Do you sometimes feel like life is passing you by? Do some social media posts make you feel like you have less than others? Are you anxious to get the vaccine? Are you jealous of others? Does it feel like everyone else has already been vaccinated? If this sounds familiar, you may be experiencing the fear of missing out.
What Triggers the Fear of Missing Out
Whether it’s vaccine selfies or social media pictures from others on vacation, more and more people are experiencing the fear of missing out. It can feel as though everyone else has more “toys” or has had once in a lifetime experiences. As of this article more than 100,000,000 people in the United States have received their first vaccine shot. For the approximately 2/3 of the population who have not yet received the vaccine, it can feel as though they have been left out.
When one experiences the fear of missing out, also known as FOMO, they are focusing on the glass being half empty. Instead of being present, in the moment, people who experience FOMO often daydream about what they wish they had. In order to shift away from this fear, it is necessary to focus on what you have to be grateful for.
What does the medical community suggest
Psychologists often suggest journaling, mindfulness, and practicing gratitude. While these were all great tools, they simply don’t work for everyone. In order to address fear of missing out, the unconscious mind must be addressed. The unconscious mind is responsible for most, if not all, of your automatic responses. Feeling jealous when you pass someone who is over 65 and not wearing mask is one of those automatic responses. We make assumptions without having all the facts.
The Stress of FOMO
Hypnotherapy has long been shown to be an effective treatment for managing anxiety and stress. The fear of missing out creates that anxiety and stress. Once you are free of the stress that is created by the need to keep up with the Joneses, or to not miss out, you can experience mood enhancement and a general sense of calm.
Hypnosis for FOMO
Hypnotherapy is an excellent tool for addressing automatic responses like the fear of missing out. Skilled hypnotherapists can guide you into an attentive, suggestible, and relaxed state. Hypnotic trance allows for the unconscious mind to be accessed and programmed. Hypnotic programming can help shift your perspective and help you stay present. It allows patients to appreciate what they have and stop making assumptions.
How to Overcome the Fear of Missing Out
As children we are sometimes taught to value objects over experiences. It is amazing how many of our beliefs stem from what we were taught growing up, accidentally or on purpose. In hypnosis, a client can unlearn what no longer serves us. While in hypnotic trance, we can experience a shift in the way we perceive past experiences. Once reframed, we respond to the world around us differently. We understand that it is only a matter of time before it’s our turn to get vaccinated.
Whether it’s a shiny car or a bucket list vacation, it’s important to address the fear of missing out. If you’re tired of daydreaming about what you don’t have as opposed to what you do have, hypnosis for the fear of missing out can help. Take that metaphorical weight off your shoulders and seek out help in the form of hypnosis.