FOMO (fear Of Missing Out): What It Is, Causes, Symptoms And Treatment

FOMO is a irrational and exacerbated fear of missing out on an activity that other people might be enjoying at those moments. In this way, FOMO is a psychological condition that affects the person because it prevents them from stopping being in contact with their environment in a healthy way. For this reason, the fear of missing out can be considered a psychological disorder linked to the social sphere.

This anxiety disorder can be included in the group of specific phobias outlined in the DSM-V.⁽¹⁾. Below we show you the diagnostic criteria from FOMO:

• Fear and/or anxiety regarding a specific situation or object, in this case, the fear of missing out.
• Fear and/or anxiety disproportionate to the real danger represented by the specific situation or object.
• Anguish over the fear of being judged negatively.
• Deterioration of social, work and family relationships.
• Duration of six months or more.
• The alterations cannot be explained by the presence of another mental disorder or by the ingestion of toxic substances or medications.

There are some physical, emotional and behavioral manifestations that allow us to detect this irrational fear of missing out. In this way, the most relevant symptoms of FOMO are:

• Unsafety.
• Catastrophic thoughts about the loss.
• Constant fear of devaluation.
• Unhappiness.
• Intense anguish.
• Sleep disturbances.
• Constant consultation of social networks.
• Need for permanent approval.
• Shortness of breath.
• Palpitations.
• Excessive sweating.
• In some cases, dizziness and vomiting.

It should be noted that the presence of any of these symptoms in isolation does not necessarily represent a condition of FOMO. Therefore, the definitive diagnosis must be made by a mental health professional who evaluates the clinical conditions of each person.

To address FOMO in greater depth, it is essential to know the possible origins of this pathology. Next, we explain the main causes:

Environmental factors

Generally speaking, FOMO or fear of missing out can be related to having suffered significant losses during childhood. These may include members of the family environment, valuable objects or specific situations, among others. On the other hand, it is possible that the person has also gone through painful situations in which they have not been accepted for various reasons.

In these cases, the need to be present in an infinite number of moments appears as a response to these insecurities.

Genetic factors

The brain chemistry is another factor to take into account when finding the origins of FOMO. In this sense, it is important to keep in mind that there are certain neural connections linked to the processing of information coming from outside. Given this, it is possible that people react with intense fear as a means of expression in these scenarios.

How to treat FOMO syndrome? Currently, there are some approaches that improve the quality of life of people with this problem. The most effective treatments to treat fear of missing out are:

Psychological therapy

Therapy is a space that invites reflect on actions, emotions and thoughts that a person can have and the problems they cause. On the one hand, short-term psychological therapies focus on reducing symptoms and providing tools to face social situations that produce high levels of anxiety, such as those that occur in FOMO. The main approach to this type of therapy is cognitive-behavioral therapy.

On the other hand, long-term therapies aim to find the origin of a person’s conflicts so that they adopt other alternatives when facing their difficulties. The most important long-term therapeutic approach is psychoanalysis.

Psychiatric medication

In cases of considerable severity, the supply of psychiatric medications It may be a viable option to reduce the intensity of symptoms. However, it is necessary that the person first be evaluated by a health professional who supervises this treatment.

This article is merely informative, at PsychologyFor we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.

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