Top 10 Worst Years in History
What are the absolute worst years in history? You know, the ones that make you glad you weren't around to witness the chaos, suffering, and downright awful events that unfolded. We've all heard whispers of plagues, wars, famines, and natural disasters that ravaged civilizations and left scars on the human story. But which years truly deserve the dubious honor of being the absolute worst?
It's a fascinating, if somewhat morbid, question. After all, every year has its share of triumphs and tragedies, of progress and setbacks. But some years stand out as particularly bleak, as moments in time when it seemed like the world was on the brink of collapse.
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1939
World War II began with the invasion of Poland by Germany, leading to widespread conflict. The Spanish Civil War ended with the victory of Francisco Franco's forces.
This was the year that Nazi Germany under Adolf Hitler invaded Poland. Why, no damn, why the hell did they vote for Hitler in Germany during those times? Why did Germany get to be so powerful? Hitler and the Nazis destroyed the world in WWII, especially in Europe mostly.
So 2016 was the worst year ever because celebrities died and democracy took its course? Nonsense. 1939 signified the beginning of a brutal war that took millions of lives and led to even more divisions, deaths, and tortures in the long term, also known as a divided Berlin. If you can compare 2016 to a year that spawned the genocide and mass murdering of millions of innocent men, women, and children, you really need to grow up and maybe pick up a book rather than forming your opinion based on a BuzzFeed article.
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1350
The Black Death continued to ravage Europe, killing millions and significantly reducing the population. Social and economic systems were severely disrupted as a result of the pandemic.
I'm sorry, but 2016? What are you guys smoking? In 2013, 90% of the world had climbed out of extreme poverty, and in 1350, 99% of the world was in it. Let's not forget to mention a little disease called the Black Plague, which, by conservative estimates, killed three-fifths of Europe. Imagine three of every five friends and family members dying in the span of a couple of years. That's as hellish as the world will ever get. 2016, give me a break.
How is this below 2016? In 1350, the Black Death peaked at its highest and wiped out tens of millions of people.
How are the deaths of celebrities and a US election worse than the peak of the worst pandemic in history? In my personal opinion, 2016 was a better year than 1350, even though I didn't live in 1350.
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1941
Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, prompting the United States to enter World War II. Nazi Germany initiated Operation Barbarossa, invading the Soviet Union.
The Japanese mistakenly attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, leading the United States Army to the side of the Allies while leading Japan to the side of the Axis, allied with Germany and Italy. Another thing that made it worse is that fascism was so god-awfully hated. Why the hell did the Italians vote for Mussolini?
Despite 1939 (the start of the Phony War) currently ranking #1, 1941 marks the beginning of the genocide of Jews, with the Nazis ordering children to be shot, rapidly escalating executions, and using Zyklon B for the first time. Pearl Harbor also occurred, leading America to join on both fronts. Additionally, Operation Barbarossa brought the USSR to the Allies' side until the Nazis were defeated. This was a year when most of continental Europe was under the control of fascists and/or literal Nazis.
This year reminds us why we must vigorously oppose those who sow hatred and division, for the good of all humankind!
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1914
World War I began following the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, leading to widespread conflict. The war resulted in massive casualties and the mobilization of entire nations.
Should be #1. This year has nothing on the last year and the year before that. Just because they were bad for pop culture and education (and they were very bad for those) doesn't mean it was necessarily a bad year. That misses the purpose of the entire list. 1914, on the other hand, well, it started World War 1.
You know, that one war that laid the path for the rest of the 20th century and beyond, the war that resulted from the less violent Napoleonic ones, the thing that spawned nothing good for humanity except for the League. You know, that year. When the actual war started, 1 million people died in one month - for a war in Europe. It was one of the most violent wars in history, the one that made the Nazis famous, the one that still has terrible implications today!
This is truly one of the worst years in history, or even ever.
To summarize: it was a pretty big deal, but not because of good stuff, but because of tragedies and bloodshed.
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2016
A series of terrorist attacks occurred in Europe, including the Brussels bombings and the Nice truck attack. The United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union in the Brexit referendum.
Where to start with this miserable pile of crap? I began the year by breaking one of my fingers during a vacation to Lake Tahoe, and I also caught a cold later. The May-June portion of this year went great for me, but then it fell apart in July.
I made a huge mistake by leaving the school where I had friends and good teachers. I wanted to leave because it was too rowdy, so I picked another school in upstate Moraga, and it sucks. The world tore itself apart, and there was always a celebrity death in the news every week or month. The Olympics were plagued with issues and problems, and terrorists attacked many cities, killing many innocent people.
