Everything you need to know about FOFO (and why it could be dangerous)

How can you tell if someone has FOFO?

The biggest giveaway is when a person keeps delaying check-ups even when appointments are easy to access, and they often give vague reasons like “I’ll go later” without a real barrier. “They may feel anxious or stressed when someone suggests medical tests, and they may avoid talking about symptoms or change the topic quickly,” notes Dr Shree. Some people obsessively Google their symptoms, fear the worst-case scenarios before testing, and yet avoid seeing a doctor. “Their behaviour often includes procrastination, overthinking, and emotional discomfort related to hospitals, and these patterns suggest fear and not inconvenience is stopping them from getting care”. Showing show denial, pretending everything is fine, or downplaying are clear warning signs.

FAFO can lead to difficulty in treatments, more complications, and increased risk

Why is it dangerous?

Delay in diagnosis may lead to the progression of the disease to advanced levels, making the treatment much harder and even less effective in some cases. “Serious conditions like cancer, diabetes, heart disease, or infections need early diagnosis to prevent damage, and when people avoid tests due to fear, the illness keeps growing silently,” Dr Shree warns. He further adds that late detection often leads to more complications, stronger medications, longer treatment, higher medical costs, and a lower chance of full recovery, and this puts both physical and emotional stress on the person. Mentally, it increases worry and guilt about delays, leading to a dip in the likelihood of living a healthy, long, and stable life.

How to overcome FOFO?

Dr Shree suggests overcoming FOFO by taking small steps, such as booking simple tests first, breaking tasks into smaller actions, and asking a trusted person to go along for support, which helps reduce fear. “Counselling approaches such as cognitive-behavioural therapy help patients challenge scary thoughts and replace them with realistic ones, and motivational interviewing encourages them to focus on the benefits of early care,” Dr Shree notes. For doctors, he advises gentle communication, clear test explanations, and a safe space for questions, which reduce anxiety. Behavioural techniques like deep breathing, writing down fears, using reminders, and rewarding small progress also help. “When patients understand that early diagnosis improves outcomes, their confidence grows and they feel more ready to seek timely care,” the psychiatrist concludes.