Its use in the last decade Mobile phones have grown exponentiallyEspecially since the arrival of Smart phones. These, moreover, have become essential items in our daily life All areas: work, leisure, social, etc. It has led many people to develop Dependence and addiction problems. This is called nomophobia.
The word nomophobia comes from English “no-mobile-phone-phobia” And refers to the irrational fear of being without our mobile phones. It may seem like a rare disorder, but a 2019 YouGov Real Time study found out 44% of people surveyed – all of them from Britain – were victims Worry if they don’t carry your mobile phone.
What are the symptoms of nomophobia?
of something symptoms That, according to the European Institute, whether a person is addicted to his mobile phone is as follows:
- Someone who uses the telephone when alone
- Feeling anxious or uncomfortable when you don’t have access to your mobile device
- Phone use interferes with work performance
- Tries to limit the number of hours spent on mobile but quickly fails to follow through
- Waking up at night to check the phone
What are the reasons behind this addiction?
Every addiction has a series of reasons behind it. In cases of nomophobia, they go Low self-esteem through difficulties in developing social relationships. These are key factors, as they lead to the search for full acceptance from others, which Most people find it through social media.
the role of Dopamine This is also very important in this regard. It is a chemical that the brain secretes when confronted Rewarding situations. And one of the problems with addiction is in this process: in habit Getting that “dose” of dopamine Every time you check the phone, in case of nomophobia.
And, although it’s true that anyone can suffer from nomophobia, it’s more common among teenagers. Between 14 and 16 years.
How can it be treated?
already have Treatment centers Which offers digital detoxification programs, as well as types of treatment to overcome this type of addiction that can lead to illnesses such as stress or depression.
One of the most famous inventions in this field Lightweight phoneBut as described by his own company “Quite an intelligent ‘dumb’ phone”. It’s a device designed like a smart phone, but it only allows you to Call and indicate the time.
