What Is Nomophobia? Some Essential Information

What is nomophobia? If you are used to having a panic attack when your mobile phone battery is running low and you always have a charger at hand, you may suffer from this disease. In other words, nomophobia is the scientific name for addiction to mobile phones.

We cannot deny that modern technology has made our lives easier. But if we use electronic devices in the wrong way, something very advantageous becomes a problem.

Although few people are truly addicted to mobile phones, certain unhealthy habits can lead to the onset of nomophobia in the future.

What is nomophobia and how can I find out if I am affected?

Nomophobia does not appear overnight. This is the consequence of certain unhealthy habits, such as the buttoning of the mobile phone every time we find ourselves in an awkward situation.

Sometimes this device becomes a real “companion” that helps us feel less alone when we are on our own (for example, walking by bus or waiting for someone at a restaurant).

The problem is that this habit can make us dependent on our mobile phone to reduce emotional stress. Thus, although we did not hear any notification, we check if we have received new messages or emails all the time. In addition, if we discover a new message, we cannot refrain and respond immediately.

Starting from these premises, we can establish certain parameters that will help you understand what nomophobia is and to know if you suffer from it or not.

• You constantly feel the urge to check if someone has sent you an SMS or email.
• If your phone shuts down because it has been downloaded or you do not have internet access, you automatically feel “isolated”.
• You are always the first to post about his thoughts and everything that happens to him on social networks.
• You pay too much attention to the number of appreciations you receive from your posts. As a result, you become more motivated to post about your experiences.
• You often get the impression that you received a new notification, when in fact your phone did not make any sound.
• You have your mobile phone in your hand even when you are with your friends. Sometimes you can’t keep up with conversations because you’re already talking to someone on the phone.

We are more connected, but also more alone

At the heart of nomophobia is the need to take advantage of modern technology to be “connected” to the rest of the world.

Nowadays, it doesn’t matter if your loved ones live far away from you. With a simple SMS, phone call or video call, you can communicate with anyone without any problem, as if there are no more barriers!

But the paradox is that, although we are more “connected” than ever, we also feel very alone. We no longer have to leave the house to meet a new life partner or go shopping. In addition, if we work from home, not even the service forces us to leave our “cave”.

But is life still real when we experience it exclusively through technology? Can the mobile phone replace face-to-face conversations?

We live a life that is not exactly REAL

Patients with nomophobia always write posts about their lives on social networks and depend a lot on their circle of “friends”. But what you see is not always real.

• Pictures that emanate happiness posted by many couples can hide the fact that their relationship is having problems.
• That friend who always posts motivational quotes could suffer from a severe form of depression.

Social network users only post things they want to share. But what is the reality behind their posts?

Those who suffer from nomophobia are always compared to others. They feel bad when they see their friends going on a weekend trip or visiting cities like New York, while they sit at home on the couch, pressing their cell phones.

Although what you see may be real, it is possible that the photos will be edited in Photoshop, taken from the Internet or taken many years ago.

Many people with nomophobia suffer a lot from this disease. If they do not get the daily dose of cell phone buttoning, they may experience severe episodes of anxiety and stress, eventually ending up suffering from depression.

Now that you know what nomophobia is, take the necessary steps to avoid it. We need to learn to stop depending on mobile phones. It is impossible to live fully through an electronic device.