My family really didn't celebrate any holidays, and the election was as bad as it gets, shoved in our faces every day. I lost all of my creativity, and I really wish I could go back to my glory days of 2007. Let's hope for a better 2017...
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2020
The COVID-19 pandemic spread globally, causing millions of deaths and widespread economic disruption. Wildfires ravaged large areas of Australia and the western United States.
How should I describe 2020, even though we are only in the third month?
The year began terribly and has only worsened. Australia was on fire at the start, and the President of the United States increased tensions with Iran. Donald Trump is tarnishing many things. He is one of the most misguided world leaders in history, a man who inherited money from his father, and he is accused of cheating in his university education and on his three wives. He's seen as a con man, a phony, and a bigot who is unfit for office. He demands loyalty from everyone because he's a loner.
The Coronavirus became more prominent in mid-January, causing widespread panic as the world descended into chaos. Our President is making Americans feel less safe regarding the virus and is risking the entire economy, despite the stimulus bill.
Don't get me started on the election. Our President treats his supporters like members of an extreme cult.
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2001
Terrorist attacks on September 11 targeted the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, killing nearly 3,000 people. The United States initiated the War on Terror in response, leading to military actions in Afghanistan.
I lost two jobs in 2001 due to the "IT recession" and had to end a relationship that I dearly loved. However, the age difference would have doomed it in the long run.
Then 9/11 happened, and things became worse - much, much worse. I did not find work until 2002, and even then, I was still depressed about 9/11.
This is due to the estimated 3,000 people who died on September 11. Approximately 2,770 individuals lost their lives in the Twin Towers, while around 200 perished at the Pentagon, and the remainder in the field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
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2014
The Ebola virus outbreak in West Africa killed thousands and created a public health emergency. Russia annexed Crimea, leading to international condemnation and sanctions.
This was easily the worst year of my life - and probably for many others too. The ISIS attacks began, Russia attempted to annex Crimea, and numerous notable individuals passed away. The music was terrible, and except for the World Cup, sports were dull.
On a personal note, things were even grimmer as I was being bullied at school, had a dreadful teacher, and my family's home was under an extension, leaving us confined to two rooms in a construction zone. Additionally, in late December, my grandmother suffered a heart attack, and my mother was in a car crash (though she wasn't injured).
Reflecting on it, it truly was a horrendous year. However, all we can do now is look forward to enjoying 2016!
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1929
The stock market crash in October triggered the Great Depression, leading to widespread economic hardship. Unemployment and poverty increased significantly as a result of the economic downturn.
Unless you know what it's like to live on the streets with your family and all your friends, flat broke, cold, and starving, suffering from anemia, pneumonia, and an assortment of other ailments, with absolutely no chance of seeing a paycheck for at least another few years, you have no right to say that any year in modern history is worse than 1929. It's called the "Great Depression" for a reason. Enough said.
This should be #2 due to the Great Depression, which caused people to suffer terribly. I cannot imagine how people would deal with this calamity today, and we came awfully close in 2008. Luckily, the economy recovered once it got very bad. Seriously, people don't know what it was like for the people back in this year, enduring endless human suffering.
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536
A volcanic eruption led to a climatic downturn known as the Late Antique Little Ice Age, causing widespread crop failures and famine. The period was marked by extreme weather events and societal distress.
This is the year when the world went dark for half a year because of a major volcanic eruption, which caused a major famine and temperatures to drop. It is truly the worst year in history, to be honest.
The term "worst year ever" is often used lightly these days, typically online for trivial reasons like disappointment in the latest episode of Total Drama. However, scientists and historians have provided evidence that the year 536 A.D. deserves this title. Following a volcanic eruption in Iceland, the sun was blocked for a year and a half, leading to widespread famine. Additionally, the Yersinia plague exacerbated the situation, contributing to why historians consider it the worst year. The accompanying picture further illustrates the grim reality of that time.
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2026
2026 (MMXXVI) is the current year and a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. It marks the 2026th year of the Common Era (CE) and Anno Domini (AD) designations, the 26th year of the 3rd millennium, and the 21st century. Along with being the 7th year of the 2020s decade, it features... read more
It is February 28 of 2026 and something big is happening. Israel and the United States have begun their fight against Iran. Israel begins their attack on Iran, calling it a preemptive strike. President Donald Trump announces a major U.S. combat operation targeting Iranian missile facilities and naval assets. Explosions from Tomahawk missiles are reported in Tehran, Iran. Iran launches ballistic missiles at a U.S. Naval facility in Bahrain.
