Nomophobia is a term that describes the fear of being out of contact with the cell phone, being a word derived from the English expression " no mobile phone phobia ". This term is not recognized by the medical community, but it has been used and studied since 2008 to describe the addictive behavior and feelings of anguish and anxiety that some people show when they do not have their cell phone nearby.
Generally, the person who suffers from nomophobia is known as nomophobia and, although the phobia is more related to the use of cell phones, it can also happen with the use of other electronic devices, such as the laptop , for example.
Because it is a phobia, it is not always possible to identify the cause that causes people to feel anxious about being away from the cell phone, but in some cases, these feelings are justified by the fear of not being able to know what is happening in the world or of needing medical assistance and not being able to ask for help.
How to identify
Some signs that can help you identify that you have nomophobia include:
- Feeling anxious when you don't use your cell phone for a long time; Needing to take several breaks from work to use your cell phone; Never turn off your cell phone, even to sleep; Waking up in the middle of the night to go on your cell phone; Frequently charge your cell phone to ensure you always has battery; be very upset when you forget your cell phone at home.
In addition, other physical symptoms that seem to be associated with nomophobia signs are addiction, such as increased heart rate, feeling of excessive sweating, agitation and rapid breathing.
Since nomophobia is still being studied and is not recognized as a psychological disorder, there is still no fixed list of symptoms, there are only several different forms that help the person to understand if he may have some level of dependence on the cell phone.
Check out how to use your phone properly to avoid physical problems, such as tendonitis or neck pain.
What causes nomophobia
Nomophobia is a type of addiction and phobia that has emerged slowly over the years and is related to the fact that cell phones, as well as other electronic devices, have become smaller and smaller, more portable and with access to the internet. This means that each person is always in touch and can also see what is happening around them in real time, which ends up generating a feeling of tranquility and that nothing important is being lost.
Therefore, whenever someone stays away from the cell phone or other form of communication, it is common to be afraid of missing something important and not being easily reached in case of an emergency. That's where the sensation known as nomophobia arises.
How to avoid addiction
To try to combat nomophobia there are some guidelines that can be followed every day:
- Have several moments during the day when you don't have your cell phone and you prefer to talk face to face; Spend at least the same time, in hours, that you spend on your cell phone, talking to someone; Don't use your cell phone in the first few 30 minutes after waking up and in the last 30 minutes before sleeping; Place the cell phone to charge on a surface away from the bed; Turn the cell off at night.
When some degree of addiction already exists, it may be necessary to consult a psychologist to start therapy, which may include various types of techniques to try to deal with the anxiety generated by the lack of a cell phone, such as yoga, guided meditation or positive visualization.
