� Is the Fear Of Missing Out (FOMO) real? Do you ever worry that the people around you are doing something fun, exciting, or interesting without you? If so, you may have FOMO � the Fear Of Missing Out. And according to new studies, this is a real phobia that may also mean that you are less satisfied with your life than the average person. � The well-known acronym FOMO is the fear that everyone around you is having a better time doing whatever it is that they�re doing while you miss out. Whether this is in a work, home, or social context, people who suffer from FOMO report feeling anxious, and even depressed, at the thought of missing out. � The FOMO addiction � Following a probe into the rising demand for immune-boosting supplements in SA, a leading pharmaceutical company found a link between this increase and the phenomena of FOMO. In a survey of 3 000 respondents aged between 15 and 50, 62% admitted to living in �constant fear� of missing out on something and around 35% said they regularly interrupt one phone call or conversation to attend to another one which may be more exciting. The respondents also said they check on their social media platforms often for fear that they are missing something, even if this means using their phones during inappropriate times like during work meetings, family gatherings, or on dates. � FOMO symptoms are similar to that of nomophobia � the fear of being without your mobile phone � and include excessive phone usage (even while driving or in the bathroom) and increased feelings of anxiety and stress when they feel they are missing out. � According to study spokesperson Mariska Fouche, �People who suffer from FOMO constantly push themselves to the limit and even when sick, try not to miss out on social events, still go to work, and can�t say no and this puts a lot of additional strain on our immune system that in turn heightens our risk of more serious illness.� Fouche adds that FOMO is a combination of anxiety, stress, feelings of inadequacy, and irritation that flares up, particularly when browsing social media sites. �In many ways, the obsession has upped the demand for over-the-counter vitamin supplements,� she concludes
Posted on: Tue, 22 Oct 2013 14:14:19 +0000
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