I’m sure you have heard of FOMO, but have you ever heard of FOFO? FOFO, or fear of flying objects, is a phobia most often pertaining to flying objects coming at someone. While it is normal for a person to be afraid of some objects coming at them, such as bullets, people with FOFO take it to the next level. People with FOFO, myself included, are afraid of anything that comes at them. You or a loved one may have FOFO if they insist on dodging objects instead of catching or hitting them. This is typically evident in sports and games such as dodgeball, basketball, kickball, soccer, and baseball.
From a young age, I've had a fear of flying objects, specifically those coming at me. Combined with not-the-best-ever hand-eye coordination, I was never a big fan of dodgeball, basketball, soccer, softball, or any other sport that involved balls. When forced to play these in gym class or elsewhere, my natural instinct was to duck rather than attempt to hit, kick, or catch the ball.
Flash forward a few years: I'm still afraid of being hit by objects coming at me. However, my hand-eye coordination has improved a little. Key words: a little. I still duck or move out of the way more often than necessary, but when I don't duck I swing or kick hard because, well, who wants to be hit by a flying object? A good portion of the time I try to hit it I miss. Like I said before, my hand-eye coordination has only improved a little. However, when I do manage to make contact, it tends to be harder than necessary. Not because I try to, but because that's the unconscious result of FOFO. As it turns out, this is actually relatively useful, particularly in the game of Four-Square.
That's right, the game of Four-Square. The game almost everyone plays on recess in elementary school and then never plays again -- unless, that is, they're college students bored out of their mind with no WiFi, but that's another story.
It turns out, that with this unconscious tactic I am pretty decent at getting others out (and also occasionally hitting or kicking the ball so hard that it goes out of bounds). So, in an odd way, my struggle with FOFO has actually helped me be somewhat good at a game I used to avoid.
Therefore, I encourage everyone with FOFO to take a step and see if their fear can help them develop a new "talent." However, if someone with FOFO is not ready to take this step, reduce the chance of a panic attack by avoiding all places where they might encounter flying objects. This includes, but is not limited to, parks, fields, courts, and anywhere where someone that may not be too fond of them may throw an object at them. If one encounters one of these situations and is too afraid to catch it, they should dodge, duck, or run immediately.
