How to fix FOMO?
With at least 24 percent of teenagers online ‘almost constantly,’ it’s no surprise that fear of missing out (FOMO) is an epidemic among millennials.
“FOMO is especially rampant in the millennial community because they see a peer achieving something they want, and somehow in their mind, that achievement means something is being ‘taken away’ from them,” said Darlene McLaughlin, M.D., assistant professor at the Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine and a psychiatry and behavioral health specialist with Texas A&M Physicians.
“The problem with FOMO is the individuals it impacts are looking outward instead of inward,” McLaughlin said. “When you’re so tuned in to the ‘other,’ or the ‘better’ (in your mind), you lose your authentic sense of self. This constant fear of missing out means you are not participating as a real person in your own world.”
So, how do we fix FOMO?
The mental exercise of re-framing is extremely helpful to combat FOMO and there are many common negative thought patterns you may not notice. Building your arsenal against these patterns is key. The next time you feel stressed out about that friend who’s travelling the world while you’re stuck at a desk, try these techniques:
Track your negative thoughts: Keeping a thought journal will allow you to observe just how often negativity rears its ugly head. Anytime you have a negative thought, write it down and analyze why or how this thought may be limiting you. Replace negative thoughts with more reasonable ones: Use milder wording during your thought process, ask yourself “what can I learn from this,” and challenge your assumptions to determine what the frame behind your thought is. It’s possible you have a limiting belief that could be holding you back. “Use your thoughts and feelings to propel and harness the intrinsic motivation to achieve your own goals,” McLaughlin said. “It’s also beneficial to realize you can’t judge a book by its cover. The outward image people project on social media isn’t necessarily truthful — you’re never getting the entire story.”
If the stress and anxiety behind FOMO begin to take a significant toll on your life and health, it’s always best to contact your health care provider. “It’s important to get ahead of negative thought patterns before they begin to cause havoc,” McLaughlin said.
Subscribe
If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to receive more just like it.
