If you’ve been on social media in the past few years, you may have heard of FOMO, or fear of missing out. FOMO has existed long before the Internet has, but it’s been emphasized a lot thanks to social media. Before the pandemic, missing out on a party or seeing your friends taking a vacation may trigger your FOMO. Now, as vaccines roll out, seeing everyone get vaccines when you’re unvaccinated may also cause FOMO.
If you’re not elderly, don’t have any pre-existing conditions, don’t work with the public, or don’t meet any other criteria in your area’s current vaccination phase, you may not qualify at the moment. Even if you do qualify, getting one isn’t so easy in some places.
Because of this, you may have a bit of FOMO seeing your friends and family members already having it. Here are some ways to avoid this feeling.
First, Realize That Things Aren’t Going To Go Back To Normal The Second You Get the Vaccine
One reason you want the vaccine is so you don’t contract COVID. However, the other reason that you and many other people want it is a return to normalcy. The ability to see concerts, to travel abroad, to not wear the mask again.
However, you need to realize that it won’t all return to normal right away if you get it. You’ll still need to wear a mask in areas where people may not be vaccinated for the sake of herd immunity. The country you want to visit may still have travel restrictions. The event you want to go to next month may get pushed back…again.
Knowing this may help quell your FOMO for a little bit.
Remember, Other People May Need It More Than You Do
Wanting the vaccine isn’t selfish. However, if you don’t have it yet, it’s important to put things into perspective. If you’re healthy and younger, you are unlikely to die from COVID. However, older people, or those who have pre-existing conditions, are more likely to die. If someone has poor immunity, they may not be able to stand a chance against COVID. It’s important that they get it first to prevent them from reaching an early grave.
Take A Break From Social Media
If you see all your friends getting it, it may be a smart idea to take a break from social media. As if the news of COVID wasn’t enough, opening up Twitter and Facebook and seeing your friends getting that shot may not be good for your mental health.
Continue To Spend Time Doing What You Love. Also, Prepare
Whether it’s improving your talents, enjoying a movie on Netflix, or just catching up on some Zs, entertaining yourself and doing what you love in the process of waiting can prevent COVID vaccine FOMO.
Another thing you can do is to start preparing for when things return to normal. Save up money to take a much-needed vacation. If you’ve wanted to move after the pandemic, why not plan that?
It’s important not to wallow in FOMO if possible. Of course, with depression, this is sometimes easier said than done. In some cases, you may need to…
Seek Help
If anxiety, depression, or FOMO about getting the vaccine is overtaking you, do not be afraid to speak to a therapist or a counselor about your feelings.
When unvaccinated, you may not want to see a therapist in-person. This is why BetterHelp is here for you. They are an online therapy website that can connect you with a therapist who can help you with your FOMO, or any other mental health problems you have.
Author Bio
Marie Miguel has been a writing and research expert for nearly a decade, covering a variety of health- related topics. Currently, she is contributing to the expansion and growth of a free online mental health resource with BetterHelp.com. With an interest and dedication to addressing stigmas associated with mental health, she continues to specifically target subjects related to anxiety and depression.
