TikTok is a bottomless pit of viral tips and fads when it comes to mental health. Of course, some of these trends are more positive than others. For some time now, the practice of bed rotting has become popular on this social network, which translates into Spanish as 'rotting in bed'. Its followers defend that it is a form of personal care aimed at relaxation and disconnection from problems.
Basically, bed rotting consists of spending hours in bed – even days – doing nothing more than dozing, watching the hours go by, reading, looking at the phone, listening to music or watching a movie or series. Its goal is to free a person from the pressure of being productive and taking on day-to-day obligations, and those who praise it on TikTok insist that it improves mental health. However, nothing could be further from the truth.
Psychotherapist Amy Morin states in an article published in Psychology Today that “staying in bed all day could worsen existing mental health problems and potentially introduce new ones.” This practice is especially negative for people who suffer from pre-existing health problems, affecting their well-being and increasing their symptoms, as well as inducing other new problems in their life.
According to Amy Morin, staying in bed while awake interferes with our sleep and can cause insomnia. If you stay in bed working, eating, or watching TV, “you'll train your brain to stay awake when you're in bed,” she warns.
Also, note that inactivity can contribute to depression and anxiety, no matter how tempting it may be to stay in bed. “The longer you are inactive, or the more often you do it, the greater the risk of developing or worsening anxiety and/or depression, which can reduce motivation and cause fatigue,” says Morin, who highlights that “Effective treatment for depression often includes physical activity, social interaction, and problem solving.”
On the other hand, he argues that without any stimulation we are more likely to ruminate on our problems and think the same things over and over again, which is known as rumination. The expert explains that “reflecting on stressors or negative events increases or maintains mental health problems such as depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, somatic symptom disorder, and substance use disorders.” ”.
In this regard, the psychologist insists that avoiding problems increases stress. Although retreating to bed may provide temporary relief, “escapism will not resolve the problems that are actually causing your distress, it may simply prolong their resolution and increase your distress in the long term.” Finally, she focuses on the fact that this downtime can lead to more time using phone or computer screens, which can cause us even more stress.
