There is a certain kind of person many of us have in our lives — the one who constantly sends alarming articles, along with a comment to the effect of "we're f**ked." They always know the latest awful happenings in the world and seem ready to tell everybody that nothing anyone does matters. The name for these kinds of people? "Doomers."
What Is Doomerism?
"'Doomerism' is a mindset that's rooted in chronic pessimism and worst-case scenario thinking," said Chloë Bean, a licensed marriage and family therapist. "It's the belief that the future is bleak, things are only going to get worse and individual actions won't matter. It tends to carry a sense of hopelessness, helplessness and emotional exhaustion."
For "doomers," there is a pervasive sense that everything is bad. Alexandra Cromer, a licensed therapist with Thriveworks, compared doomerism to "existential dread," highlighting the sense of fear around imminent destruction against which you have no power. "It posits that the future of global welfare is inherently 'doomed,' meaning that there is almost a guarantee that the global population will soon face climate, economic and other grave disasters that ultimately contribute to widespread societal collapse," she explained.
Why Doomerism Is on the Rise
While there have always been "doomers" in the world to some extent, this mindset seems to have become more prevalent in the age of the internet and social media. "A lot of people are consuming a steady stream of alarming news headlines, conflict, economic stress, climate anxiety and comparison culture without enough time to process what they're absorbing," Bean said. "Our nervous systems were not designed for 24/7 exposure to global distress."
She noted that social media can amplify doomerism as fear-driven content often gets more engagement. "The more someone interacts with pessimistic or catastrophic content, the more the algorithm will serve it back to them," Bean explained. "This creates the false feeling that despair is the only reality."
Experts believe this age of hyperinformation has led to a rise in doomerism. This phenomenon is true for those who don't engage directly with these kinds of headlines and posts as well. "Information that's posted online and via social media can find you even if you're not seeking it — e.g. your Facebook friend comments on a post or shares the concept of doomerism as a post — thus enhancing the chance that you're exposed to that concept," Cromer said.
Very real cultural factors can shape this mindset as well — from recent global affairs and instability to political figures espousing extremist ideologies. "Many people are navigating systemic issues, inequity, discrimination, financial pressure, loneliness and uncertainty about the future," Bean said. "For some, pessimism is not irrational — it's actually a response to repeated stress and feeling unsupported."
Dr. Sue Varma, a psychiatrist and author of "Practical Optimism," believes doomerism has become especially widespread among younger people, who feel they must choose between being happy and being informed. "Younger people have declining trust in institutions, rising economic anxiety and the collapse of shared optimistic narratives — like steady progress or upward mobility — which all feed the mindset," she said. "Constant exposure to global crises creates a sense that disasters are everywhere all at once. Historically our 20s were typically the period of time we were happiest and most optimistic in our lives, and I just don't see that to be the case anymore."
How Doomerism Affects Everyday Life
There are serious downsides to leaning too far into doomerism in your everyday life. "Being concerned about real issues is understandable, while doomerism crosses into the belief like 'nothing will get better,' which can create a sense of paralysis and apathy," Bean said.
She believes the biggest risk to this mindset is that it becomes self-reinforcing. "When someone believes nothing matters, they stop taking actions that support their wellbeing, like connecting with others, pursuing meaningful goals, learning new things, caring for their body, creating change in their community, or asking for help," Bean explained.
Doomerism can increase depression, burnout, anxiety and isolation as well. "It also narrows attention so people stop noticing what is still working or possible in their lives," Bean said. "Chronic doom-focused thinking can disconnect people from hope, and hope is a top protective factor for mental health."
It's a mindset that tends to produce very absolute and passive conclusions: "Nothing will ever get better." "Everyone is terrible." "There's no point." "It usually comes with compulsive scrolling, feeling emotionally flooded, irritability, numbness, withdrawal, constriction or losing motivation to participate in life," Bean noted.
Cromer similarly sees many downsides to the doomerist outlook on life. "Primarily, it causes you to have an unhealthy and unrealistic viewpoint on global health and humanity's ability to problem-solve," she explained. "While, yes, there are certain factors that humanity should be aware of that contribute to poor global health and outlooks, it's also important to take a more holistic — and realistic — viewpoint of our global forecast."
