Fear of Missing Out (FoMo)
Author: Reshma Rose Baby
What is Fomo?
Fear of missing out (FOMO) is a social anxiety disorder that arises from the feeling that others are having a good time while the individual experiencing the anxiety is absent. It is defined by a need to stay in touch with what others are doing at all times. FOMO can also be characterized as a fear of regret, which can lead to worries about missing out on social opportunities, unusual experiences, or valuable investments.
Scholarly take on FOMO
“FOMO” is caused by feelings of anxiety around the idea that an exciting experience or important opportunity is being missed or taken away. FOMO is generated by the amygdala, the part of the brain that detects whether or not something is a threat to survival. This part of the brain perceives the impression of being left out as a threat, creating stress and anxiety. A person will be more likely to experience FOMO if they are already highly sensitive to environmental threats. This includes people who struggle with social anxiety, obsessive or compulsive behaviors, including diagnosed obsessive-compulsive disorder, or have a form of emotional trauma in their past”.(Brush,2019).
MYTH - FOMO is Limited to a person’s social self and mostly to do with Problematic Social Media Use
FoMo is not restricted to social self but extends deeply to one's personal self.
One needs to start at the root of an issue to cure it. Here in this case the root is one's personal self itself. FoMo is often linked to problematic social media usage but the question of why it arises at all in the first place has to be studied first rather than putting the entire blame on social media usage. Granted, social FoMo exists but a person who is confident in his/her skin and has good mental health is less likely to sink to the extent of extreme anxiety as in how we see in FoMo. Hence, FoMo has to be viewed more from an individual-centric perspective to devise measures towards the betterment of that individual’s mental health to issues rising because of FoMo.
Is it relevant?
Mental health is just as important as physical health. FOMO affects a person’s mental health to a great extent. “Studies show that FOMO leads to extreme dissatisfaction and has a detrimental effect on our physical and mental health – mood swings, loneliness, feelings of inferiority, reduced self-esteem, extreme social anxiety, and increased levels of negativity and depression. It is not surprising that the use of antidepressants has risen sharply in recent years due to FOMO” says The Economic Times.
Covid times and FOMO
The emergence of the COVID-19 virus prompted immediate and dramatic steps to limit the infection's spread and effects. Regulations like "physical distancing," often known as "social distance," and the restriction of public amenities during the lockdown may be stressful, particularly for those who have a strong need for social interaction and belonging. Situations like these that are increasing daily surely induce a need to belong
somewhere and a fear of missing out that takes a toll on a person’s mental health.
Work from Home has led to tight schedules with no room for personal space and recreation and people missing out on a normal life in this new normal.
University students missing out on their college life and being envious of peers who had a colorful college life in the past.
Children are vulnerable to FoMo as their curiosity reaches peaks when locked inside for walls and just a screen as a window to see their friends and teachers. Hence it is even more important to take extra care of them to avoid serious damage to young minds.
The new normal has thereby given us reasons to feel scared, feel vulnerable, feel lonely and hence created ample space for the fear of missing out.
How to Stop FOMO
Scholars suggest focussing on JoMo rather than FoMo as a defense mechanism. JoMo is the Joy of Missing Out. Only if one is missing out on social occasions, only then can one focus on themselves in tranquility and reflect on making themselves better individuals.
Most people in a position see the pandemic as an excuse to overburden staff thinking that they are stuck at home and are hence free to work 24/7 but people forget the fact that this is not a vacation but a pandemic that has mentally affected both the infected and non-infected population of the country and hence it is important to go easy on themselves as well as others. To ensure good mental & physical well-being, we must leave room for recreational space in our daily schedule to relieve our anxieties and also maintain high morale rather than falling into a workaholic lifestyle that will only make us vulnerable to FoMo and other mental health issues. Building a good connection with your inner self, avoiding comparisons, enjoying one's own company, and being thankful for the fact that you are very much alive and breathing will help cut down on a lot of negative energies that might result in FoMo.
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