Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Causes a Feeling of Impending Doom?Additional Symptoms of Impending DoomManagementWhen to Seek CareFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Causes a Feeling of Impending Doom?
Additional Symptoms of Impending Doom
Management
When to Seek Care
Frequently Asked Questions
If this feeling interferes with your daily life and is unrelated to a real potential for danger, it may be a sign of a serious medical issue.
This article will describe impending doom, symptoms to watch for, and why someone may experience this feeling. You’ll also learn when to call a healthcare provider.
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Mental Health Conditions
Anxiety disorder:A mental health condition associated with repeatedly experiencing a sense of impending danger, panic, or doom.
Panic disorder:A condition that leads topanic attacks, which are episodes of intense and overwhelming sensations of fear that trigger physical reactions when there is no real danger or apparent cause. They are often associated with feelings of impending doom.When panic attacks occur during sleep, they are called nocturnal panic attacks.
Bipolar disorder:Bipolar disorder involves alternating periods of depression and mania. During depressive episodes, a person may feel a sense of despair and impending doom.
Depression:An ongoing feeling of negativity, sadness, or despair. The dark moods that can accompany depression can lead to feelings of impending doom.
Physical Conditions
Anaphylaxis: This severe allergic reaction includes anxiety, confusion, and feeling like something bad will happen.
Blood transfusion reactions: Blood transfusions may trigger anaphylaxis in some people. The anxiety symptoms and sinking feeling are early warning signs before other symptoms, including shortness of breath and heart palpitations.
Heart attack: Feeling a sense of impending doom can be an early warning sign of an impending heart attack.
Toxin exposure and poisonings: A typical first symptom of poisoning is a feeling of impending doom.
Pheochromocytoma:Pheochromocytomais a type of adrenal gland tumor that presents symptoms similar to anaphylaxis. Mood-modulating chemical messengers such asadrenaline,noradrenaline, anddopamineinteract to cause a sudden increase in blood pressure, rapid heart rate, sweating, and a sinking feeling that something terrible is about to happen.
Intraoperative awareness:Intraoperative awareness can occur when the amount of general anesthesia used during an operation is not sufficient to induce complete unconsciousness. Patients may experience a sense of impending doom as a result.
Epilepsy aura:Both an epileptic aura and non-epileptic psychogenic seizures can cause a sense of impending doom.
Feeling a sense of impending doom is often associated with anxiety and includes symptoms like:
How a Heart Attack Is Diagnosed
How to Treat Feelings of Impending Doom
Managing feelings of impending doom comes down to determining the cause of the feelings. The source may be evident to you, yet indescribable.
If you have an underlying condition causing these feelings, treatment for that condition will help you manage feelings of impending doom.
For example, if you have an anxiety disorder, gettingcognitive behavioral therapycan help you learn coping techniques to manage these feelings and prevent them in the future.
Your healthcare provider may suggest real-time strategies likebreathing, grounding, or mindfulness exercises. These tools help ease symptoms of anxiety and depression or “doom and gloom.”
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Call your local emergency number if you experience a sudden onset of doom. The sense of impending doom could be related to anxiety or indicate early warning signs of a heart attack or seizure. Being cautious in this case could save your life.
You may also consider contacting a healthcare provider or a mental health professional if you’re experiencing ongoing or chronic feelings of impending doom. They will be able to help you determine the source of your feelings and the following steps to feeling better.
Summary
People who experience a feeling of impending doom may feel like something tragic or life-threatening is about to happen.It is a heavy, sinking feeling that can be overwhelming.
A feeling of impending doom can be a symptom of anxiety and affect yourmental health, relationships, and ability to carry out normal daily activities.
If you are experiencing a feeling of impending doom, listen to your body and reach out for support.
Frequently Asked QuestionsAnxiety can cause someone to feel on edge, which means they may become irritated, frustrated, or angry more quickly than others.Dread or an impending feeling of doom can be a symptom of anxiety. It can also be a symptom of depression, panic disorder, bipolar disorder, and health conditions, including a heart attack and some seizures.Learn MoreAnxiety SymptomsYes, feelings of impending doom may be associated with panic attacks or panic disorders as well as other anxiety disorders.Learn MorePanic Disorder Treatment
Anxiety can cause someone to feel on edge, which means they may become irritated, frustrated, or angry more quickly than others.
Dread or an impending feeling of doom can be a symptom of anxiety. It can also be a symptom of depression, panic disorder, bipolar disorder, and health conditions, including a heart attack and some seizures.Learn MoreAnxiety Symptoms
Dread or an impending feeling of doom can be a symptom of anxiety. It can also be a symptom of depression, panic disorder, bipolar disorder, and health conditions, including a heart attack and some seizures.
