Let’s Talk About FOMO - The Fear of Missing Out

Whether or not you've heard of FOMO, Fear of Missing, you've probably experienced that feeling of insecurity and envy that someone, somewhere, is enjoying life more than you do.

What does FOMO mean? The word was added to the Oxford English Dictionary in 2013, defining it as "the feeling of anxiety that consumes you because your loved ones do, know or have something better than you".

Therefore, our feeling of "normal" becomes distorted and it seems to you that your life is not as interesting as those around you.

And in today's social context, when we are looking to protect our health or we have to reduce our financial expenses, we have given up a vacation, meetings with friends, going out to restaurants or the movies, you may see many photos of friends enjoying the fun.

Globally, three-quarters of young adults have experienced the FOMO phenomenon. The anxiety caused leads to the continuous verification of social networks just to feel that we are part of the event. Sometimes, this constant checking of the social media account alleviates the state of anxiety.

Is this just a symptom of modern life, or do we not feel that our life is exciting enough? It's not just about social media, it's not just about Millennials and Generation Z. In fact, a recent study conducted during the SARS-VOC 2 pandemic and published in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships found that loneliness, low self-esteem, and Lack of compassion for oneself is closely associated with FOMO.

We are in the midst of an epidemic of loneliness just before the pandemic begins; since then, feelings of loneliness and isolation have only increased in intensity.

FOMO often has its origins in personal unhappiness

The findings show that those with low levels of satisfaction with the needs of competence, autonomy, and relationships tend towards higher levels of FOMO, as well as those with lower levels of disposition and general satisfaction of life.

FOMO anxiety is caused by sadness and dissatisfaction in your own life. Therefore, one of the best ways to deal with sadness is to focus on all the things you appreciate.

Avoid social media as much as possible. The research results confirmed that FoMO was strongly associated with involvement in social networks.

FOMO causes people to check their social networks immediately after they wake up, before going to bed, and during meals. If you feel sad and alone, Facebook and Instagram do not offer the company you are looking for.

Even if we know that social networks do not accurately describe people's lives, the face of the appearance of a satisfying life lived by someone else can affect our self-esteem, already vulnerable.

Finding happiness on social media is not a good idea, happiness is inside us. Affected people lose their authenticity and self-esteem. People with FOMO no longer pay attention to personal reality and turn to social media to find their happiness.

What to do?

If giving up social networking is not a solution for you, here are some tips that can help you fight FOMO anxiety.

1. Let us understand that we will once again enjoy the experiences we lack now.
2. To benefit from the time allocated exclusively to our personal development.
3. Let's choose new challenges that will improve us professionally or personally (new hobbies, skills, etc.).
4. Let's learn to adapt to the opportunities available.
5. Let's find natural solutions that reduce our unpleasant anxiety.

Overcoming the reactions of stress, anxiety, and depression is possible, these disorders should not be allowed to persist, as they can worsen. If you recognize the symptoms, seek the help of your loved ones or a specialist.

The more stress and anxiety begin to interfere with the ability to live a normal life, the more it can trigger physical illness, worsen existing ones, change the way we eat (compulsive eating, bulimia, anorexia, hyperphagia), or may even influence the consumption of substances harmful to the body (alcohol, tobacco, drugs).