Nihilism & Doomerism: When “What’s the Point?” Starts Running the Show
If you have caught yourself thinking, “Everything’s broken, and nothing matters,” you are in good company. Two ideas often sit underneath that feeling:
Nihilism: a philosophical stance that denies inherent meaning or value in life. In practice, it can feel like a heavy, global “nothing matters.” (Stanford)
Doomerism: a cultural mindset that believes catastrophe is inevitable and that personal or collective actions won’t help; especially common in climate and sociopolitical conversations. (Frontiers)
These patterns often surface during times of chronic stress, mass trauma, and after leaving high-demand groups or strict religious systems; when the old meaning-making scaffolding collapses and the nervous system is tired of trying.
Why these mindsets show up
Chronic uncertainty + stress exposure. Continuous exposure to threatening news, images, and arguments (“doomscrolling”) is linked with higher depression, anxiety, sleep problems, and trauma-like symptoms. (PMC)
Learned helplessness loops. When repeated efforts do not change outcomes, our brains can infer “my actions don’t matter,” a well-studied risk pattern for depression and hopelessness. (PubMed)
Hopelessness as a risk factor. Hopelessness predicts increases in suicidal ideation, which is one reason clinicians take it seriously and treat it directly. (PubMed)
Climate distress is real. Many people report worry, grief, and anger about climate change; done poorly, “doom” messaging fuels paralysis more than action. (APA)
Intolerance of uncertainty (IU). When the future feels unpredictable, our brains often default to worst-case thinking. IU is strongly linked to anxiety and depression, which can supercharge nihilistic or doomer interpretations of events. (ScienceDirect)
Social disconnection and loneliness. Isolation lowers mood and increases stress physiology; which is fertile ground for “nothing matters” loops. Loneliness a classified as a public-health crisis that is often tied to worse mental and physical health. Rebuilding connection is protective. (HHS)
Algorithmic amplification of bad news and misinformation. On major platforms, false or sensational stories spread faster and farther than accurate ones, skewing our sense of reality toward catastrophe and chaos. That “always worse than it is” feeling feeds doom beliefs. (Science)
Economic precarity. Financial stress, unemployment, and unstable work conditions are consistently associated with higher depression and anxiety, fueling helplessness and fatalism about the future.
What nihilism & doomerism do to personal mental health
Mood + motivation: Global “nothing matters” beliefs amplify depression and drain initiative; existential nihilism can magnify loneliness and low mood when belonging feels thwarted. (Taylor & Francis)
Anxiety + sleep: Constant negative news intake spikes stress physiology and disrupts sleep; making worry, irritability, and brain fog worse. (Harvard Health)
Meaning collapse: When old frameworks fall away (religious, political, community), people can swing from certainty to emptiness. This is a normal phase of meaning reconstruction, not a moral defect.
Safety + trust appraisals: After trauma, our brains over-predict danger (“the world is unsafe”), which pairs easily with doomeric conclusions.
If hopelessness or suicidal thoughts are present, reach out now: 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (call/text 988 or chat). They are available 24/7 in the U.S.
How does it impact communities (collective mental health)
Collective freeze: Doom messages produce the same outcome as denial, inaction, which erodes social trust and problem-solving.
Lowered collective efficacy: Neighborhoods and groups with higher collective efficacy (shared belief we can do things together) show better health outcomes and fewer depressive symptoms. Fatalism undermines this. (PMC)
Civic disengagement: When people believe nothing helps, they disengage from mutual aid, voting, volunteering, and advocacy, shrinking the “we” that protects mental health during hard times. Engaging in collective action can actually buffer climate-related distress.
A note for survivors of high-demand religions & cultic systems
Leaving a high-control environment often brings a meaning whiplash: rigid certainty collapses, and the nervous system wired for threat fills the gap with “it’s all pointless.” Thought-terminating clichés may simply get replaced with new fatalistic ones (“Why try?”). Recovery asks us to rebuild meaning with consent, autonomy, and flexibility rather than sliding into a different totalism. Helpful resources on cult recovery and mental health: ICSA’s educational hub.
It is also important to note that while nihilism can be painful and destabilizing, it can also be the start of something new. When systems fall apart, it creates space to examine what really matters to you, rather than what you were told should matter.
Practical ways to move from paralysis to grounded agency
While the suggestions below cannot change the reasons why nihilism or doomerism may be present for you, they can help regulate your nervous system to help you make healthier decisions and navigate difficult life circumstances.
Make a “news hygiene” plan (protect your nervous system).
Set a daily window for news (e.g., 15–20 minutes) and stop scrolling after that window.
Choose one trusted outlet and a weekly long-form update instead of constant feeds. This reduces doomscrolling’s anxiety/sleep impact.
Name the part that is doing the doom-thinking (IFS-informed).
For example: “A protective part of me says it is all pointless so I won’t be disappointed.” Thank it for trying to help. Then ask, “What tiny, values-aligned action would another part choose today?” (e.g., text a friend, send $5 to mutual aid, water the plants).
This gently restores choice without shaming the protector part.
Do a 10-minute “agency repetition”
List 3 things you can influence this week (your body, your space, your connections).
Do the smallest next step now (e.g., fill a water bottle; schedule a walk; email to join a local effort). Repeated small wins counter helplessness learning.
Values before goals (ACT skill).
Write 1–2 verbs you care about (e.g., “care,” “learn,” “repair”).
Ask: “What is a 5-minute way to embody this value today?” (The ACT approach emphasizes values-based action to address stuckness.) (The Happiness Trap)
Join something (anything) bigger than you.
Collective action (cleanup days, tenant meetings, climate groups, book drives, phone trees) reduces climate anxiety and builds collective efficacy, a known public-health protective factor.
Re-build meaning, don’t hunt for certainty.
If existential questions feel loud, it can help to borrow sturdy frameworks temporarily. Frankl’s logotherapy focuses on crafting meaning through contribution, connection, and facing hardship with dignity.
Care for your body like it matters (because it does).
Gentle movement, sunlight, regular meals, and sleep routines decrease threat arousal, making catastrophic thinking less sticky.
When therapy helps
If fatalism, numbness, or hopelessness are sticking around, or you are noticing depression, panic, or trauma symptoms, therapy can help you untangle the beliefs, soothe your nervous system, and rebuild meaning that fits your life now.
Reach out if you are interested in learning more or starting therapy.
More Resources:
Viktor Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning
Russ Harris, The Happiness Trap (free ACT worksheets)
Joanna Macy & Chris Johnstone, Active Hope
Disclaimer:
⚠️ The content on this blog is intended for informational and educational purposes ONLY and should NOT be considered a substitute for personal professional mental health care, diagnosis, or treatment. Reading these posts does not establish a therapeutic relationship.
If you are currently in crisis, experiencing thoughts of harming yourself or others, or are in need of immediate support, please call 911 or contact a crisis line such as the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 (U.S.) or access your local emergency services.
These blog posts are written to explore topics like trauma, religious deconstruction, cults, identity development, and mental wellness in a thoughtful and compassionate way. They may (or may not) resonate deeply, especially for those healing from complex trauma, but they are NOT meant to replace individualized therapy or medical care.
