FOMO (Fear of Missing Out)-Induced Depression: What is it and How to Overcome It?

Social media is rising, and its proliferation has led to more cases of FOMO. Online pictures on social media sites and subscribed newsletters make you aware of the latest events, trends, recent products, hottest travel destinations, activities of your friends, and so on. This creates a fear that if you do not use social media for a certain amount of time, you will miss out on the fun, or create a fear that you would not have been part of it or seen it while it was happening. Over time, this fear can evolve into a debilitating condition known as FOMO-induced depression. In this blog post, we’ll delve into what FOMO-induced depression is, its causes, and, most importantly, how individuals can overcome it.

Understanding FOMO-Induced Depression

FOMO is an acronym that encapsulates the feeling of persistent fear of missing out on experiences, opportunities, or connections that others are seemingly enjoying. Various studies have discovered that FOMO is positively correlated with mental health issues such as depression and anxiety and significantly predicts stress that leads to FOMO-induced depression.

Dr. Dan Herman, a marketing strategist, is credited with being the first to study FOMO in 1996. Later on, McGinnis propounded the term by dubbing it FOBO (Fear of Better Opportunities) in his article titled Social Theory at HBS: McGinnis’s Two FOs, published in The Harbus in 2004. The term FOBO was created about heightened awareness of mortality and the need to live life to its fullest, commonly felt in the years following 9/11. Since then, throughout the 2010s, the term FOMO has been added to numerous dictionaries.

Resulting Effects of Fear of Missing Out
FOMO takes a psychological toll that is reflected in its outward manifestations. For instance, constantly checking one’s phone while watching a movie in a theatre or panicking at the prospect of being stranded without one’s phone, or indulging in dangerous habits like texting while driving.

A person suffering from FOMO is unable to enjoy the present moment as they are preoccupied with worrying about what others are doing. Feeling FOMO can lead to depression, anxiety, fear, and stress.
Some of the common symptoms of FOMO are:

• Obsessively checking social media as a result of fear
• Comparing one’s life to others and feeling low about your current life
• Feeling naturally exhausted from social media
• Low life satisfaction
• Withdrawal from others
• Feeling sad, anxious, or depressed
• Difficult concentrating
• Having trouble sleeping

How can you overcome FOMO-induced depression?

• Understand the root cause of FOMO
  As explained, the fear of missing out is the constant fear that everyone is doing better than you. You need to understand the root cause that results in a feeling of FOMO in you. Typically, the root cause of FOMO boils down to one thing: the feeling of discontent. You might not be happy about the current situation and feel left out, as you feel everyone else is having a better time. To improve this, you need to understand when you got triggered by the fear and go deeper to understand that. Complete the process with the assistance of a psychologist.
• Practice gratitude
  Practice the attitude of gratitude. The habit of gratitude can significantly improve your FOMO, as FOMO is a form of scarcity mentality. You feel a shortage of rewarding experiences, and you fear opportunities will not come again. Cultivating the attitude of gratitude will help you enjoy the things and opportunities you have currently and shift your perspective from lack to abundance. Focus on the positive aspects of your life rather than constantly comparing yourself to others.
• Cultivating digital awareness and mindfulness
  The fear of missing out caused by the constant influx of updates and notifications can lead to distraction and discontent. Thus, you have to develop certain habits to deal with this. Set boundaries on when you will use social media and set limits on how much time you will spend online. FOMO is often the result of the perception that your needs are not met. You need to be grateful and confident in what you have, and you need to be the initiator of the creation of the experiences you want. Last but not least, practice mindfulness to be present in the moment and calmly acknowledge your thoughts and feelings.
• Seek real-life experiences and friendships
  One of the best ways to overcome FOMO is by seeking real-life experience and friendship. Prioritizing real-life experiences. Try to immerse yourself in engaging activities such as hiking, reading, or engaging in face-to-face interactions that require your complete attention to overcome the worry of the future.

Conclusion
FOMO-induced depression can have significant negative impacts on mental health, leading to feelings of anxiety, inadequacy, and discontent. However, by understanding its root causes, practicing gratitude, cultivating digital awareness and mindfulness, and prioritizing real-life experiences, individuals can overcome FOMO and regain control of their well-being.