Do Too Many Choices Give You Anxiety? Here’s What to Do
Lindsay Knake
| 3 min read
Lindsay Knake is a brand journalist for Blue Cross B...
You’ve likely heard of FOMO, or fear of missing out. But FOBO, or fear of a better option, is making a resurgence on social media.
We have more choices than ever, and the stakes of our decisions seem high. What is the healthiest meal I can make for dinner? What is the best after-school program for my kids? What is the most effective and efficient workout I can do, and what gym should I join? Which cereal is a healthier breakfast option? What is the best way for me to manage my mental health; should I try yoga or meditate?
Welcome to FOBO. Patrick McGinnis made up both the terms “FOMO” and “FOBO” in a satirical article at Harvard Business School in 2004, but the terms struck a nerve and have grown in popularity in the past two decades. While FOMO is well known, FOBO is catching on. It is a memorable term for decision paralysis or analysis paralysis.
Evaluating your options is a good thing, but it can be a problem when you become stuck and overwhelmed.
How to recognize analysis paralysis
Here are signs you’re dealing with fear of a better option:
- You constantly search for more information online or by talking to friends, but still can’t make up your mind.
- You have a lot of anxiety or overwhelm about making the wrong decision, which keeps you stuck.
- You can’t stop thinking about all the ways things could go wrong.
- You feel mentally exhausted from feeling both anxious and stuck.
- Your anxiety or overwhelm is interfering with your daily life and work.
When left unmanaged, high levels of anxiety can lead to health problems such as headaches, changes in appetite, difficulty sleeping, digestive issues, chronic pain and more.
Fear of a better option can be worse in people who already have anxiety, depression and ADHD, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
How to manage analysis paralysis
The way forward with the fear of a better option or analysis paralysis is to make decisions despite the fear or anxiety. Here are steps to move forward:
Start small to build confidence.
Choose the breakfast cereal or pick a gym that is accessible and convenient. Action will help you feel a sense of relief.
Remember your successes.
Remind yourself of times where you previously made good choices or when you successfully worked through a problem.
Allow yourself to change your decision later.
In most cases, there is no single best option. If the gym doesn’t work, you can try a different one. If you find yoga doesn’t help your mental health, you could try meditation. Allow yourself the grace to change your mind down the road.
Don’t engage the anxiety or overthinking.
Learning how to deal with uncertainty can help. If you have a sense of fear or anxiety about your choice, take a few deep breaths rather than engaging with the emotions. When a thought or worry about the decision resurfaces, acknowledge it and let it pass. Overthinking can be easy to do, but you can stop with practice.
If your anxiety persists, talking to a professional can help. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network can help members find an in-network mental health professional by calling behavioral health access lines listed below:
PPO: Behavioral Health Access Line | 1-800-762-2382
- A free and confidential resource that’s just a call away when you need immediate support. Behavioral health professionals answer, 24/7.
HMO: Behavioral Health Access Line | 1-800-482-5982
- Connect with a behavioral health clinician if you need help finding a mental health or substance use provider.
- Behavioral health clinicians are available for routine assistance from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. For urgent concerns after hours, clinicians are also available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Image: Getty Images
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Medically Reviewed by: Shanthi Appelö