GOD, I hate this decade so much. On top of the AI slop and AI Verification's plaguing all of society as we know it, we also have a pointless war in Iran that resulted in a school full of children getting bombed. I'm so burnt out, chief, and I'm running out of energy to care anymore. I feel so numb at this point.
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2025
2025 (MMXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. It was the 2025th year of the Common Era (CE) and Anno Domini (AD) designations, the 25th year of the 3rd millennium and the 21st century, and the 6th year of the 2020s decade.... read more
It's too bad about what happened in 2025. Sadly, dozens of people died from the wildfires in Los Angeles, California. We hope things will get better.
Oh what a year…. California wildfire, ICE immigration policy, ICE protests & riots, 'project 2025', "6-7" brainrotting trend, etc.
2025 was really a threat. It felt like 2020 but without covid. Should've been at least in top 20.
Where do I begin?
First of all, this is the year my dad passed away. Second, there was the New Orleans attack. Third, this year still has Skibidi Toilet (like somebody else mentioned).
Fourth, this year has more countries in crisis that weren't bad before.
Fifth, the US is starting a mini attack on Iran that could turn into a war.
How could this year get worse?
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1933
Adolf Hitler was appointed Chancellor of Germany, leading to the establishment of a totalitarian regime. The Great Depression continued, causing widespread economic distress and unemployment.
This was the worst year because Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party came to power in Germany. Why was that a good year? The Jewish background felt so rough and was about to prepare for genocide. Benito Mussolini was also elected as the Prime Minister of Fascist Italy until he killed himself in 1945.
This was the year when Adolf Hitler rose to power, which led to the Holocaust and the persecution of millions of Jews. This was also the year the Great Depression was at its worst, from what I heard.
Seriously, this list is awful. All the spoiled kids are voting for newer years just because of their personal lives. Yet, the Holocaust's beginning is only at 14.
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1347
The Black Death arrived in Europe, leading to one of the deadliest pandemics in human history. The disease spread rapidly, killing millions and profoundly impacting society and the economy.
If you lived in Europe this year or the next five years, you would certainly be dead because it was during the Black Plague, which lasted for quite a few years. The COVID pandemic isn't nearly as bad if we are being honest, not to be ignorant.
This was when the Black Death spread like wildfire throughout Europe. It was very horrid. Bodies were piling up in the streets, and all people thought about was death.
If I traveled here, don't expect to see me again. The plague was deadly. Many died on the same day they fell ill, and about 20% of the population died because of the Black Death.
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2017
Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria caused extensive damage and loss of life in the United States and the Caribbean. A mass shooting in Las Vegas resulted in 58 deaths and hundreds of injuries.
We had tons of killer hurricanes last year and awful movies like The Emoji Movie. Political tensions were high, and there were disastrous events - some of the worst hurricanes on record, like Irma and others. 2017 also had a political shooting, the London fire, and Trump's first year in the White House.
There were acts of racist cruelty, dog and cat meat areas spreading to other countries, and increasing tensions between North Korea and America. The flu was killing people and spreading like crazy. A bunch of Trump protesters were blocking the roads, and Pennsylvania was turning into The Purge. Want me to go on?
I think the reason some consider modern years like 2017 and 2016 to be as bad as the '40s is not because of movies and pop culture. It's because we've come to the depressing realization that we are in THE FUTURE.
This means deforestation and cutting down every tree, global warming making the world hotter by the minute, frightening technology like the HTC Vive, a broken-down economy, and terrorists who are worse than ever, spreading their terror to big cities like London. You can't go anywhere, like a concert or a theme park, without having to go through metal detectors and heavy surveillance. That's not how it used to be. We're in the future, and that means we are closer to the world pretty much collapsing over itself.
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2009
A significant earthquake struck L'Aquila, Italy, causing extensive damage and loss of life. The global financial crisis continued, leading to economic hardships worldwide.
This is the year EVERYTHING went to hell. The credit crunch, stock market crash, the recession, more and more celebrities dying, the swine flu scare, the Daily Mail on the rise with its "health" addicts, the music industry destroyed - nowadays, they only care about looks and money, not heart and soul!
Hollywood falling on its knees, just EVERYTHING about this year was CRAP! Today we are still suffering from what happened in 2009! If I had a time machine, I would erase everything about 2009-2016 and go back to the 80s and 90s, even the early 00s, because the only really bad thing I remember about 2001 was 9/11.
The period from 2009-now can go buried in a grave and never be seen again!
