{"id":880334,"date":"2026-10-13T01:56:12","date_gmt":"2026-10-13T01:56:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/880334\/"},"modified":"2026-10-13T01:56:12","modified_gmt":"2026-10-13T01:56:12","slug":"helicopter-brain-could-be-making-you-feel-sick-how-to-spot-it-and-what-to-do","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/880334\/","title":{"rendered":"‘Helicopter brain’ could be making you feel sick: How to spot it and what to do"},"content":{"rendered":"

A new analysis of 44 studies has linked \u201cdoomscrolling\u201d <\/a>to higher levels of anxiety and psychological distress \u2014 but for some, information overload may also contribute to a phenomenon one neurologist calls \u201chelicopter brain.\u201d<\/p>\n

The research, published in Frontiers in Psychology, <\/a>found associations between excessive consumption of negative online content and poorer mental health<\/a>, although it did not establish a cause-and-effect relationship.<\/p>\n

Board-certified neurologist Dr. Steven Resnick<\/a> uses the term \u201chelicopter brain\u201d to describe a nervous system that remains constantly on high alert, much like a \u201chelicopter parent\u201d who constantly hovers over a child to protect them from harm.<\/p>\n

\u201cImagine your own helicopter \u2014 that is your nervous system<\/a>,\u201d Resnick, chief of the Division of Neurology and medical director of the Comprehensive Stroke Center at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach, Florida, told Fox News Digital. \u201cYour nervous system\u2019s job is to protect you from harm.\u201d<\/p>\n

Information overload, overstimulation and uncertainty can keep the brain on high alert, activating the autonomic nervous system, the neurologist said.<\/p>\n

\u201cAn analysis of 44 studies links \u201cdoomscrolling\u201d to higher anxiety and distress, while information overload may also trigger \u201chelicopter brain,\u201d according to one neurologist. Aliaksandr \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n

\u201cThe brain is scanning for danger,\u201d Resnick said. \u201cWhen it scans for danger, then you have that autonomic nervous system pushing the accelerator.\u201d<\/p>\n

The neurologist, who also hosts \u201cThe Healthy Mind<\/a>\u201d podcast, said he often sees patients experiencing symptoms they struggle to explain, including headaches, gastrointestinal issues, fatigue, sleep problems, tingling and dizziness.<\/p>\n

In some cases, patients undergo evaluations by multiple specialists before identifying a potential explanation.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey end up going to see a neurologist, who sends them to the gastroenterologist, who sends them to the cardiologist, then the rheumatologist,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey don\u2019t understand what they\u2019re feeling is actually authentic; it\u2019s real \u2014 it\u2019s the nervous system that is actually activated.\u201d<\/p>\n

Although constant information overload can contribute to this heightened state of alertness, Resnick said the same patterns can emerge in response to everyday stressors and deeply ingrained habits.<\/p>\n

The neurologist and host of \u201cThe Healthy Mind\u201d podcast noted that patients with unexplained symptoms; such as headaches, digestive issues, fatigue, sleep disturbances, tingling, and dizziness; often see numerous specialists before learning that an activated nervous system is causing their real symptoms. Malik\/peopleimages.com \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n

The neurologist<\/a> outlined the following five strategies for recognizing these patterns<\/a>, calming the nervous system and developing healthier responses to stress.<\/p>\n

When seeing patients, Resnick said his first step is to listen to them, to ensure that he understands what they\u2019re feeling.<\/p>\n

\u201cI hear patients say, \u2018I\u2019m scared, I\u2019m fearful, I\u2019m concerned, I\u2019m worried,\u2019 and then you start to realize what their nervous system is telling you,\u201d he told Fox News Digital. \u201cI would never have done that by just fixing the problem right away.\u201d<\/p>\n

The nervous system can begin to calm when patients feel truly heard, safe, secure and connected, the neurologist said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe solution can be done later,\u201d Resnick said. \u201cAnd we have to stop using the word \u2018fixing,\u2019 because a lot of things cannot be fixed \u2014 but over time, you can start feeling better.\u201d<\/p>\n

No. 2: Name the pattern<\/p>\n

Recognizing recurring patterns \u2014 in thoughts, behaviors and reactions \u2014 is an important first step toward changing them, Resnick said<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cMindfulness is not just about meditation; it\u2019s about noticing,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

That could mean recognizing the same conflict happening repeatedly with a co-worker, lying awake each night with racing thoughts, or turning to food or cigarettes during periods of stress, according to Resnick.<\/p>\n

