88: Missing out: The pain of FOMO. Why it’s particularly bad for teens, and how to help your teen.

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Missing out can cause visceral pain; particularly for teenagers, but why is it so awful and can anything be done to help them with it?

This episode was inspired by a parent whose daughter is at an expensive private school, but the family are finally having to accept that they can't afford it and will have to withdraw her.  We love our, kids and want the best for them, but why choose something that's a massive stretch for us? What is 'the best' and where do we get our ideas from?

I would argue that FOMO is at the root of the decision to put her there, and even the daughter's request a Hermes handbag, rather than a present more suitable for a young girl.

In this episode we talk about where our desires come from and why our social environment can have such an impact. We discuss why figuring out, and staying anchored to, our own values whilst getting our kids to find something that really matters to them, is at the heart of protecting us from the pain of FOMO.

RESOURCES USED:
https://mo-issa.medium.com/ren%C3%A9-girards-mimetic-theory-changed-the-way-i-looked-at-my-own-desires-3ed029d042bf
https://www.verywellmind.com/how-to-cope-with-fomo-4174664
https://www.theteenmagazine.com/what-teens-need-to-know-about-fear-of-missing-out

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I don't have medical training so please seek the advice of a specialist if you're not coping.

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