Dallas Bragg connects his crystal-meth addiction to FOMO, explaining how he chased chemically-enhanced highs as borrowed joy that blocked real connection. He now watches his past FOMO moments with curiosity instead of judgment, and suggests asking what need a party actually satisfies before chasing the next one.
Fear of missing out isn't just about parties; it's about the deep human need for belonging and celebration. And when crystal meth was my party companion, summer felt like a season of unlimited possibility. Every invitation was a chance to transcend my ordinary life, to feel connected, alive, electric. But here's what I now know that I didn't know then: the highs were borrowing joy from my future self. Every chemically enhanced sunset, was a sunset I couldn't actually see. Every connection made while high was a connection my authentic self never really experienced. The compassionate observer in me now watches these FOMO moments with curiosity rather than judgment. There's a big difference. So when I see those party photos, I can ask myself, what am I actually longing for in this moment? What need was that party trying to meet? And how can I meet that need in a way that adds to rather than subtracts from my life? Usually the answer isn't about the party at all.
