FOGO is an acronym for Fear of Going Outside. It can extend to more than simply walking through your front door. It also refers to difficulty being around large groups of people or simply being away from your home. Unfortunately, if left unchecked, it can escalate into Cave Syndrome. As the name suggests, sufferers have an extreme aversion to in-person interactions. We have done a 180 from pre-pandemic FOMO, or the fear of missing out. Now, we have FONO or the Fear of Normal(cy). Dr. Lucy McBride describes this as a fearful emotional response to things once considered commonplace, such as returning to work or going to birthday parties. Younger folks, specifically Zoomers who were on-boarded to new jobs from home during the height of the pandemic, may be affected more than others. If you’re dreading returning to pre-pandemic routines, don’t hesitate to find support and strategies for coping with post-pandemic mental health concerns.
