Is Nomophobia A Mental Disorder?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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The term NOMOPHOBIA or NO MObile PHone PhoBIA is used to describe

a psychological condition when people have a fear of being detached from mobile phone connectivity

. The term NOMOPHOBIA is constructed on definitions described in the DSM-IV, it has been labelled as a “phobia for a particular/specific things”.

How can you identify nomophobia?

  1. You feel anxious when your phone battery gets low. …
  2. You can't leave the house without your smartphone. …
  3. You feel annoyed when you can't access your phone. …
  4. You put your life or others' lives at risk to check your smartphone. …
  5. You use your phone to check for work updates while on holiday.

Why is nomophobia bad?

Although the smartphone may seem to temporarily solve the problem of awkwardness, it can actually have

negative impacts

like increased feelings of stress, , depression, or even loneliness.

How do I get over nomophobia?

To heal nomophobia, like any addiction, it can be useful to face a path of detoxification: you can start with simple rules of common sense, such as turning

off

your phone during the night, watching a whole movie without checking social notifications or having lunch leaving your phone in the bag, but you can also think …

How does nomophobia affect mental health?

Often associated with separation anxiety, nomophobia comes with a set of identifiable symptoms:

increased heart rate and blood pressure

, shortness of breath, anxiety, nausea, trembling, dizziness, depression, discomfort, fear, and panic.

What is Nomofobia?

The term NOMOPHOBIA or NO MObile PHone PhoBIA is used to describe

a psychological condition when people have a fear of being detached from mobile phone connectivity

. The term NOMOPHOBIA is constructed on definitions described in the DSM-IV, it has been labelled as a “phobia for a particular/specific things”.

What is the rarest fear?

  • Ablutophobia | Fear of bathing. …
  • Arachibutyrophobia | Fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of your mouth. …
  • Arithmophobia | Fear of math. …
  • Chirophobia | Fear of hands. …
  • Chloephobia | Fear of newspapers. …
  • Globophobia (Fear of balloons) …
  • Omphalophobia | Fear of Umbilicus (Bello Buttons)

What can trigger nomophobia?

Nomophobia is considered a modern phobia. In other words, it most likely stems from

increased reliance on technology and concern over what might happen if you suddenly couldn't access needed information

. Existing information about nomophobia suggests it occurs more frequently in teenagers and young adults.

How do I get rid of my phone addiction?

  1. Keep yourself on a schedule. …
  2. Turn off as many push notifications as possible. …
  3. Take distracting apps off your home screen. …
  4. Kick your device out of bed. …
  5. If you have a smart speaker, put it to use. …
  6. Try turning on your phone's grayscale. …
  7. Stay accountable.

Can your phone cause anxiety?

A 2017 study from the Journal of Child Development found that

smartphones can cause sleep problems in teens

, which led to depression, anxiety and acting out. Phones cause sleep problems because of the blue light they create. This blue light can suppress melatonin, a hormone that helps control your natural sleep cycle.

Why do I feel unsafe without my phone?

Smartphone separation anxiety is set to become an increasingly widespread problem, researchers say. The term, which is also known as “

nomophobia

”, is used to describe the feeling of panic or stress some people experience when they're unable to access or use their mobile phone.

What is it called when someone is afraid of being alone?

Also known as autophobia, isolophobia, or eremophobia,

monophobia

is the fear of being isolated, lonely, or alone. As a phobia, this fear isn't necessarily a realistic one.

Why do I get anxious when I don't have my phone?

The study found that over half of men and almost half of women suffered from nomophobia. The most common reason that people felt anxious being without access to their phone is

fear of being disconnected from a loved one

.

Is nomophobia a serious problem?

A Word From Verywell

Nomophobia is

a growing problem

along with other fears and behavioral addictions tied to technology use. Given how reliant many people are on their mobile phones for work, school, news, entertainment, and social connectedness, it can be an incredibly difficult problem to overcome.

Who does nomophobia usually affect?

A survey conducted by SecurEnvoy showed that

young adults and adolescents

are more likely to suffer from nomophobia. The same survey reported that 77% of the teens reported anxiety and worries when they were without their mobile phones, followed by the 25-34 age group and people over 55 years old.

What is it called when your addicted to your phone?


Nomophobia

—an abbreviation of “no-mobile-phone-phobia”—is also called “cell phone addiction.” Symptoms include: Experiencing anxiety or panic over losing your phone. Obsessively checking for missed calls, emails, and texts. Using your phone in inappropriate places like the bathroom or church.

Leah Jackson
Author
Leah Jackson
Leah is a relationship coach with over 10 years of experience working with couples and individuals to improve their relationships. She holds a degree in psychology and has trained with leading relationship experts such as John Gottman and Esther Perel. Leah is passionate about helping people build strong, healthy relationships and providing practical advice to overcome common relationship challenges.