A Sense of Impending Doom and Scam Victims
Many Scam Victims Have Experienced a Sense of Impending Doom During the First Few Weeks Following a Scam
Primary Category: Scam Victim Recovery Psychology
Intended Audience: Scam Victims-Survivors / Family & Friends
Authors:
• Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. – Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.
About This Article
Scam victims often experience a profound sense of impending doom in the months following their discovery of the fraud, driven by intense emotional distress, uncertainty, and fear. This response stems from the brain’s survival mechanisms, which misinterpret the scam as an ongoing threat, keeping victims in a heightened state of panic, hypervigilance, and emotional paralysis. The immediate shock of betrayal triggers overwhelming anxiety, making victims fear further harm, social judgment, financial ruin, or an inability to recover.
This state of prolonged dread is fueled by an overactive amygdala, which continuously signals danger even in the absence of immediate threats. As victims attempt to navigate the aftermath of their experience, they may develop avoidance behaviors, paranoia, and catastrophic thinking, reinforcing a cycle of fear and despair. The persistent sense of impending doom can lead to emotional exhaustion, depressive symptoms, and difficulty engaging in rational decision-making. However, understanding that this fear is a misfiring of the brain’s survival response allows victims to take proactive steps toward healing. Through cognitive reframing, grounding techniques, and structured support, they can gradually regain control, moving beyond fear toward empowerment and resilience.
Many Scam Victims Have Experienced a Sense of Impending Doom During the First Few Weeks Following a Scam
For Some, They Can Happen With Each of the Major Crises Following a Scam
A sense of impending doom is a psychological and physiological experience characterized by an overwhelming feeling that something catastrophic is about to happen, even when there is no logical reason for it. This sensation is often described as an intense, irrational fear or premonition of imminent disaster, and it can be associated with anxiety disorders, panic attacks, trauma responses, and certain medical conditions.
How Scam Victims Experience a Sense of Impending Doom in the First Few Months of Recovery
Scam victims often experience a sense of impending doom in the first few months following their realization that they have been deceived. This psychological and physiological reaction stems from the overwhelming distress, uncertainty, and fear that arise after being defrauded. While this feeling is often irrational, it is deeply rooted in the brain’s survival mechanisms, leading victims to anticipate further catastrophe, even in the absence of immediate threats.
The Immediate Psychological Impact of Betrayal
When a scam victim first realizes they have been deceived, their brain undergoes an intense emotional and cognitive shock. The mind struggles to process the betrayal, often resulting in overwhelming anxiety. Scam victims may begin to feel that something even worse is about to happen—whether financial ruin, legal trouble, social humiliation, or an escalation of threats from the scammer. The uncertainty surrounding what happens next can lead to an acute sense of dread.
Victims may fear:
- That the scammer will retaliate or continue to manipulate them.
- That their personal information will be misused, leading to further financial or identity theft.
- That their family, employer, or community will find out and judge them harshly.
- That they will never be able to recover financially or emotionally.
- That they will not be able to trust themselves or others ever again.
Psychological Perspective on a Sense of Impending Doom
From a psychological standpoint, this phenomenon is linked to the brain’s threat detection and survival mechanisms. The amygdala, which processes fear and emotional responses, can become hyperactive, sending distress signals that something terrible is about to occur. This can happen even when there is no actual threat, leading to an intense but unfounded feeling of dread.
In conditions like panic disorder, PTSD, and generalized anxiety disorder, a sense of impending doom is often a symptom of dysregulated fear processing. The brain misinterprets bodily sensations or environmental cues as signs of extreme danger, triggering a full-blown fight-or-flight response.
Triggers of Doom Perception
The sense of impending doom in scam victims is largely driven by an overactive amygdala, the part of the brain responsible for fear and threat detection. When the scam is first discovered, the brain perceives it as a direct attack, activating the fight-or-flight response. This floods the body with stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, making the person hyper-aware and anxious, often experiencing symptoms such as:
- Rapid heartbeat and shortness of breath.
- Dizziness or feeling detached from reality.
- A feeling of panic or uncontrollable fear.
- A belief that something catastrophic is going to happen at any moment.
Many victims experience intrusive thoughts and flashbacks related to the scam, reinforcing their sense that danger is still present. The logical brain (prefrontal cortex) struggles to calm the emotional brain (limbic system), causing victims to remain in a prolonged state of heightened fear.
Neurological and Physiological Basis
On a biological level, this sensation is closely tied to an overactivation of the sympathetic nervous system. When the body perceives danger, it releases stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, which prepare the body for immediate action. However, in cases where there is no actual danger, these responses become maladaptive, creating a persistent state of dread.
