It’s the monster that creeps and crawls with its critter-like tentacles into the dark, warped places of your brain. It can ooze out into the happiest of places, taking immediate control of the psyche. This monster can ruin any delightful moment with one swipe, one glance, or a few words. It is everywhere, even in the palm of your hand.

This destructible monster that plants itself in the human brain only to unfold into an anxious darkness is called FOMO aka the fear of missing out. Social media #FOMO and conversations like, “I’m telling you, Becky has a huge FOMO issue. She can’t stay in one night without freaking out" are used and talked about all the time. If you deny that you have sat in your room creeping on some stranger with the neatest and most unique Instagram photos chronicling their attendance at over fifty music festivals, falling in love, and somehow finding time to deep sea fish and read the bible, yet haven’t felt a tinge of jealousy or sadness, you my friend are lying. But maybe I am exaggerating? Or maybe this sort of feeling is specific to certain people? Maybe I am wrong, and you can label me crazy?

But, maybe you can relate all too well to this generational monster.

Before embarking on this seemingly embarrassing, yet highly reflective journey to understand my own case of FOMO, I did a bit of Google searching. Google defines FOMO as “anxiety that an exciting or interesting event may currently be happening elsewhere, often aroused by posts seen on social media websites.” Wikipedia says FOMO is “a pervasive apprehension that others may be having rewarding experiences from which one is absent.” I even found an article in the prominent Forbes magazine, which led me to learn that this evasive acronym was added to the Oxford Dictionary back in 2013.

FOMO is real, and it is personal. Our generation has beautiful, open and accepting values, yet we all get sucked into this social media identification to demonstrate just how different we are.

Now, I am not saying I am against any of this social media, because to be honest, I check mine every day–I do not hide it. Yet I find this anxious feeling of disconnection occurring when there is so much to be blessed with right in front of me. That is where I believe we get lost, by losing sight of the blessings within reach while searching for possible blessings, faux or not.

I have learned over time that if the negativity in life is not pointed out, it will mold into the mind and take over, henceforth "sinking the ship." FOMO is a negative influence, and it needs to be addressed. I will admit, writing this article makes me uneasy, and that it was motivated by my willingness to stay home on this weekend to finish procrastinated homework. As I sat on my dark army-green couch with my mom scrolling across Twitter, I thought about how bad I wanted to be at the lake with my best friends, just living the life for a few days. My mind raced in circles as I thought of what all my friends were up to while I sat at home with no one but my family. Then I realized how much life there is and how small a single moment or Fourth of July weekend will be at the end of it all. I addressed my pitiful anxiety by turning to cuddle up with my mom, who has gifted me with more love than I could have ever deserved. Then I looked at my sister, called her a freak for wearing her sweatpants up past her waist, as is my daily routine, and smiled. I would not want to be anywhere else at this moment – this moment was a blessing.

FOMO can make blessings feel small because our world is filled with copious amounts of excitement, and we all want a taste of it. But FOMO is not delicious. FOMO is an abrasive, discomforting feeling that we have for creative connection, fueled by the media. FOMO can push people to the point of tears, anxiety attacks, or trigger even worse emotions. FOMO can be a monster, if you let it. But that is it's beauty; FOMO is a choice. Put the phone down at the breakfast table, while you are watching a movie with the family, and especially when you are going to bed. Do not let the negativity spill into your boat and when it does–because it always does – address it and grab a bucket it to scoop it out. There is no sinking if you try. Close your eyes and imagine a person, place, favorite book or food, or any blessing that you are thankful for, and smile. That girl on Instagram who is visiting Tahiti and Thailand, can twerk like a professional and speak four different languages, has her own problems, her own life.

Address it, own it, and shrug it off. You have got better things to do than invite a monster in.