolve around us, our personal beliefs, opinions or feelings. If we are open to really reflecting on this verse we come to the awful realization that our opinions may not even be right and our feelings may be just that, feelings and not reality.

On the other hand, deeply, sincerely, with feeling, asking for God to help us is a reminder that we are not in control and our personal opinion and feelings may not be of critical importance to the rest of the world. When we call to God for help we are embracing our helplessness, our fragility, our lack of control. It is a chance to embrace the reality that we are not in control and that is actually a good thing! Do you really think that you would be the best person to be in charge of the world? If you do, you might want to consider a remedial course in humility.

It is more helpful to repeat this verse (with feeling), calling on God to help rather than calling “those people” idiots. Recognizing that you need God’s help is the beginning of the work of reconciliation that can heal our world. Admitting your urgent need for divine help is an alternative to succumbing to the thought spiral of anger. It creates a mind that is gratefully aware of God’s healing power and presence in the lives of all people rather than only the people we agree with.

And, what do you have to lose by trying this, except a lot of anger and a ruined day?

“O God come to my assistance, O Lord make haste to help me.” Say it like you mean it, until you do.