The prefrontal cortex, responsible for rational thought, is often unable to override these fear responses, leading to the irrational but deeply felt sense that something horrible is about to happen. This is why people experiencing this sensation often struggle to reassure themselves with logic.
Medical and Trauma-Related Causes
A sense of impending doom is not always purely psychological—it can also have medical origins. Conditions that can trigger this response include:
Panic attacks – Sudden surges of anxiety cause the brain to misinterpret physiological symptoms as life-threatening.
PTSD – Trauma survivors often experience a hyperactive threat detection system, leading to frequent feelings of impending doom.
Heart attacks – Many patients report a sense of impending doom before or during cardiac events.
Neurological disorders – Conditions such as seizures or strokes can create sudden feelings of extreme dread.
Hormonal imbalances – Changes in adrenaline and cortisol levels, as seen in adrenal disorders, can induce this sensation.
Paranoia and Hypervigilance in Early Recovery
Because the scam experience involves deception, victims often develop a state of hypervigilance—a persistent awareness of potential threats. They may begin to suspect that everyone around them has ulterior motives or that they are being watched. Some victims report feeling as though the scammer is still tracking their movements, reading their emails, or waiting to strike again. This ongoing sense of vulnerability keeps them trapped in fear, unable to relax or feel safe.
Victims may also become obsessed with worst-case scenarios, catastrophizing every possible outcome. For example, if they lost a significant amount of money, they may convince themselves they will end up homeless. If they were emotionally manipulated, they may believe they will never trust anyone again. These extreme thoughts fuel the sense of doom, making it difficult to engage in rational decision-making.
The Impact of Financial and Social Fallout
Financial loss often exacerbates this sense of impending doom. Scam victims may be unsure how they will pay their bills, recover lost funds, or rebuild their financial security. The constant stress of these worries keeps their nervous system in a state of prolonged panic. Every phone call, email, or financial transaction may feel like a new threat, reinforcing the belief that another disaster is imminent.
Socially, scam victims may fear exposure, judgment, or rejection. Many victims hide what happened out of shame, but this isolation only worsens their anxiety. The fear of being ostracized or humiliated keeps them in a heightened state of stress, feeding the persistent dread that their life will never return to normal.
Why the Sense of Impending Doom Persists in Recovery
Unlike immediate panic, which subsides once a direct threat is removed, the sense of impending doom in scam victims lingers because it is tied to long-term uncertainty. Victims do not just fear the past—they fear an unpredictable future. Their minds remain stuck in survival mode, scanning for threats that may never come.
This chronic stress can make recovery feel impossible. Victims may struggle to take proactive steps because they feel trapped in a cycle of fear. Some may avoid looking at their financial statements, filing police reports, or seeking help because they believe facing the situation will only bring more pain. Others may experience emotional numbness, dissociation, or depressive symptoms that prevent them from making progress.
The Relationship Between a Sense of Impending Doom and Depression
A sense of impending doom and depression are closely linked psychological experiences that often reinforce each other. While they can exist independently, they frequently co-occur in individuals who have experienced trauma, significant stress, or prolonged emotional distress—such as scam victims. Both involve a deep-rooted perception of helplessness, unpredictability, and a loss of control over one’s future.
How a Sense of Impending Doom Contributes to Depression
A sense of impending doom is characterized by an overwhelming feeling that something catastrophic is about to happen, even when there is no clear evidence of immediate danger. This persistent fear activates the body’s stress response system, leading to heightened anxiety, hypervigilance, and emotional distress. Over time, if this heightened state of alarm is prolonged, it can lead to emotional exhaustion and depressive symptoms.
Some ways in which impending doom can trigger or deepen depression include:
Emotional Exhaustion: The constant anticipation of disaster drains emotional energy, leaving individuals feeling hopeless and unable to engage in daily life.
Avoidance and Withdrawal: People who experience persistent dread may start avoiding responsibilities, relationships, and self-care, which can lead to isolation and reinforce depressive states.
Cognitive Distortions: The belief that something terrible is inevitable leads to negative thought patterns, such as catastrophizing and learned helplessness, which are core features of depression.
Sleep Disruptions: The nervous system remains on high alert, making it difficult to rest and recover, which exacerbates fatigue, irritability, and emotional instability.
Loss of Motivation: When the brain is stuck in survival mode, it prioritizes immediate threat detection over long-term goals, leading to apathy, a loss of interest in enjoyable activities, and an inability to plan for the future—hallmarks of depression.
How Depression Reinforces a Sense of Impending Doom
Conversely, depression itself can intensify the sense of impending doom by altering brain chemistry, reducing resilience, and fostering feelings of despair.
Hopelessness and Negative Future Outlook: Depression distorts perception, making the future seem bleak. This reinforces the belief that disaster is inevitable, further strengthening the sense of impending doom.
