Nomophobia: What’s Behind It?

The artificial word nomophobia describes the fear of not being reachable via smartphone. The term originates from the English-speaking world and is the abbreviation for “No-Mobile-Phone-Phobia”. This translates as “fear of not having a cell phone.” A study in 2012 found that 66 percent of British cell phone users are afraid of mobile inaccessibility. In Germany, cell phone users also tend to be nomophobic. Smartphone users between the ages of 18 and 25 are particularly affected. Nomophobes often even take their smartphones with them to the toilet and to bed. In general, women seem to suffer from nomophobia more often than men.

Who is affected?

Nomophobia primarily affects smartphone users. Unlike earlier cell phones, smartphones have long since been used for more than just making phone calls or texting. Modern cell phones are small multifunction talents. In addition to taking photos and playing games, smartphone users can easily chat on the go, surf social networks or search for the best restaurant in the area thanks to Internet access. As a result, the smartphone plays a key role in everyday life for many users.

Causes of nomophobia

In nomophobia, the cell phone is usually used excessively in order not to miss important information. The more often the cell phone is used, the greater the dependence on the functions of the cell phone usually is. If the cell phone is lost or if one is not reachable for a short time due to a dead cell phone or an empty battery, there is a subjectively shifted, excessive feeling of fear. An important cause of nomophobia is the fear of not being able to maintain contact with friends and family without interruption. This notion fuels the fear of losing the smartphone most strongly in the majority of those affected. For others, the smartphone offers the security of being able to react quickly in all life situations. Without their smartphone, those affected feel less flexible and fear they will no longer be able to cope perfectly with the demands of everyday life. Drivers of nomophobia are generally the fear of loneliness and inner emptiness or the need for attention.

Nomophobic behavior

Typical behaviors associated with nomophobia are:

  • Withdrawal symptoms, such as nervousness, anxiety, and depressed mood, when abstinence is unwanted
  • Urge and greed for the smartphone
  • Stress and anxiety when the cell phone is turned off.
  • Sweating, trembling, heart palpitations, anxiety and panic when unavailable
  • Feeling of “nakedness” when the cell phone was left at home.

An addiction to the smartphone and constant accessibility is when the pulling out of the cell phone can no longer be controlled. Often this behavior is accompanied by an Internet addiction. Through the Internet, in addition to maintaining social contacts, namely a question or a problem can be solved at any time. Nomohobics try to avoid the situation of loss of communication by the following points:

  • Every second never turns off the smartphone.
  • The smartphone is always carried close to him, so as not to lose it.
  • Many nomophobes own a second cell phone as a substitute.

When does nomophobia occur?

The fear of not being able to participate in the exchange of information increases with low cell phone credit or decreasing battery life. But it can also be caused by a lack of wireless or Internet connectivity. Especially in these situations, nomophobics panic about being unreachable and therefore hardly ever put the smartphone down. Especially when there are problems with the wireless or Internet connection, nomophobics look almost continuously at their cell phones to immediately recognize a reappearing wireless connection. The panic of a nomophobe becomes particularly bad when the smartphone is lost. In this case, the dreaded situation of absolute loss of communication occurs, which the affected person permanently tries to escape. In particularly bad cases, even the thought of being unreachable via the smartphone can trigger a surge of anxiety in nomophobics.

What helps fight smartphone addiction?

Psychologists often relied on confrontations with the feared situation in cases of phobias.It is therefore advisable to face up to inaccessibility and switch off the cell phone at set times every day to combat the enormous craving for the smartphone. In this way, sufferers can learn that life without a smartphone is entirely possible. Furthermore, it can help to put the smartphone away and set it to silent. Especially when eating or in the office, the cell phone should not be placed on the table. With these tricks, constant glances at the device can be avoided and the tension caused by the cell phone can also ease over time. In the meantime, there are addiction facilities that specialize in the treatment of Internet addiction and also provide therapy for nomophobia. There, for example, behavioral patterns are learned that replace looking at the smartphone.