Nomophobia. It’s a real thing. It means ‘no-mobile’ phobia and describes the anxiety and discomfort you experience when you realize you have left your phone somewhere or lost it. You freak out, your heart rate spikes, you immediately turn around and head back home to retrieve it or go into full-on panic mode thinking it’s lost. Your whole life is in that phone, right?! I seriously laughed when I read an article talking about nomophobia. I thought it was a joke, but alas, it’s an actual condition. What does that tell you about the world we live in if we have phone separation anxiety?!
Okay, I admit it. I check my phone waaaay more than I need to. I’ll justify it because I’ll say it’s for the site: I have to check my work email or check the blog. But truth be told, I’m probably just another phone addict like everyone else in our society. We have a greater attachment to our phones, so when we lose them, the reaction is more severe.
“Heavy smartphone users view their devices as an extension of self. The more personalized one’s smartphone experience is, the greater the attachment.”
Makes sense. Also makes me realize that if we are so addicted to our phones that there is a condition out there to describe what happens when we part with them, maybe we need to get our smart phone addictions in check. Walk away from them for awhile? Give ourselves some space from technology? Deliberately leave them at home?
What do you think? Have you ever experienced this? Are you a phone addict? Do you think this is an issue for many?
This post may contain affiliate links. These affiliate links help support this site. For more information, please see my disclosure policy. Thank you for supporting One Hundred Dollars a Month.
Patty P says
I have a pay as you go plan, mainly for when I travel. Most times in my day to day life I don’t even take my phone with me. I don’t miss the constraints of having a cell phone (worrying about where you left it, who’s calling, who’s not calling). On work I’m at my computer all of the time. At home, I spend maybe an hour on the computer. Other than that, I’m reading, doing things out doors, working on a craft project, or watching a tv show.
Rosaleen says
I’m on my WiFi too much, maybe, but not so much my phone. It is handy for tracking appointments, carrying a a shopping list, taking notes, etc. I was rather distressed to find I had no service past of the time while traveling the last tthree times I paid attention. Among other things, I was meeting hubby’s plane out of state and was waiting in the “cell phone lot” for his call. Happily, i did return to a service area near the airport so I didn’t have to park and go inside or mindlessly circle for half an hour. I want to Habs a phone so family can reach me and vice-versa on the go, but would leave it behind otherwise.
Carrie Council says
15 years ago my mom forced me to have a cell phone to take while I was driving to and from school, practice, out with friends, etc. I was 16 and had just got my drivers license. Now my 8 year old niece is begging for an iphone for Christmas! And I choose my pants based on if my phone will fit in the pockets! I like to track my steps with the Health app and of course if someone needs to get in touch with me. So strange how things change.
Katherine says
I can honestly say that I do not have nomophobia. I use it for taking photos more than for calls, texting and internet. My mobile to me is basically a camera that can take phone calls and text, lol.
Randi says
My daughter’s high school instituted a new rule this school year, cell phones are off or silent and put away all day except at lunch time. The principal noted during curriculum night last week that he has noticed more students chatting with each other, looking around the hallways during passing periods and overall more student engagement. He even noticed that some kids don’t take their phones out at lunch even though they could and instead they are *gasp* talking to each other. Love it!
SilverIzzy says
Mine isn’t a fear of losing the cellphone per se, it’s the “oh god have I lost the multi hundred dollar device that I cannot afford to replace” fear. I think practicality is a valid cause for a heartrate spike.
Mable says
Don’t own a cell phone, never will. I don’t want people to be able to track me down and I am not important enough to have to carry one for, like you know, when I have to be called in to perform emergency brain surgery.
Practical Parsimony says
The only reason I purchased a flip phone, my first cell, was to be able to receive calls to sub since I was looking for a job. When I got home and returned calls, teachers had already gotten a sub. It worked since I could get a call while I was subbing. Then, when I could no longer work, I had trouble walking at all and feared being stranded in the car, unable to walk even a block for help. So, I still have it. It is a flip phone and very difficult to text on, so none of that. I have begun to use it for all calls, not even using the home phone. I recently got a smart phone and give no one its number. I use it only for coupons, deals, and such, like shopkick. My phone is always with me, but not used much.
Pamela says
I have the complete opposite. I would be happy to carry that thing around and never use it unless I had to. As I it I don’t use apps or go on the internet with my phone. I don’t have the need to. I am either at work where we are not allowed to use our phones except on breaks, out running errands or with friends. I know I am the exception probably.
Emily says
I have a job where I’m on call a lot. It’s a rare treat to get to leave my phone at home.
Lisa says
I used to have a job that supplied me with a cell phone. I didn’t have a personal one. I was virtually on call all the time. When I lost that job, I didn’t get a cell phone right away after that, but I kept thinking I heard it “Is that my phone?” Oh yeah, I don’t have a phone. 🙂 There’s part of me that would like to not have one, but I don’t have a home phone and I have a kid, so I need to be reachable. And for emergencies. I’ve considered going to a dumb phone, but I do enjoy some of the smart phone applications. My husband complains that I never answer it because I have it on vibrate while I’m at work and then I don’t hear it after I leave work.
Brianna says
I’m always bugged by others about my cell phone. They call me and I don’t answer if I’m busy. If they text me I ignore it until I find time. I often leave it somewhere in my house and go about my daily business and check it occasionally. Sometimes I won’t check it until after the kids are in bed, so I go the whole day without checking it. I would give up the leash phone if I could, but my hubby insists I have it.
My hubby teaches and he has a no phone policy in his class, he tells me he can alway see who is being sneaky because ‘nobody looks down at their crotch and smiles.’ Students caught with phones get disciplined and they never get caught twice.
Amy says
I think my fear of losing my phone stems from having laid out the cash to buy it. I do not want to have to do that again any time soon! Also, we don’t have a land line so if I lose my phone we’re out of luck for calling for help in an emergency situation. So yes, I do feel anxious when I misplace it and cannot find my phone.
Teckla says
I totally do not let my phone run me! Never have, never will. I keep it in a central place and check it when I go by it, IF I remember it. Mostly, I’m doing other things and forget about it. Since 90% of the calls I get are junk calls, I haven’t yet missed anything that made any real difference. People used to get along just fine without having a phone glued to the end of their arm all day long and still would, with only a very few exceptions, if they’d try it. And talk about RUDE! Doesn’t matter if folks have talked to the same person 2 minutes ago, if that phone rings, they’ll grab it without even an excuse me and spend 10-15 minutes on it while you sit there and wait. I don’t know why they even bother to go anywhere. All they ever do is talk on their phone anyway. Yeah, you bet I have a bad attitude. I got it from the rude people who are so addicted to their phones they ignore everyone and everything else around them, business or personal.
Since I paid good money for my phone, I don’t leave it laying around and keep it safe to the extent I can so I am blessed to never have lost it to date. All right, I’ll get off my soap box now, but you really pushed the wrong button! LOL