Definition
A psychological state in which a creator or individual becomes trapped in an escalating cycle of negative thinking, catastrophic interpretation of events, and anxiety-driven decision-making — often triggered by platform performance data, negative audience feedback, or industry news. Doom spiraling is distinct from doom scrolling in that it is an internal cognitive pattern rather than an external behavioral one, though the two frequently co-occur. For creators, doom spiraling can lead to impulsive content decisions, public oversharing of distress, and creative paralysis that compounds the original source of anxiety.