Learn MoreAnxiety Symptoms
Yes, feelings of impending doom may be associated with panic attacks or panic disorders as well as other anxiety disorders.Learn MorePanic Disorder Treatment
Yes, feelings of impending doom may be associated with panic attacks or panic disorders as well as other anxiety disorders.
Learn MorePanic Disorder Treatment
17 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.NIH | National Library of Medicine.Sense of impending doom.American Psychological Association.Anxiety.NIH | National Institute of Mental Health.Panic disorder: when fear overwhelms.Nakamura M, Sugiura T, Nishida S, Komada Y, Inoue Y.Is nocturnal panic a distinct disease category? Comparison of clinical characteristics among patients with primary nocturnal panic, daytime panic, and coexistence of nocturnal and daytime panic.J Clin Sleep Med. 2013 May 15;9(5):461-7. doi:10.5664/jcsm.2666Rathee, S. (2019).Psychosocial management of bipolar affective disorder.Int J Indian Psychol,7, 404-12. doi:10.25215/0704.048U.S. Department of the Interior.Understanding trauma and PTSD.Sowmya AV, Singh P, Samudra M, Javadekar A, Saldanha D.Impact of COVID-19 on obsessive-compulsive disorder: a case series.Ind Psychiatry J. 2021 Oct;30(Suppl 1):S237-S239. doi:10.4103/0972-6748.328818Kaplan MS.Anaphylaxis.Perm J. 2007 Summer;11(3):53-56. doi:10.7812/tpp/07-019MedlinePlus.ABO incompatibility.Sutter Health.Heart attack vs. severe anxiety.Marrs TC, Thompson JP.The efficacy and adverse effects of dicobalt edetate in cyanide poisoning. Clin Toxicol (Phila). Sept 2016;54(8):609-614. doi:10.1080/15563650.2016.1186804Lalitha R, Opio CK.A missed diagnosis or a masquerading disease: back to the basics.Pan Afr Med J. 2013 May 21;15:29. doi:10.11604/pamj.2013.15.29.2039Stanford Health Care.Epilepsy.Njue C, Kinyungu N. (2021).Perioperative awareness after anesthesia: a case report.Open Journal of Anesthesiology, 11, 149-155. doi:10.4236/ojanes.2021.115014Li W, Chen C, Chen M, Xin T, Gao P.Pulmonary embolism presenting with itinerant chest pain and migratory pleural effusion: a case report.Medicine (Baltimore). 2018;97(22):e10944. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000010944Cedars-Sinai.Epilepsy and seizures.Anxiety and Depression Association of America.Integrative behavioral health.
17 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.NIH | National Library of Medicine.Sense of impending doom.American Psychological Association.Anxiety.NIH | National Institute of Mental Health.Panic disorder: when fear overwhelms.Nakamura M, Sugiura T, Nishida S, Komada Y, Inoue Y.Is nocturnal panic a distinct disease category? Comparison of clinical characteristics among patients with primary nocturnal panic, daytime panic, and coexistence of nocturnal and daytime panic.J Clin Sleep Med. 2013 May 15;9(5):461-7. doi:10.5664/jcsm.2666Rathee, S. (2019).Psychosocial management of bipolar affective disorder.Int J Indian Psychol,7, 404-12. doi:10.25215/0704.048U.S. Department of the Interior.Understanding trauma and PTSD.Sowmya AV, Singh P, Samudra M, Javadekar A, Saldanha D.Impact of COVID-19 on obsessive-compulsive disorder: a case series.Ind Psychiatry J. 2021 Oct;30(Suppl 1):S237-S239. doi:10.4103/0972-6748.328818Kaplan MS.Anaphylaxis.Perm J. 2007 Summer;11(3):53-56. doi:10.7812/tpp/07-019MedlinePlus.ABO incompatibility.Sutter Health.Heart attack vs. severe anxiety.Marrs TC, Thompson JP.The efficacy and adverse effects of dicobalt edetate in cyanide poisoning. Clin Toxicol (Phila). Sept 2016;54(8):609-614. doi:10.1080/15563650.2016.1186804Lalitha R, Opio CK.A missed diagnosis or a masquerading disease: back to the basics.Pan Afr Med J. 2013 May 21;15:29. doi:10.11604/pamj.2013.15.29.2039Stanford Health Care.Epilepsy.Njue C, Kinyungu N. (2021).Perioperative awareness after anesthesia: a case report.Open Journal of Anesthesiology, 11, 149-155. doi:10.4236/ojanes.2021.115014Li W, Chen C, Chen M, Xin T, Gao P.Pulmonary embolism presenting with itinerant chest pain and migratory pleural effusion: a case report.Medicine (Baltimore). 2018;97(22):e10944. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000010944Cedars-Sinai.Epilepsy and seizures.Anxiety and Depression Association of America.Integrative behavioral health.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