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2015
A series of terrorist attacks in Paris resulted in the deaths of 130 people and hundreds of injuries. A major earthquake in Nepal killed nearly 9,000 people and caused widespread destruction.
For Canadians, it was the beginning of a decade-long downward spiral for all working-class and poorer citizens, as an electorate voted Justin Trudeau as their country's leader, whom I see as incompetent.
For Canada, this was the beginning of their economic stagnation, unprecedented corruption, record crime, out-of-control immigration, and societal division.
On both a personal and political level, 2015 took everything that was good about previous years and desecrated it. My family started falling apart early in the year, and the stress was amplified by the political tension, numerous mass shootings, and the deepening racial and gender divides as the months progressed.
This was compounded by people being overly sensitive about non-issues. At this point, there is no simple way for 2016 to act as a reset button because the damage inflicted will be difficult to repair. The harm done by 2015 will likely take years to remedy.
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2013
Typhoon Haiyan struck the Philippines, resulting in thousands of deaths and widespread destruction. The Boston Marathon bombing killed three people and injured hundreds.
2013 and 2014. Where do I begin?
Well, let's start off with TV shows. First, there are no longer any classic shows. Now, most of them (except SpongeBob and The Simpsons) are completely pointless. They don't even have meaning, humor, or intelligence - just nonsense. Shows were still going downhill by 95%, especially cartoons, and I think people just don't have any more good ideas for shows because they are essentially taken up by older ones.
Next, games. Thousands of games were ripoffs, and there were games getting discontinued even though they were popular. There were online games that were removed, even though they were fun. I can't believe someone would do that, or that people act like idiots because they have nothing better to do. Games that seemed fun were not even fun or working at all. Lots of games were crashing, and the developers wouldn't even fix them. Instead, they'd just be lazy and ignorant.
Speaking of laziness and ignorance, let's talk about people and education. This may be the main reason why 2013 and 2014 were extremely bad. First of all, I think education went way downhill, and people started to become lazy and unintelligent. This could be why shows and games sucked so badly you might as well give up. 2013 and 2014 were just hard to witness - they were both awful, awful years. People were running out of ideas, maybe because they were interested in the futuristic and new stuff that was coming out. I'm not sure if that's a good thing - it could be - because the future sounds awesome. But anyway, I think people don't pay attention to what their games or shows should be about. They just make them and, without warning, publish them without even double-checking! I can't believe no one does that! It's very smart to double-check your game to see if it looks great, have some test players check it, and see if it crashes.... read more
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2021
The COVID-19 pandemic continued, with new variants causing further waves of infection and death. A deadly insurrection occurred at the U.S. Capitol, resulting in multiple fatalities and injuries.
Dustin Diamond died from cancer. Larry King died after recovering from COVID-19. President Joe Biden commanded an airstrike in Syria. DMX died at 50 years old. Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, died at 99 years old.
There were the Myanmar protests, Northern Ireland riots, and shootings in Boulder, Colorado. Orange, California. Rock Hill, South Carolina. Atlanta, Georgia. Sunrise, Florida. Muskogee, Oklahoma. And Buffalo, Minnesota.
Eighteen people died from a train collision in Egypt. Fifty people were killed in a train collision and derailment in Taiwan. And the carnage continues. Why?
The music was the only decent thing to come out of this year, and maybe the movies? The video games were awful.
More importantly, the war between Russia and Ukraine was just starting, and for the first half of the year, the world was still recovering from the wreck of COVID-19.
- DiellziGashi
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1945
World War II ended with the surrender of Germany and Japan, but not before the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki caused massive casualties. The Holocaust was fully revealed, exposing the genocide of six million Jews.
Still the worst because people had to recover from the end of the war and the damage left behind. Plus, the Cold War started afterward, Holocaust prisoners contracted horrible diseases before liberation, and everything was in ruin. So, while the war ended, the world was in huge disarray.
The Japanese surrender from the US bombing of Nagasaki and Hiroshima. How brutal that ever was.
Not as bad as 1914, 1941, and 1939 because the war ended, but it was still pretty tough that Japan got bombed.
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2018
A series of devastating wildfires occurred in California, causing extensive damage and loss of life. A gunman killed 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.
Worst year in my whole life. It all started when the Penguins got eliminated by the Capitals. Then they would make the Cup. My friend died on June 4th. My friend was one of the best people you could ever meet - so fun to be around and a really good person. I grieved for three weeks about it.
A few days later, the Capitals and the EVIL 8 won the Cup and took over the world. My dog died in September. November 6th was one of my friend's birthdays. It was literal hell from the start. The worst day in my life, and my friend had the worst birthday ever. Me and my friend were demoralized, degraded, and torn apart that day, leaving us sad and depressed.
