With the scientific and technological development of civilization, the urbanization of society, and the increasing demands on modern life, the number of mental disorders is growing and the variety of phobias is expanding. One of the young modern phobias, the development of which began in 1973 with the release of the first prototype of a portable cell phone, is Nomophobia is an illogical, obsessive, intense fear of being left without a mobile phone.
According to sociological research, the fear of losing the ability to use a gadget is present in more than 60% of the world's population. At the same time, fear that meets the criteria of a phobia is detected in 10% of the planet's inhabitants.
Nomophobia is widespread among children and teenagers, among young people. Cases of disorder have been recorded among representatives of the retirement group of the population. A larger number of cases are people living in large industrial centers. However, nomophobia is also present among rural residents, especially those who live in sparsely populated villages.
What causes nomophobia: causes of pathological fear
Abnormal, annoying, uncontrollable fear develops against the background of specific character traits and personality traits. The foundations for the emergence of a phobia are the realities of the modern world. Provoking factors for the onset of nomophobia are chronic stressful conditions, sudden exposure to extreme stressful circumstances, excessive mental overload, lack of quality rest, and constant mental stress . Let us describe the main causes of nomophobia in more detail.
Nomophobia is often a modified fear of being helpless and isolated from the external environment . At risk are single people and residents of rural regions, mainly of retirement age. Elderly people are very afraid of being left without contact with relatives. They are afraid that if their mobile phone breaks down, they will not be able to call an ambulance in a timely manner, and therefore will not receive the required help.
Nomophobia is directly related to the pathological fear of loneliness . The smartphone provides uninterrupted access to virtual platforms and social networks. Communication in the virtual world creates for a person the illusion that he has a wide circle of friends and has many friends. If no one calls a person, doesn’t send messages and emails, doesn’t like posts, doesn’t call on Skype, he feels his own worthlessness and uselessness. The culprit of this phenomenon is inferiority complexes and excessively low self-esteem.
Another reason for nomophobia is the thirst for power and recognition in society. For many contemporaries, constantly hanging out in the virtual world, blogging, and posting videos on networks is a way to achieve popularity and feel like a sought-after star. The lack of mobile communications deprives a person of the opportunity to receive the next portion of strokes.
Often the foundation of nomophobia among children and adolescents is a banal herd instinct. Teenagers want to keep up with fashion and be like everyone else. The absence of a cool gadget for them is a sign of inferiority. This life position is often reinforced by adults who place material wealth in first place among existing values.
The reason for the rapid development of nomophobia among young people is the negative impact of advertising information. The immature psyche of girls and boys, or the flawed personal portrait of mature people, does not allow them to pass through the filter of usefulness and uselessness a huge flow of advertising information. Thanks to intrusive advertising, contemporaries are becoming convinced that life without a mobile phone is impossible.
The predisposing factor is a narrow range of human interests . Some people have completely moved away from nature, ignore the benefits of live communication, do not play sports, and do not develop spiritually. The essence of their existence is vegetating in computer games, endlessly scrolling through websites, stupid debates on social networks. The ingrained habit of regularly using gadgets is combined with the fear of losing this opportunity.
The basis for the development of nomophobia is a defective characterological portrait . Some people have serious flaws. They do not know how to interact harmoniously in society. He is driven by perverted needs. Accordingly, they are rejected in society. Communication in the virtual world ensures complete impunity. A mobile phone makes it possible to express your base inner essence without fear of exposure, criticism, or persecution. Such subjects derive satisfaction from the fact that they can have affairs and break off relationships without bearing any personal responsibility.
Nomophobia - what is it?
Fear of being left without a mobile phone is one of the “youngest” psychopathologies
The word is of English origin and literally translates as “no mobile phone” phobia. In the era of the prevalence of smartphones, without which many people can no longer imagine life, this phobia is especially popular.
The term is new, it was first used in 2010. A study that examined people's anxiety levels when left without their mobile phones found that more than half of people experience serious discomfort when left without their smartphone. It is worth noting that not every manifestation of anxiety is equated to a phobia, and it is very difficult at first glance to distinguish nomophobia from mobile addiction.
The term is new and not listed in ICD-10. Psychiatrists and psychologists designate nomophobia with the code F40.2, like any other phobic disorder that has a specific object or object of fear.
Our hearts demand change
2. Talk to those you love about the need for change. It's best, at least initially, if you frame the conversation around your need to change for the better. While accepting that our new technology can be a miracle, it is best used to improve rather than limit our connections with each other. Ask for or offer help to remind each other that talking, making eye contact, and sharing experiences are important parts of an intimate relationship. Discuss and agree on a plan to enjoy each other and communicate in all ways, both tactile and electronic.
Phobia or addiction?
In general, nomophobia and mobile addiction are closely related, one stems from the other. Addiction is manifested by the need to always keep your smartphone with you. Feeling that he left his phone at home and went out for just 2 minutes to throw out the trash, the addicted person will definitely return for the gadget. At the same time, he experiences slight anxiety and an almost physical need to feel the smartphone with him.
Addiction may not progress, but it still limits a person’s freedom, so it must be fought.
