Do you have trouble putting down your smartphone or feel anxious when you know you will lose service for a few hours? Do thoughts of being without your phone cause distress? If so, it’s possible you could have nomophobia, an extreme fear of not having your phone or not being able to use it.
Most of us depend on our devices for information and connection, so it’s normal to worry about losing them. Suddenly not being able to find your phone probably sparks worries about how to deal with losing photos, contacts, and other information.
Smartphones are now our companions for work, social, leisure and even family life. However, excessive use can lead to problems of dependence, addiction and fear.
If we stop to think about what we look at most during the day, the answer would probably not be our family or friends, nor television or books. The most feasible option would be the mobile phone. That small device that forms a large part of our lives with work emails, and instant messages.
Nomophobia represents the irrational fear of being without a mobile phone. The term was coined in 2009 in the UK and comes from the anglicism “nomophobia” (“no-mobile-phone-phobia. But nomophobia, shortened from “no mobile phone phobia,” describes a fear of not having your phone that’s so persistent and severe it affects daily life.
How does a person get to know that it is nomophobia?
People who have this phobia worry, fear, or panic when they think about not having a phone or being unable to use it.
Anxiousness and agitation are more if they have to put the phone down or know that they won’t be able to use it for a while get panic or anxiety if they briefly can’t find the phone. The level of irritation, stress, or anxiety is more when they can’t check their phone.
Sometimes in extreme cases, the person may experience tightness in the chest, trouble breathing normally, trembling or shaking,increased sweating feeling faint, dizzy or disoriented and rapid heartbeat can be seen.
Causes for Nomophobia
Among the most recognised causes of mobile phone addiction are low self-esteem and problems in maintaining social relationships.
In fact, personal insecurity is the most common factor that causes nomophobia, as many young people become dependent on others and find in their mobile phones a way to be present in their social circle. Perfectionism is another reason for this disorder, as sufferers feel the need to perform without making a single mistake. For example, if this type of user receives a call and they do not have their mobile phone at hand, they feel that they are disappointed and fear takes hold of them.
Some tips for managing it
It is a treatable disease which can be controlled with conscious effort.
People can follow certain steps to control the use of phones.
* Uninstall some applications that we consider to be time-wasters such as games.
* Avoid using the phone at mealtimes, and mute notifications at some point.
* Set specific times to consult it and decrease the time of use.
* Never look at it if we are chatting, eating, or sharing leisure time with other people.
* Do not use it as an alarm clock, as it can interfere with our sleep cycle.
To conclude, Nomophobia might not yet be classified as an official mental health condition. However, experts agree this issue of the technology age is a growing concern that can affect mental health. Nomophobia appears most common in young people, though many phone users experience some degree of symptoms. In extreme cases, therapeutic treatment is required.