NIH | National Library of Medicine.Sense of impending doom.American Psychological Association.Anxiety.NIH | National Institute of Mental Health.Panic disorder: when fear overwhelms.Nakamura M, Sugiura T, Nishida S, Komada Y, Inoue Y.Is nocturnal panic a distinct disease category? Comparison of clinical characteristics among patients with primary nocturnal panic, daytime panic, and coexistence of nocturnal and daytime panic.J Clin Sleep Med. 2013 May 15;9(5):461-7. doi:10.5664/jcsm.2666Rathee, S. (2019).Psychosocial management of bipolar affective disorder.Int J Indian Psychol,7, 404-12. doi:10.25215/0704.048U.S. Department of the Interior.Understanding trauma and PTSD.Sowmya AV, Singh P, Samudra M, Javadekar A, Saldanha D.Impact of COVID-19 on obsessive-compulsive disorder: a case series.Ind Psychiatry J. 2021 Oct;30(Suppl 1):S237-S239. doi:10.4103/0972-6748.328818Kaplan MS.Anaphylaxis.Perm J. 2007 Summer;11(3):53-56. doi:10.7812/tpp/07-019MedlinePlus.ABO incompatibility.Sutter Health.Heart attack vs. severe anxiety.Marrs TC, Thompson JP.The efficacy and adverse effects of dicobalt edetate in cyanide poisoning. Clin Toxicol (Phila). Sept 2016;54(8):609-614. doi:10.1080/15563650.2016.1186804Lalitha R, Opio CK.A missed diagnosis or a masquerading disease: back to the basics.Pan Afr Med J. 2013 May 21;15:29. doi:10.11604/pamj.2013.15.29.2039Stanford Health Care.Epilepsy.Njue C, Kinyungu N. (2021).Perioperative awareness after anesthesia: a case report.Open Journal of Anesthesiology, 11, 149-155. doi:10.4236/ojanes.2021.115014Li W, Chen C, Chen M, Xin T, Gao P.Pulmonary embolism presenting with itinerant chest pain and migratory pleural effusion: a case report.Medicine (Baltimore). 2018;97(22):e10944. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000010944Cedars-Sinai.Epilepsy and seizures.Anxiety and Depression Association of America.Integrative behavioral health.
NIH | National Library of Medicine.Sense of impending doom.
American Psychological Association.Anxiety.
NIH | National Institute of Mental Health.Panic disorder: when fear overwhelms.
Nakamura M, Sugiura T, Nishida S, Komada Y, Inoue Y.Is nocturnal panic a distinct disease category? Comparison of clinical characteristics among patients with primary nocturnal panic, daytime panic, and coexistence of nocturnal and daytime panic.J Clin Sleep Med. 2013 May 15;9(5):461-7. doi:10.5664/jcsm.2666
Rathee, S. (2019).Psychosocial management of bipolar affective disorder.Int J Indian Psychol,7, 404-12. doi:10.25215/0704.048
U.S. Department of the Interior.Understanding trauma and PTSD.
Sowmya AV, Singh P, Samudra M, Javadekar A, Saldanha D.Impact of COVID-19 on obsessive-compulsive disorder: a case series.Ind Psychiatry J. 2021 Oct;30(Suppl 1):S237-S239. doi:10.4103/0972-6748.328818
Kaplan MS.Anaphylaxis.Perm J. 2007 Summer;11(3):53-56. doi:10.7812/tpp/07-019
MedlinePlus.ABO incompatibility.
Sutter Health.Heart attack vs. severe anxiety.
Marrs TC, Thompson JP.The efficacy and adverse effects of dicobalt edetate in cyanide poisoning. Clin Toxicol (Phila). Sept 2016;54(8):609-614. doi:10.1080/15563650.2016.1186804
Lalitha R, Opio CK.A missed diagnosis or a masquerading disease: back to the basics.Pan Afr Med J. 2013 May 21;15:29. doi:10.11604/pamj.2013.15.29.2039
Stanford Health Care.Epilepsy.
Njue C, Kinyungu N. (2021).Perioperative awareness after anesthesia: a case report.Open Journal of Anesthesiology, 11, 149-155. doi:10.4236/ojanes.2021.115014
Li W, Chen C, Chen M, Xin T, Gao P.Pulmonary embolism presenting with itinerant chest pain and migratory pleural effusion: a case report.Medicine (Baltimore). 2018;97(22):e10944. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000010944
Cedars-Sinai.Epilepsy and seizures.
Anxiety and Depression Association of America.Integrative behavioral health.
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