In the case when a person “feeds” his addiction, it develops into a pathological fear of being left without a gadget.
The main difference is the degree of anxiety experienced when there is no mobile phone. The addict will feel limited, he will experience something similar to “withdrawal”, and he will definitely return for the phone, no matter where it is.
Mobile addiction in children and adolescents can be accompanied by hysterical fits if the gadget is away from its owner or is broken.
Mobile addiction is something that every smartphone user experiences to varying degrees, because mobile phones have become an integral part of our lives. Some justify addiction by the need to constantly be in touch with colleagues, some cannot live without listening to music, and others cannot live without social networks.
A phobia occurs against the background of a combination of dependence on a gadget with nervous overstrain or constant stress. Left without his smartphone, a person feels real panic and horror, accompanied by bodily symptoms.
If with addiction a person simply has nothing to distract himself with or nothing to occupy his hands with, then with a phobia there is both pronounced psychological discomfort and striking physical symptoms.
"Telephone unloading"
Everyone knows what a fasting day is. The same trick can be done with a phone. Stop using your gadget once a week for a whole day. This will help relieve your psyche. You won’t worry that the phone will ring at any moment and you won’t have time to finish your personal business because your boss is calling.
Today, few people have an alarm clock at home. Everyone uses a phone. Buy a small alarm clock and put your phone aside at night so you won't be tempted to fiddle with it before bed. In addition, the desire to set the alarm on your phone for another five minutes and take a nap will disappear.
Action against addiction
Allocate a separate place in the apartment for the gadget, equip a special basket for the whole family and put phones there. Don't carry them around the house with you.
Write down your daily routine. Take time to visit social networks. To stay on track with your plan, set a timer when you join Odnoklassniki. Try to replace the use of a gadget with communication with family, fitness, shopping, or find a hobby for yourself.
Symptoms of nomophobia
Having lost his “favorite toy,” a person becomes irritable and psychotic, feeling as if he had been torn out of life
This psychopathology refers to anxiety disorders and is characterized by corresponding symptoms. Symptoms of nomophobia:
- strong emotional arousal;
- trembling in hands;
- an irresistible desire to quickly rush in search of a gadget;
- growing anxiety;
- a feeling of irrevocable loss.
If a person notices a missing phone in a work environment, he loses control over his behavior and begins to move impulsively, sorting through papers and creating chaos, in search of the lost gadget.
The fear of being left without a phone has many indirect signs. Among them:
- alarm when the battery level is low;
- an irresistible desire to regularly check your mail in anticipation of a letter;
- the need to constantly update the news feed, view messages;
- addiction to social networks;
- fear of breaking or scratching the phone.
A characteristic feature of the fear of being left without a mobile phone is the loss of control over one’s emotions and feelings. At the moment when a person is looking for something lost, he can rudely respond to extraneous remarks without realizing it.
In some people, nomophobia is accompanied by obsessive-compulsive disorder, which manifests itself as the need to regularly perform gadget-related rituals - refresh the news feed every 10 minutes, check messages before performing any action, etc.
Children and teenagers who are afraid of being left without a mobile phone may experience real panic attacks when they are deprived of their favorite gadget.
Modern children and technology
5. Set a loving example for your children. Our children are technical wizards, fearless and skilled. They have been involved with electronics since birth! But you may have noticed that there are times when they lead a virtual life. Perhaps too often than I would like.
“I realized this with my nine-year-old daughter and six-year-old son when I suggested we go for a walk in the park on a beautiful summer day and they didn’t even look up from their iPads,” a patient recently admitted. "They both said, 'No... we'd rather stay home.' What ??? That's when I realized we needed to make some changes—and that change had to start with me and my wife. We needed to rebuild our real lives as a family.”
Using technology wisely can free you to rediscover the pleasure of looking into the eyes of someone you love, speaking and hearing words that strengthen your connection and soothe your spirit.
It can also help you teach your children to find joy in experiences, to truly see amazing sunrises and sunsets and each other, to enjoy every moment you share, to cherish each other, every minute.
Reasons for developing a phobia
The main reason is the overrated importance of the smartphone in the life of a modern person. Some people are so attached to gadgets that they really consider a mobile phone to be the basis of their life, because they contain work materials, personal photographs, favorite books, music and films. The phone becomes not just a favorite toy, but a vital necessity, because special reminders will indicate when a meeting is scheduled or when you need to drink a glass of water. Having become accustomed to a gadget, a person completely trusts the device and does not keep things and plans in his head. That’s why being deprived of a smartphone is so painful.
Another reason is an active life on social networks. Young girls are more susceptible to this. A substitution of concepts occurs, and social life on the Internet begins to be valued above real life in society. In this case, half an hour without a smartphone is perceived as a personal apocalypse, because during this time it was possible to post so many new photos or respond to a huge number of messages from fans.
Another reason is the high cost of the gadget. Many people buy smartphones that cost several times more than their wages. As a result, the loss of such a device not only hits the pocketbook, but also calls into question the prestige and reputation of a person who cannot afford to immediately repeat the purchase.