According to Resnick, mindfulness is about recognizing recurring patterns in thoughts, behaviors, and reactions, such as stress triggers or workplace conflicts, in order to change them. N Lawrenson\/peopleimages.com \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n

When those behaviors repeat, people can begin operating on \u201cautopilot,\u201d he said.\u201dThe brain wants to resort to what is familiar, what is safe and what is known,\u201d Resnick said. \u201cIt keeps going back to that because the brain understands it, retrieves it and does the same thing over and over again.\u201d<\/p>\n

Breaking that cycle requires recognizing the pattern and making a conscious effort to respond differently, he added.<\/p>\n

No. 3: Catch the trigger<\/p>\n

Next, the neurologist said it\u2019s important to \u201ccatch the cue,\u201d or trigger, that kick-starts the pattern.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a stimulus,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s something that is very sneaky. It goes under your level of consciousness.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt could be your boss\u2019 face. It could be a telephone. It could be a chair or a couch in a room. It could be a smell or a feeling.\u201d<\/p>\n

That cue can trigger an almost automatic behavior, Resnick said, such as procrastinating, eating, reaching for a drink or lashing out.<\/p>\n

Habits are reinforced when they offer pleasure or relief, but breaking the cycle starts by identifying specific triggers, behaviors, and rewards. (JLco) Julia Amaral \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n

If the behavior provides pleasure or helps someone avoid an uncomfortable feeling or situation, the brain can become more likely to repeat it.<\/p>\n

Even worrying can become part of that cycle. If the feared outcome doesn\u2019t happen, Resnick said, the brain may interpret the worry as protective, reinforcing the habit.<\/p>\n

Breaking the pattern starts with identifying the specific cues that set it in motion, according to the neurologist.<\/p>\n

Rather than viewing anxiety or overthinking as something that happens \u201call the time,\u201d Resnick encourages patients to pinpoint a specific episode, consider what triggered it and recognize the behavior and potential reward that followed.<\/p>\n

No. 4: Reward the new habit<\/p>\n

The next step is replacing the unwanted behavior with a healthier habit that provides a noticeable reward, Resnick said.<\/p>\n

\u201cGive your new habit a reward you can feel,\u201d he advised.<\/p>\n

That reward does not have to be significant. After an early-morning workout, for example, it might be a sense of accomplishment or an improved mood. A healthy shake after the workout could provide another small reward.<\/p>\n

Replace unwanted behaviors with healthy habits that offer immediate, satisfying rewards. Drazen \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n

\u201cGive your new habit a reward you can feel.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEven checkboxing something on a piece of paper feels good,\u201d Resnick said.<\/p>\n

These immediate, positive reinforcements can help the brain begin associating the healthier behavior with something rewarding.<\/p>\n

\u201cRewards are very important,\u201d the neurologist said. \u201cEven the small ones are important.\u201d<\/p>\n

No. 5: Float instead of fight<\/p>\n

Finally, when anxiety or panic strikes, Resnick recommends taking a counterintuitive approach: \u201cFloat instead of fight.\u201d<\/p>\n

In many cases, he said, people are not only afraid of a particular situation, but of the anxious feelings that may result.<\/p>\n

Someone with claustrophobia, for example, may fear getting an MRI because they anticipate the physical sensations of anxiety that could arise inside the machine.<\/p>\n

According to Resnick, safely confronting stress and anxiety helps retrain the brain and body to feel safe, though persistent physical symptoms should still be evaluated by a medical professional to rule out underlying conditions. TommyStockProject \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t fight it,\u201d Resnick advised. \u201cYou want to allow it. You want to feel it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Avoiding a situation can reinforce the brain\u2019s perception that it poses a threat, he said, while safely experiencing it can help create a new association.<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter you have that experience where you felt safe, and you went toward it, then your brain and body \u2026 pair it as being safe,\u201d Resnick said.<\/p>\n

The goal, he added, is \u201cto teach the brain safety through your body and through your brain and mind.\u201d<\/p>\n

While these strategies may help people better manage stress and anxiety, Resnick emphasized the importance of recognizing the patterns behind the symptoms.<\/p>\n

People experiencing persistent or unexplained physical symptoms should seek medical evaluation to rule out underlying health conditions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A new analysis of 44 studies has linked \u201cdoomscrolling\u201d to higher levels of anxiety and psychological distress \u2014…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":880335,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[59],"tags":[2763,97,252,253,2598,8115],"class_list":["post-880334","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-health-care","tag-anxiety","tag-health","tag-health-care","tag-healthcare","tag-mental-illness","tag-sleep"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/880334","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=880334"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/880334\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/880335"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=880334"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=880334"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=880334"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}