Cognitive Impairment: Depression affects executive functioning and rational thinking, making it difficult to challenge irrational fears. This results in rumination—repeatedly thinking about worst-case scenarios.
Emotional Numbing: Depression can cause emotional numbness, but instead of feeling relief, individuals may interpret this as an ominous sign that something is deeply wrong, further feeding the impending doom sensation.
Lack of Energy to Counter Fear: Even if someone recognizes that their sense of doom is irrational, depression robs them of the motivation or energy to challenge it, leading to a vicious cycle of despair.
The Role of Trauma in Linking the Two
For scam victims and others who have experienced trauma, a sense of impending doom and depression often develop together as part of a post-traumatic response. The betrayal and loss associated with scams create deep-seated fears of further harm, leading to chronic stress and emotional dysregulation. If these emotions remain unresolved, they can solidify into trauma-induced depression, where the brain constantly perceives the world as unsafe, reinforcing both depressive symptoms and a continuous fear of future disaster.
A sense of impending doom and depression are deeply intertwined, feeding into each other through fear, avoidance, and negative thought cycles. Scam victims, trauma survivors, and those facing extreme stress are particularly susceptible to this combination. Recognizing the connection is the first step toward breaking free from the cycle, allowing individuals to move from fear and despair toward healing and empowerment.
It Can Also Happen During the Scam
Scam victims may also experience a sense of impending doom while they are still actively entangled in the scam, particularly when they encounter resistance or obstacles to complying with the scammer’s demands. Many victims, deeply invested in the illusion created by the scammer, believe they must follow instructions to maintain what they perceive as a meaningful relationship, a critical financial opportunity, or an urgent obligation. When they reach a point where they cannot send more money—due to maxed-out financial resources, suspicion from banks or family members, or their own internal doubts—they often experience an overwhelming sense of panic. The scammer may exploit this by intensifying psychological pressure, making threats, feigning distress, or claiming that the victim’s failure to comply will result in catastrophic consequences. As a result, victims feel trapped between the growing reality of their own limitations and the fear of what might happen if they fail to obey. This conflict activates the brain’s survival mechanisms, causing them to experience an overwhelming sense that their world is about to collapse.
The fear of losing the scammer’s approval, facing retaliation, or suffering emotional devastation creates a psychological chokehold that can leave victims feeling completely powerless. Some may go to extreme lengths to comply, borrowing money, liquidating assets, or even deceiving loved ones to keep up with the scammer’s demands. Others may experience a freeze response, becoming paralyzed by indecision, unsure whether to comply, confess to someone, or simply shut down in avoidance. This state of distress can be physically and emotionally exhausting, leading to sleeplessness, nausea, and panic attacks. Scam victims who reach this breaking point may feel a deep, irrational certainty that their lives will be irreparably destroyed if they do not find a way to satisfy the scammer’s requests. This false sense of urgency and impending catastrophe keeps them under the scammer’s control, preventing them from seeing the situation clearly and making rational decisions. Understanding how this fear manipulates their actions is crucial for breaking free from the psychological hold of the scam and reclaiming control over their emotions and decisions.
Coping and Management
If a sense of impending doom is related to anxiety or trauma, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness, and grounding techniques can help reframe the brain’s response to perceived threats. If it occurs suddenly and intensely with no prior history of anxiety, seeking medical attention is crucial to rule out physiological causes.
Breaking Free from the Sense of Impending Doom
Scam victims can work to manage and overcome this overwhelming feeling by:
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- Grounding Techniques – Practicing deep breathing, mindfulness, and grounding exercises to bring the mind back to the present moment.
- Cognitive Reframing – Challenging catastrophic thoughts and replacing them with more rational perspectives.
- Seeking Support – Joining scam recovery groups, talking to professionals, and sharing their experiences to gain perspective.
- Regaining Control – Taking small but meaningful steps toward financial and emotional recovery to reduce helplessness.
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To reduce both a sense of impending doom and depression, individuals must:
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- Address Underlying Trauma – Therapy, particularly cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and trauma-focused therapy, can help reframe negative thought patterns and release deeply ingrained fears.
- Regulate the Nervous System – Mindfulness, grounding techniques, and deep breathing exercises can calm the body’s fear response and reduce persistent anxiety.
- Challenge Negative Thinking – Actively disputing catastrophic thoughts with rational evidence can help disrupt the doom-depression cycle.
- Engage in Physical and Social Activity – Movement, nature exposure, and positive social connections can help rewire the brain toward safety and optimism.
- Seek Medical Support – In some cases, medication for anxiety and depression can provide relief from overwhelming symptoms, allowing individuals to regain stability and control.