The Steelers were eliminated from the playoffs and the Ravens got in. Overall, 2018 has been a living hell for me and everyone I care about. Can't wait for the year to end and have a fresh start.
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1918
The Spanish flu pandemic began, eventually killing tens of millions worldwide. World War I continued with significant battles and loss of life until the armistice in November.
What actually caused the Great War to end? It was a flu virus that killed soldiers. There were fewer soldiers to fight the war. You cannot win without soldiers to take land from your adversaries.
Get it above 2016. 2016 is too overhated and should be down to 30th place or something. This is the year of the Spanish flu. If I had a time machine I would avoid this year as much as possible.
The year when the Spanish flu occurred.
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2008
The global financial crisis began with the collapse of Lehman Brothers, leading to severe economic downturns worldwide. Unemployment rates soared, and numerous financial institutions required government bailouts.
The Great Recession happened, and that presidential election of Barack Obama was too hard that the Democrats voted for Obama. Still loved the memories of how nostalgic the perfect beautiful year was.
The year 2008 marked the worst year for the global economy due to the Financial Crisis, which destroyed the prosperity of every country in the world. Businesses were affected and closed down, which was the impact, while Federal Banks struggled to cope with scarce resources. The Bush Administration still had something up their sleeves, and they were the reason why it happened. I believe George Soros was also partially responsible.
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541
The Plague of Justinian began, causing millions of deaths across the Byzantine Empire and beyond. The pandemic had severe social and economic impacts on the affected regions.
The bubonic plague added considerably to the world's misery. Spreading from the Roman port of Pelusium in Egypt, the so-called Plague of Justinian caused the deaths of up to one-half of the population of the Eastern Roman Empire.
This was the year that the Plague of Justinian, a plague that killed up to half of the world's population, erupted.
The Plague of Justinian began this year, and I assume that the plague was named after the Byzantine Emperor Justinian.
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2023
A severe earthquake struck Turkey and Syria, resulting in significant casualties and destruction. Russia's invasion of Ukraine continued, leading to ongoing conflict and humanitarian crises.
Sadly, 97 people died from the wildfires in Maui. A British nurse was convicted of killing seven babies. Senator Dianne Feinstein died on September 29, 2023. Many things are happening.
British nurse Lucy Letby is guilty of murdering seven infants. Over 100 people were found dead from the Maui wildfires. What the hell is happening?!
Over 300 people died from Cyclone Freddy. Over 55,000 people died from the magnitude 7.8 earthquake in Syria and Turkey.
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2012
Superstorm Sandy caused extensive damage and loss of life along the U.S. East Coast. A mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut resulted in the deaths of 26 people, including 20 children.
2012 was a good year for movies, video games, my personal life, and movie studios. However, it was a moderate year for music and TV shows, but a pretty bad year for the economy, Hurricane Sandy, the Sandy Hook tragedy, celebrity deaths, and social media going public. This is my opinion about 2012.
Moreover, every year has its good and bad aspects.
I lost my nanny - the one that I spent most of my time with because she was the kindest person ever, and she died that year. Poor New York was also hit by Hurricane Sandy. The British Isles were threatened by multiple severe floods on June 7/8, June 27/28, July 7, September 24, and November 18-26.
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2022
The war in Ukraine escalated following Russia's invasion, resulting in significant casualties and displacement. Global supply chain disruptions and economic instability were exacerbated by the conflict and ongoing pandemic effects.
Am I the only one who thought this year was going to be way better than it was? Mother of mercy, I hated 2022 so much!
The first four months were pretty good for me, but it went downhill after that. I only disliked it until September or October, which made me absolutely despise 2022. Shrieks* how it made me bitter.
Example of why I hated it: I learned how cruel the human race is. For starters, people were really mean. I was part of a few toxic "friend" groups that even went as far as to walk over me and use me. This even goes for some of the adults. I only stayed with them because we had a lot of similar interests and things in common, and I was only 15 so I was quite naive and didn't know much better.
But this was the final straw: I discovered these things called "YouTube Shorts" where you can watch a video or scroll down. It was fine until I watched a video about "Animals that will be extinct in 2025." It tore me apart, but I learned an important lesson. You can't count on anyone.
Those things were why I became a lot more anti-social and only make friends with people approaching me and starting the friendship, not the other way around. It made me so paranoid of others that I often isolate myself.
There are many more examples, but that one is the only one I'm comfortable sharing.