As human beings, we’re social animals. As such, we’re hard-wired to hunt out, kind, and foster significant connections with others. Our ancestors survived and thrived by their social connections, which supplied security, sustenance, and help in a harmful world.
Simply as belonging was key to survival for our forebearers, it’s equally essential right this moment. {Our relationships} with others, in line with the Harvard Research of Grownup Growth, the world’s longest-running examine on what makes life completely happy and value dwelling, are a very powerful issue impacting our happiness, well being, and longevity.
Is it any surprise that we concern lacking out?
A Transient Historical past of FoMO
The time period FoMO entered into the lexicon within the early 2000s, impressed and fueled by rising social media platforms that supplied members alternatives to curate and share their completely happy, shiny life moments in pictures and captions that, because of this, triggered and exacerbated deep-seated fears of lacking out for many individuals.
Scrolling social media, and being confronted by photographs of shiny, completely happy folks dwelling happier, extra linked, and materially higher lives than most, didn’t create FoMO. Nonetheless, quite a few research, together with the 2017 examine “Social Media Use and Perceived Social Isolation Amongst Younger Adults within the U.S.,” confirmed that people with excessive social media utilization (SMU) felt “extra socially remoted than their counterparts with decrease SMU.” A 2022 examine in Human Habits and Rising Applied sciences highlighted the necessity to educate customers on how “social media content material can have an effect on their perceptions and psychological well-being.” A 2025 examine linked FoMO to people with what the examine described as “social media dependancy” amongst Saudi college students. At present, FoMO may be very a lot alive and properly and has been recognized as the important thing issue driving Gen Z’s willingness to pay more and more excessive costs for live performance tickets, typically going into debt to assuage fears of lacking alternatives to see their favourite performers in particular person.
What Lies Beneath
FoMO is linked to melancholy, Social Anxiousness Dysfunction (SAD), and nervousness associated to lacking out on alternatives to satisfy and bond with extremely valued folks, the ensuing lack of inclusion and approval, and lack of future alternatives and different destructive outcomes. For some, FoMO is so deeply unsettling, it triggers distressing bodily signs of stress response. Others start to check themselves negatively to others, which deepens ranges of misery, a way of isolation, hopelessness, and emotions of low shallowness and self-worth.
It’s vital to our self-concept, psychological well being, and well-being to study to acknowledge and handle our concern of lacking out when it arises.
The Actuality of Lacking Out
The actual fact is that we’re all lacking out, nearly all the time! We miss heading to Paris on each flight we’re not on that takes off for the glamorous metropolis! We’re consistently lacking out on stress-free days on the seaside after we are targeted on our research, life duties, and duties. After we’re on an extended commute house after an extended day on the workplace, we’re lacking out on connecting with nature.
We miss out when our supply to buy a house is rejected, after we fail to behave on a fantastic funding alternative, or decline a pricey invitation to a vacation spot marriage ceremony the place family and friends members have the time of their lives.
What We Don’t Need to Miss
What we don’t need to miss is the expertise of dwelling life authentically, surrounded by the robust help of buddies, colleagues, and members of the family. We’re not right here to meet others’ expectations or impress informal acquaintances and strangers with our completely happy, shiny moments.
We’re right here to stay out our lives, within the second, by real and fulfilling connections with others. When we live authentically, we miss nothing!
Six Methods to Assist Handle FoMO
Settle for that FoMO is part of the material of life, and understand that you’ve got the facility to create moments and occasions which have genuine that means and worth for you.
Acknowledge when FoMO reveals up, and the way it manifests as bodily or psychological signs, like coronary heart palpitations, nausea or headache, destructive, racing ideas, forecasting, or an urge to numb uncomfortable feelings. Get to know your triggers and fears.
Discover the veracity of your destructive ideas. How correct are your catastrophic ruminations on the fallout of lacking a networking or social occasion? Select to take a seat with reasonably than numb destructive feelings, and as you do, discover how your uncomfortable bodily signs subside.
Have interaction in optimistic self-talk when FoMO arises. Remind your self that life is filled with alternatives to create and pursue significant alternatives to have interaction, study, and develop with others. Replicate with gratitude on what conjures up and sustains you now.
Concentrate on aligning your self and your pursuits with what conjures up you and brings you pleasure.
Search assist from a psychological well being skilled for those who discover you might be scuffling with overwhelming concern and nervousness of lacking out.
To discover a therapist, go to the Psychology At present Remedy Listing