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Understanding that a sense of impending doom is often a misfiring of the body’s survival mechanisms can help individuals regain control over their reactions and reduce distress when this overwhelming feeling arises.
Final Thoughts
The sense of impending doom is a common but temporary psychological response to the trauma of being scammed. While it can feel overpowering in the first few months of recovery, understanding that this fear is rooted in a dysregulated survival response can help victims regain control. With time, support, and proactive healing, victims can shift from living in fear to reclaiming their sense of safety, stability, and trust in themselves.
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Important Information for New Scam Victims
- Please visit www.ScamVictimsSupport.org – a SCARS Website for New Scam Victims & Sextortion Victims
- SCARS Institute now offers a free recovery program at www.SCARSeducation.org
- Please visit www.ScamPsychology.org – to more fully understand the psychological concepts involved in scams and scam victim recovery
If you are looking for local trauma counselors please visit counseling.AgainstScams.org or join SCARS for our counseling/therapy benefit: membership.AgainstScams.org
If you need to speak with someone now, you can dial 988 or find phone numbers for crisis hotlines all around the world here: www.opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlines
A Question of Trust
At the SCARS Institute, we invite you to do your own research on the topics we speak about and publish, Our team investigates the subject being discussed, especially when it comes to understanding the scam victims-survivors experience. You can do Google searches but in many cases, you will have to wade through scientific papers and studies. However, remember that biases and perspectives matter and influence the outcome. Regardless, we encourage you to explore these topics as thoroughly as you can for your own awareness.
Statement About Victim Blaming
Some of our articles discuss various aspects of victims. This is both about better understanding victims (the science of victimology) and their behaviors and psychology. This helps us to educate victims/survivors about why these crimes happened and to not blame themselves, better develop recovery programs, and to help victims avoid scams in the future. At times this may sound like blaming the victim, but it does not blame scam victims, we are simply explaining the hows and whys of the experience victims have.
These articles, about the Psychology of Scams or Victim Psychology – meaning that all humans have psychological or cognitive characteristics in common that can either be exploited or work against us – help us all to understand the unique challenges victims face before, during, and after scams, fraud, or cybercrimes. These sometimes talk about some of the vulnerabilities the scammers exploit. Victims rarely have control of them or are even aware of them, until something like a scam happens and then they can learn how their mind works and how to overcome these mechanisms.
Articles like these help victims and others understand these processes and how to help prevent them from being exploited again or to help them recover more easily by understanding their post-scam behaviors. Learn more about the Psychology of Scams at www.ScamPsychology.org
SCARS Resources:
- Getting Started: ScamVictimsSupport.org
- FREE enrollment in the SCARS Institute training programs for scam victims SCARSeducation.org
- For New Victims of Relationship Scams newvictim.AgainstScams.org
- Subscribe to SCARS Newsletter newsletter.againstscams.org
- Sign up for SCARS professional support & recovery groups, visit support.AgainstScams.org
- Find competent trauma counselors or therapists, visit counseling.AgainstScams.org
- Become a SCARS Member and get free counseling benefits, visit membership.AgainstScams.org
- Report each and every crime, learn how to at reporting.AgainstScams.org
- Learn more about Scams & Scammers at RomanceScamsNOW.com and ScamsNOW.com
- Learn more about the Psychology of Scams and Scam Victims: ScamPsychology.org
- Self-Help Books for Scam Victims are at shop.AgainstScams.org
- Worldwide Crisis Hotlines: International Suicide Hotlines – OpenCounseling : OpenCounseling
- Campaign To End Scam Victim Blaming – 2024 (scamsnow.com)
Psychology Disclaimer:
All articles about psychology and the human brain on this website are for information & education only
The information provided in this and other SCARS articles are intended for educational and self-help purposes only and should not be construed as a substitute for professional therapy or counseling.
Note about Mindfulness: Mindfulness practices have the potential to create psychological distress for some individuals. Please consult a mental health professional or experienced meditation instructor for guidance should you encounter difficulties.
While any self-help techniques outlined herein may be beneficial for scam victims seeking to recover from their experience and move towards recovery, it is important to consult with a qualified mental health professional before initiating any course of action. Each individual’s experience and needs are unique, and what works for one person may not be suitable for another.
Additionally, any approach may not be appropriate for individuals with certain pre-existing mental health conditions or trauma histories. It is advisable to seek guidance from a licensed therapist or counselor who can provide personalized support, guidance, and treatment tailored to your specific needs.
If you are experiencing significant distress or emotional difficulties related to a scam or other traumatic event, please consult your doctor or mental health provider for appropriate care and support.
Also read our SCARS Institute Statement about Professional Care for Scam Victims – click here
If you are in crisis, feeling desperate, or in despair please call 988 or your local crisis hotline.
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