Nomophobia: The Fear of Being Without Your Phone

NOMOPHOBIA What Is Nomophobia? Have you ever found yourself getting anxious or even panicked when you couldn't find your phone? Does the thought of being stranded in an isolated place with no cellular service fill you with a sense of dread? If so, you just might have some of the symptoms of nomophobia. Nomophobia is an abbreviated form of "no-mobile-phone phobia." The term was first coined in a 2008 study that was commissioned by the UK Postal Office. In a sample of more than 2,100 adults, the study indicated that 53% of participants experienced nomophobia. The condition is characterized by feelings of anxiety when people lose their phones, run out of battery life, or have no cellular coverage. The study revealed that this fear can be so powerful that many people never turn off their phones, even at night or during times that they won't be using their devices.1 When asked why they never turn off their phones, 55% cited a need to keep in touch with family and friends...