FOMO
Overcoming FOMO: Reclaiming Your Presence and Peace
What FOMO Is
A Feeling of Anxiety: It’s the uncomfortable apprehension that you are being left out of socially, emotionally, or in terms of life milestones.
Driven by Social Comparison: It stems from comparing your own life to what you perceive others are doing, especially on social media where they often highlight positive achievements and omit the struggles.
Triggered by External Cues: It can be caused by seeing photos of a party you weren’t invited to, hearing about a friend’s exciting vacation, or noticing that colleagues are getting promotions you are not.
Fueled by a Desire to Belong: It is linked to the fundamental human need to be socially connected and can be intensified when basic psychological needs like competence, autonomy, or relatedness feel unmet.
How It Affects You
Causes Negative Emotions: It can lead to anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and a general feeling of dissatisfaction with your own life.
Promotes Compulsive Behavior: The fear can trigger the brain’s “fight or flight” response, causing you to compulsively check your phone, over-commit to activities, or constantly seek validation.
Distracts from the Present: It can prevent you from enjoying the moment or fully engaging in your current activities because you’re focused on what you could be doing instead.
Contributes to a Cycle: The feeling of inadequacy can lead to more compulsive checking, which then leads to more comparison and increased feelings of inadequacy—a self-perpetuating cycle of distress.
Why Professional Counselling is Essential for Breaking the FOMO Cycle
Many people try to manage FOMO by simply “logging off” or limiting screen time, but the feeling often runs deeper, rooted in self-worth and underlying anxiety. If FOMO is consistently affecting your mood, your decisions, or your relationships, it’s time to seek specialist help.
Counselling at SG Counselling Helps You:
Uncover the Root Cause: FOMO is a symptom, not the disease. We work together to explore the underlying vulnerabilities—be it perfectionism, social anxiety, low self-esteem, or trauma—that fuel the fear of being left behind.
Develop Core Confidence: We use cognitive and behavioural techniques to shift your perspective from social comparison to self-compassion. This helps you build an internal measure of success and worth, rather than relying on external validation.
Master Anxiety Management: FOMO is essentially an anxiety disorder. We teach practical, evidence-based coping mechanisms to soothe the “fight or flight” response triggered by external cues, helping you resist compulsive checking and stay present.
Establish Intentional Boundaries: You’ll learn how to set healthy, sustainable boundaries with social media and digital devices, transforming your relationship with technology from a source of stress to a tool you control.
Don’t let the fear of what others are doing prevent you from enjoying your own life. Seeking professional help is a powerful step toward finding genuine satisfaction and peace.