Nomophobia is the irrational fear of being without your mobile phone or being unable to use your phone for some reason, such as the absence of a signal or running out of minutes or battery power.
A phobia is by definition an irrational fear. In the case of nomophobia, the events that the user fears are not terribly unlikely, so that part of it isn't irrational. What is irrational is the degree of discomfort the users feel at the thought of being, in effect, separated from their smartphones.
The word nomophobia is a portmanteau made up of no + mobile + phone + phobia. The term was created by YouGov, a research organization based in the United Kingdom. In a 2008 study, researchers reported that 53% of mobile users felt anxious when they were unable to use their mobile phones and over half of users never shut their phones off. Subsequent studies have found that the numbers have increased since then.
Is Nomophobia is real phobia
Nomophobia is a proposed name for the phobia of being out of cellular phone contact. It is, however, arguable that the word "phobia" is misused and that in the majority of cases it is another form of anxiety disorder.
^> Is Nomophobia a disease??
Nomophobia, also called “the disease of the XXI century”, is the irrational fear of being without cell phone. It is a disorder suffered by half of the population. It occurs due to by the irrational dependence on these devices that generates a feeling of anxiety in the user to feel cut off from the outside.
10 Facts You Should Know About Nomophobia: Fear Of Being Without A Mobile Phone!
- Nomophobia, a recently introduced term, is an abbreviation for "no-mobile-phone phobia"
- People with nomophobia tend to be anxious when they "lose their mobile phone, run out of battery or credit, or have no network coverage".
- According to YouGov's study, nearly 53% of mobile phone users in Britain suffer from nomophobia.
- Same study also found that about 58% of men and 47% of women suffer from the phobia.
- More than one in two nomophobes never switch of their mobile phone.
- Additional 10% reported that they feel stressed when their mobile phones are off.
- Other studies shown that phone addiction is caused by nomophobia, is negatively affecting the capabilities of human memory.
- Having a source of near omniscience in their pockets, such people typically fail to remember simple things, including phone numbers of their family members.
- Getting more and more dependent on mobile devices to access and keep information, such people mostly use their short-term memory for daily tasks and it weakens their long-term memory capacity.
- It also known that nomophobic behavior reinforces social anxiety and phobia.
Symptoms
Anxiety
Respiratory alterations
Trembling
Perspiration
Agitation
Disorientation
Tachycardia
Emotional symptoms
Depression
Panic
Fear
Dependence
Rejection
Low self-esteem
Loneliness
In the U.S., it’s gotten worse…
Sixty-five percent, or about two in three people, sleep with or next to their smart phones. (Among college students, it’s even higher).
Thirty-four percent admitted to answering their cell phone during intimacy with their partner. (Hey, what happened to valuing the person you are with in-person?)
One in five people would rather go without shoes for a week than take a break from their phone. (It’s a good way to lose your sole and your soul).
More than half never switch off their phone. (I’d call that an addiction).
A full 66 percent of all adults suffer from “nomophobia.”
It's time to take a break
Whenever I find myself needing something in order to cope, I always check my lifestyle and my health. This may sound crazy, but my rule of thumb is that I don’t allow myself to be brought under the control of anything. Outside of food, water and shelter, I guard myself against subjection to any addiction that begins to dictate my behavior. This includes technology. I recognize that cell phones, tablets, computers and other technology introduced in the future will make my life easier and enable me to work more efficiently. My principle, though, is this: Technology should be a servant, not a master.