In addition to isolation and anxiety, she pointed to negative effects like restlessness, low motivation, low energy, chronic stress, hopelessness and an overall lack of enjoyment and engagement with life. "Becoming engrossed in this mindset leads to rigid thinking, hyperfixation and can have real impacts on people's lives," Cromer said.
What To Do If You Fall Into Doomerism
"If someone notices they feel worse after consuming news, feel stuck in catastrophic thoughts, or can't access moments of joy or their sense of agency anymore, it may be time to get some support in making a change," Bean said.
She recommended setting boundaries around the media you take in every day. "You don't need unlimited access to distressing information to stay informed," Bean said. "Choose a few reliable sources, check them intentionally once per day max and avoid doom-scrolling."
Restricting your information intake can help foster a healthier mindset. Consider balancing your media diet by seeking out stories of progress alongside articles about problems. "Limit your interactions with news to maybe 30 minutes a day," Cromer echoed. "Or, disengage from following news outlets on social media and rely on a once-daily email newsletter that can provide you with a quick, succinct update."
Another helpful approach is to reconnect with your body and what's going well in the present. "When people are trapped in catastrophic thinking, regulation helps them gain a new perspective," Bean said. "Go outside, move your body, listen to music, talk with someone safe, cook dinner, notice what is steady and real in the present moment."
Give yourself permission to "step away" from the gloom and doom. Spend time in nature, even if it's just sitting on a city park bench. "Engaging with a doomerism mindset places a disproportionate amount of responsibility and perceived control on a person's shoulders," Cromer said. "Allow yourself to visualize placing that worry down, like removing a backpack from your back."
Ultimately, the goal is not to disengage from all negative news but to find balance and personal agency. "Realistic concern usually leads to taking a grounded action — voting, setting boundaries, volunteering, reducing harm, having conversations, or making values-based choices," Bean said. "It says, 'Things are hard, and I can still choose to respond.'"
You might not be able to fix the macro problems of the world, but you can make a difference in your immediate surroundings. "Take concrete action on something you care about, even small, because agency is the antidote to helplessness," Varma said. "It could be planting a community garden. It could be mentoring or tutoring somebody. It could literally be cleaning your apartment, rearranging things, donating old clothes. Invest in in-person relationships and local community, which tend to be more hopeful than online life."
You can have realistic concern about the world without going down an unhealthy doom spiral by ensuring you can look at world issues "from all sides," Cromer noted. "Do you have the ability to identify risk factors as well as protective factors regarding global health?" she asked. "Are you easily able to disengage from these thought patterns and 'take a break'? If your answer is 'no,' you are likely engaging in harmful ways of thinking that are not reflective of current reality."
She also warned against becoming intolerant of differing or conflicting viewpoints — a potential sign that you're stuck in rigid, unhelpful patterns.
What To Do If Doomerism Starts To Cross Into Darker Territory
Doomerism can also go beyond just media diet and into darker mental health territory — particularly with "there's no point" attitudes. "Doom thinking feels absolute and drains energy rather than directing it," Varma said. "Warning signs include consuming bad news compulsively, feeling numb or hopeless most days, believing nothing you do matters, withdrawing from plans or relationships, dismissing any positive information as naive and talking about the future only in terms of collapse."
Be mindful if you or someone you know starts to cross a line between doomerism and suicidal ideation. "If you find that the doomerism is impacting daily functioning and enjoyment, seek professional supportive counseling services," Cromer said.
Mental health professionals say it's important to pay attention to how pervasive and intense these doom-focused thoughts become. It can be hard to tell when everyday pessimism crosses into something more extreme and serious. But you might need additional support if "what's the point?" starts to feel like your default setting and not just a passing thought or if you notice yourself pulling away from things that used to bring you joy.
In addition to seeking therapy support, Bean recommended practicing "both/and" thinking in your everyday life. "The world has real problems, and there is still goodness, beauty, connection, and action available right now," Bean said. "If hopelessness feels persistent, therapy can also help unpack whether the doomer mindset is being fueled by anxiety, trauma, depression, loneliness, or burnout. Sometimes what looks like cynicism is actually an overwhelmed and stressed-out nervous system ready for care."
If you or someone you know needs help, call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org for mental health support. Additionally, you can find local mental health and crisis resources at dontcallthepolice.com. Outside of the U.S., please visit the International Association for Suicide Prevention.
