How I escaped depression & the doomer mindset (and why you should, too)
Mon Dec 15 2025
If you are someone who cares deeply about the world and you find it hard to cope with all the suffering, all the bad news and a feeling that things are hopeless, this episode is for you.
Sign up for the newsletter here: https://shanemelaugh.com/newsletter/
If you find yourself overwhelmed by the negativity and despair in the world, you are not alone. In this episode, I share my personal journey from a deeply cynical worldview and severe depression to a state of resilience and empowerment. Discover the steps I took to change my mindset, the role of meditation, and my experiences with cognitive behavioral therapy and psilocybin.
We'll also explore the traps of social media, the role of negativity bias, and how to find a sustainable way to care about the world without being paralyzed by it. Join us as we dive into the doomer mindset, its impact, and practical ways to uplift yourself and make a positive difference in the world.
00:00 Intro
02:10 Doomer Mindset & Depression
06:04 What I wish I could tell my younger (depressed) self
08:41 Imprisoned in a depressed mind
10:30 Depressed in Paradise
13:14 Worrying about the world & feeling sorry for myself
15:52 My strange journey out of depression
22:17 Did I accidentally Cognitive Behavior Therapy myself?
24:28 I used to do meditation wrong
27:17 My first ever magic mushroom experience
29:54 Love untainted by wounding or ego
32:14 The day(s) after coming out of deep depression
33:14 Losing my (hustle culture) religion
37:01 Take time to enjoy the infinite game
39:15 What is the Doomer Mindset?
41:44 How Modern Society Causes Doomerism
42:41 This changed my perspective completely
46:38 Know the game that's being played
48:55 Modern media is crazy and you're responding to it in a
normal way
51:26 A healthy dose of skepticism
54:59 Seeing simple narratives for what they are
55:45 If the pundits were right, they'd be a lot richer
01:01:15 The most surprising doomer antidote is about money
01:04:47 Do this and watch your worries disappear
01:05:58 The info diet experiment
01:08:37 How to deal with hypochondria
01:10:50 Awareness is the Key
01:13:13 The Other Expert Problem
01:14:40 Many Ways to Gain Perspective
01:15:26 But What if It's All True?
01:16:35 Pick Your Battle (this changes everything)
01:19:04 Doomerism just made me worse (at everything)
01:20:25 Is it cruel to bring children into this world?
01:21:53 The Oxygen Mask Principle
01:24:25 Conclusion
More
If you are someone who cares deeply about the world and you find it hard to cope with all the suffering, all the bad news and a feeling that things are hopeless, this episode is for you. Sign up for the newsletter here: https://shanemelaugh.com/newsletter/ If you find yourself overwhelmed by the negativity and despair in the world, you are not alone. In this episode, I share my personal journey from a deeply cynical worldview and severe depression to a state of resilience and empowerment. Discover the steps I took to change my mindset, the role of meditation, and my experiences with cognitive behavioral therapy and psilocybin. We'll also explore the traps of social media, the role of negativity bias, and how to find a sustainable way to care about the world without being paralyzed by it. Join us as we dive into the doomer mindset, its impact, and practical ways to uplift yourself and make a positive difference in the world. 00:00 Intro 02:10 Doomer Mindset & Depression 06:04 What I wish I could tell my younger (depressed) self 08:41 Imprisoned in a depressed mind 10:30 Depressed in Paradise 13:14 Worrying about the world & feeling sorry for myself 15:52 My strange journey out of depression 22:17 Did I accidentally Cognitive Behavior Therapy myself? 24:28 I used to do meditation wrong 27:17 My first ever magic mushroom experience 29:54 Love untainted by wounding or ego 32:14 The day(s) after coming out of deep depression 33:14 Losing my (hustle culture) religion 37:01 Take time to enjoy the infinite game 39:15 What is the Doomer Mindset? 41:44 How Modern Society Causes Doomerism 42:41 This changed my perspective completely 46:38 Know the game that's being played 48:55 Modern media is crazy and you're responding to it in a normal way 51:26 A healthy dose of skepticism 54:59 Seeing simple narratives for what they are 55:45 If the pundits were right, they'd be a lot richer 01:01:15 The most surprising doomer antidote is about money 01:04:47 Do this and watch your worries disappear 01:05:58 The info diet experiment 01:08:37 How to deal with hypochondria 01:10:50 Awareness is the Key 01:13:13 The Other Expert Problem 01:14:40 Many Ways to Gain Perspective 01:15:26 But What if It's All True? 01:16:35 Pick Your Battle (this changes everything) 01:19:04 Doomerism just made me worse (at everything) 01:20:25 Is it cruel to bring children into this world? 01:21:53 The Oxygen Mask Principle 01:24:25 Conclusion