Though the acronym of FOMA often refers to a general state of fear over missing out on many things, it can be used as a particular feeling when recovering from an alcohol addiction (also known as alcoholism) in terms of fearing that the individual is ‘missing out’ on the effects that they may have previously experienced.
When an individual is struggling with an alcohol addiction, they will continue to seek out the consumption of alcohol, chasing the short-term effects and attempting to continue these effects rather than focussing on the negative impacts that they know to occur in the long-term.
This is common amongst recoverees of alcohol addiction; it is never truly cured, and all individuals are likely to experience triggers and/or cravings throughout their recovery that may include the ‘missing’ of the effects achieved from alcohol in the past.
This article will investigate FOMA further, including its specific relation to alcohol, the dangers of this, and how an individual may overcome this.
Alcohol has been long known to be a physically addictive substance, meaning that it becomes directly involved within bodily processes and functioning – making it very hard to overcome.
Studies have long shown that alcohol specifically can attach itself to receptors in the brain, often altering how individuals are able to think about its effects and the ways in which they continue to crave the substance (1), even once they have rehabilitated.
This is a direct cause of FOMA; it is based on neuropharmacology and the ways in which the body uses and processes alcohol, causing a high risk of relapse for those who have not fully or professionally rehabilitated.
This is why it is vital that the most appropriate and suitable form of rehabilitation is found for each individual case and that they enter this care as soon as they are able.
Alcohol is one of the most addictive and dangerous drugs in the world, often overlooked due to its widespread availability and legality in most countries – something which makes it unique from other addictive substances such as heroin and cocaine of which the consumption of is often criminalised.
When an individual is struggling with alcoholism, they are likely to experience severe impacts to their physical and mental wellbeing, especially if they have been addicted for a long period of time and this has gone unnoticed or untreated for a long period of time.
The most serious impacts often occur when an individual attempts to withdraw, though short-term impacts also include loss of balance, memory, and sense of actions, leading to serious issues and dangers to the individual when they become seriously intoxicated.
So how can an individual overcome an alcohol addiction and deal with the FOMA that may come with this?
There are many paths in which an individual can take to overcome these effects, but the most commonly recommended course of action is to enter some form of alcohol rehabilitation and associated treatment.
By treating the root cause of an individual’s addiction, they are likely to have a greater understanding of their condition and how to deal with the effects of this in the long term.
Generally, the process of rehabilitation is conducted over three key stages.: detoxification, therapy/rehabilitation, and aftercare. This is something that all individuals should look for, whether they are accessing rehabilitation through a referral service such as Rehab 4 Addiction or through other means (less recommended).
So how can an individual work toward overcoming their FOMA? There are many ways in which someone may achieve this, and all methods are unique to the individual, their experiences, and their needs of rehabilitation.
It is important to overcome FOMA, as it is often a key indicator that an individual is still experiencing triggers and cravings that may result in a relapse – something which all individuals should strive to avoid in order to have the best experience of rehabilitation in an efficient timespan.
The remainder of this article offers some key tips in how to overcome FOMA in an individual’s day-to-day life and ways in which to support this going into the future.
The most common recommendation and the one which is most likely to provide the best results is to enter some form of rehabilitation.
This can be inpatient rehabilitation within a specialised rehab centre, or it can be on an outpatient basis in which individuals attend treatment external to a centre but often including the same forms of therapy and other treatment.
During rehabilitation and associated therapies, individuals are taught how to cope with the feelings of ‘missing out’ on alcohol and how to deal with these feelings should they arise, all based on the individual’s unique needs and experiences of their addiction.
If an individual finds themselves to be ‘missing out’ on alcohol, they may seek some form of ‘replacement’ that allows them to engage in drinking behaviours but without the alcohol.
Many establishments now offer alcohol-free alternatives such as mocktails and other options, sometimes allowing discreet ordering of these alternatives to avoid the knowledge of others should the individual wish.
As another form of distraction, individuals may be encouraged to or choose to pursue new hobbies and activities that take up the time that an individual may have previously spent consuming alcohol or other substances.
This may include taking up a new hobby such as group sports or creative activities but can also be a part of rehabilitation or social prescription in which individuals are encouraged to find other ways in which to achieve satisfaction and happiness rather than that found through alcohol.
With these new ‘distractions’, individuals may be more likely to think less about alcohol and slowly transition away from their cravings and triggers that they may still be affected by.
As a final suggestion, it is always recommended to find new sources of social support – those that do not encourage the consumption of alcohol and perhaps connections that are forged outside of the environment in which an individual may have developed an addiction.
Groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), for example, are great ways to connect with individuals who may be in similar situations, allowing the learning from others and the sharing of experiences to enrich the recovery journey of all who are involved.
To learn more about how to conquer FOMA, how to access suitable rehabilitation, and any other query relating to addiction, Rehab 4 Addiction is here to help.
With a specialised addiction support hotline available 24/7, our friendly, non-judgemental, and professional team are here to support you or someone you know with all issues of addiction at 0800 140 4690 today.
[1] Hoffman, P.L. and Tabakoff, B., 1996. Alcohol dependence: a commentary on mechanisms. Alcohol and Alcoholism, 31(4), pp.333-340.
Boris is our editor-in-chief at Rehab 4 Addiction. Boris is an addiction expert with more than 20 years in the field. His expertise covers a broad of topics relating to addiction, rehab and recovery. Boris is an addiction therapist and assists in the alcohol detox and rehab process. Boris has been featured on a variety of websites, including the BBC, Verywell Mind and Healthline. You can connect with Boris online at LinkedIn or X.com.
