It’s finally bedtime after a tiring day, and you’re all set to relax, check your social media, and get a good sleep. Going through your socials, you see the stories of your friends chilling in Los Angeles, going out on dates, getting a raise, or boozing in Hawaii under the open sky full of stars. As you scroll further, your relaxed mind grows restless by the click. You start feeling like everyone out there is having the best time of their lives but you. You have this punch of mixed feelings like jealousy, incompetence, under the impression, and missing out.
The exact feeling that you get is hard to describe, but it can be said as an exaggerated version of self-loathing. It is a mutual emotion shared by almost all social media users, especially young adults. This phenomenon is called Fear-Of-Missing-Out AKA FOMO. With the growing use of social media, this concept is too pacing forward.
What is FOMO?
FOMO is the anxious gut feeling a person gets when they see someone else living the life they desire. It is the emotion of being left out of a team, trope, or group presenting itself to be very fun and happening. FOMO, birthed by feelings of social exclusion, distancing, or isolation, turns out to be so intense that people ditch their important events just to be a part of that social event they yearn to go and satisfy that social media thirst.
Why do We Experience FOMO?
Identifying the overtones of FOMO depends on the psychology of different personalities using different social platforms. Although, the one thing that is common in all social media users is the feeling of social exclusion. The emotion of being left out when someone else is achieving, or enjoying something.
Basically, FOMO is associated with interdependent self-definition. The fear of missing out is intimately conjoined with the perception of the individuals about the world and what they feel excluded from. People fear what they haven’t experienced. This fear leads them to wonder if they can do what others are doing and if not, then why? This pile of overthinking and procrastination leads to them feeling missed out on what they assume to be the milestones of amusement.
What is the Psychology behind FOMO?
Pinpointing the exact psychology behind FOMO is tricky, but it is necessary to find out and work on the reasons behind this condition.
FOMO isn’t the sole contributor to the threats to mental health due to social media. Nomophobia is also one concept that is a leading risk to mental health. Nomophobia is the fear of not having one’s phone with them. Today’s generation is pretty much familiar with the terror of not having their phone always in their pockets. While it is slightly rare, FOMO and Nomophobia can occur together. Peeking through the psychological perspective, both Nomophobia and FOMO are linked to addictive behavior. Extensive use of smartphones and social media gadgets are directly responsible for social-emotional instability and declining self-esteem.
How to Overcome FOMO?
The research and studies over the concept of FOMO are still in action, and the exact solutions have not yet been actualized. Nevertheless, there are some measures that you can undertake to distract yourself from feeling missed out on things. It is common advice to cut off social media to avoid the news that triggers your FOMO, but we need to step up further than just distancing from your social platforms.
To circumvent FOMO, one can practice JOMO. JOMO implies the Joy Of Missing Out, which has counteractive effects on FOMO. Practicing JOMO will help you realize that sometimes missing out on some things is better than being a part of them. JOMO is the emotional stability and intelligence of being happy and content with what you have at the time, rather than running after what you don’t have.
A Word from the Doctor
FOMO is a feeling experienced by every other social media addict. And while sometimes FOMO might turn out to help you push yourself into bringing out the best in yourself. It can also harm your mental and social health. Confronting your situation and capabilities will help you realize why you are in the position, and make you understand that you are doing your best with what you have. Be mindful of who you are and what you do, and understand that everybody is different and has different lives and priorities. Stop comparing your situations with everyone you see.
Be the hero of your own life!
And if you seek further assistance regarding your mental health, feel free to contact me.
