DO YOU SUFFER FROM “ FOMO ”
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( Adapted from https :// www . verywellmind . com / how-to-cope-with-fomo-4174664 )
Lesley Timbol
What is FOMO ? It ’ s an acronym for a Fear of Missing Out . Everyone can feel a certain level of FOMO at different times in their lives .
This 2004 term consists of 2 parts : 1 ) perception of missing out + 2 ) a compulsive behaviour to maintain social connections . The first part is fearing that others are having more fun , living better lives or experiencing better things than you , to the extent that you feel that you ’ re missing out on something fundamentally important . This can result in feeling a deep sense of envy and can affect your selfesteem . While FOMO has been around for a long time , the birth and explosion of social media has exacerbated FOMO .
Who doesn ’ t have a cell phone nowadays ? FOMO can simply take the form of someone instantly picking up their phone when they get a text message notification .
Another form of FOMO involves those people who sign up for activities despite risking burnout from having an already full schedule .
The Effects of FOMO :
FOMO can affect your overall health & wellness . To avoid FOMO , someone can become overloaded with social events and activities , which can lead to burnout .
It can also impact your sleep and eating habits , which can lead to fatigue , headaches , lack of motivation , and performance issues at work or school .
FOMO can also trigger anxiety or feelings of loneliness . With FOMO , you may cycle through self-critical thoughts like , “ What will happen if I miss something or if I ’ m not there ?” “ Will I be talked about negatively for missing the event ?” “ Will people think less of me because I ’ m not following a certain trend ?” This cycle of anxious thoughts and the need to keep up could ultimately result in symptoms of depression .
FOMO can also lead some people to do or say things they typically wouldn ’ t just to appear “ in the know ” or get in with a “ cool ” crowd .
What causes FOMO ?
The idea that you might be missing out on a good time is not new . Social media has triggered the FOMO phenomenon in several ways . People tend to compare their regular life to the highlights of others ’ lives presented on social media , so your sense of “ normal ” becomes skewed and you seem to be doing worse than your peers . For example , you might see detailed photos of your friends enjoying fun times without you , which is something that people may not have been so readily aware of in past generations . Social media creates a platform for bragging ; it ’ s where things , events , and even happiness itself seems to be in competition at times . In general ,
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