Nomophobia in children is also related to the cost of the gadget. When giving a child a long-awaited gift, parents say “be careful, don’t break it,” or “if you lose it, we won’t buy a new one.” As a result, the child is constantly afraid of ruining the long-awaited smartphone, which over time can lead to the development of a phobia.
Forced restrictions
3. Set limits. Remember when you were growing up and your parents might have told you not to watch TV during dinner? Maybe this ban could be updated to turn off cell phones and tablets. You can create an electronics-free zone at the dinner table or during lunch. You can schedule specific times for family adventures—a hike, an evening walk, a day out at home—with tablets and cell phones left, turned off and tucked away in your pocket.
Treatment of the disorder
No one ever independently admits that they have a mobile addiction, so the help of a specialist is extremely necessary (especially in adolescence)
Despite the apparent frivolity of this phobia, the fear of losing a phone is a serious danger, which is expanding every year and taking on new forms.
Important! Fears of being left without a phone cannot be ignored, because any phobia depletes the nervous system and makes a person vulnerable to stress.
Phobias associated with mobile phones are especially dangerous for children and adolescents, because they literally deplete the nervous system, making a person anxious, suspicious and dependent.
Having noticed a pathological addiction to a smartphone, it is necessary to take action as soon as possible, otherwise a seemingly harmless phobia can cause serious mental problems.
Symptoms, manifestations and signs of nomophobia in children should be monitored by parents. At the first alarming symptoms, you need to consult a child psychologist and take action.
Drug treatment
How to get rid of nomophobia depends on its severity and accompanying symptoms. If the fear of losing your phone is accompanied by hysterical attacks, depression, obsessive thoughts and other negative mental symptoms, consultation with a specialist is necessary. These symptoms develop against the background of depletion of the nervous system, so drug therapy is necessary. It includes taking the following medications:
- tranquilizers - to relieve anxiety and constant fear for the gadget;
- B vitamins – to strengthen the nervous system;
- sedatives – to improve sleep quality and combat stress;
- antidepressants – for diagnosed depression.
It is important to understand that drugs will not relieve pathological addiction to the phone, but will only protect the nervous system from the destructive effects of stress or neurosis. In other words, they eliminate the symptoms for a while, but the problem remains. Only a doctor should prescribe medications; self-medication can be harmful to health.
Psychotherapy
Professional treatment of nomophobia includes psychotherapy sessions, both individual and group. The doctor’s task is to teach a person to live without a telephone. Usually this goal is achieved gradually. First, a nomophobe must accept and understand the problem, and also realize the potential danger of any phobias. Then, gradually, a person learns to move his life away from the phone - he limits surfing the Internet from a mobile device, reduces the time spent on social networks, etc.
Afterwards, the person will have to spend exactly one hour without the phone, tracking their emotions and trying to take control of them. When this is successful, the next time the time increases to two hours, then to three, and so on until the person gets rid of fear.
Remember how it was before?
4. Discover and enjoy old ways of communication. The point is not to never text or wish someone “Happy Birthday” on VKontakte. It is a matter of communicating with others in more diverse ways. Write a note on the refrigerator to someone you care about, expressing your love. While he or she is sleeping. Call a friend every now and then for a live conversation, not just email and text messaging. Hearing the voice of a loved one can be a special joy after years of electronic communication. Or just cuddle and listen. Play board games with your partner that you used to enjoy. Look into each other's eyes, talk, listen, hold hands.
Trollephobia
Any Internet user is familiar with the concept of a troll. And everyone knows that it’s not worth feeding them, banning them is useless, the easiest thing is to just ignore them. However, the active growth of the troll population has recently caused a response - trollephobia or trolleparania. The patient is sure that all readers, commentators, participants of his blog or portal are trolls whose goal is to ruin the project. Hence the desire not to attract unnecessary attention to oneself and the desire for anonymity.
Unfortunately, there is no cure for trollephobia yet. Psychologists recommend trying not to succumb to provocations and not “feed” the trolls.
Cyberphobia
A personal computer is the main companion of life in the modern world, so the emergence of computer fear or cyberphobia is quite natural. If nomophobia is a disease of the young, cyberphobia is more common among older people who are forced to learn new technology.
Doctors identify the following symptoms of cyberphobia:
- a person behaves extremely carefully with a PC;
- speaks negatively about computers;
- avoids computers.
A severe degree of phobia is even accompanied by physical reactions: dizziness and nausea. In the treatment of cyberphobia you will need the help of a qualified psychologist and the support of your family. You can carry out daily prevention yourself: spend several hours at the computer.
Tradephobia
The meaning of the word thread in this context is a thread from comments on social networks. The phobia, accordingly, is expressed in the fear of commenting, for example, expressing one’s opinion. A person suffering from trade phobia is usually shy even in life, only online this is aggravated, because if a comment suddenly turns out to be inappropriate, insults and criticism will rain down.
Psychologists prescribe anonymity for such patients: try creating an account on behalf of a fictional character to overcome the internal barrier. The main thing here is not to go too far, so as not to fall into Internet trolling. Remember, if you shock the audience, it will more likely cause hatred than recognition.
