Before you begin to read, just check if you have your mobile phone with you. Did you feel a sense of panic? What if it wasn’t there in your pocket? Do you feel your hands are empty? And do you feel you just can’t put down your phone even when you want to?
If you answered yes to all these questions read on to know more about your feelings and understand how I knew all this (Not by mind reading but by science)
Mobile phones have become our extended hands. The feeling of emptiness when your phone is not in your hand is real. That two-second panic when you don’t feel your phone in your pocket is real. But just because it’s common, is it normal? How often do you feel that panic when you’re away from your hobbies ( say, your book or your art supplies)? Probably never, right? But with mobile phones, all of us feel it. So what’s going on?
It’s our mind playing tricks with us. That need, that fear, that worry is all in our head but also not really. With the internal fear, there is also restless tapping of the feet, urgently finding your phone, restless fingers to scroll, and even trembling at times. This is where it gets a bit extreme.
It’s no cliche or joke that doctors and psychologists tell you to keep your phones away right before sleeping and right after waking up. After all studies have found (Bhattacharya et al, 2019) that people who use their mobile phones right after waking up are more likely to experience extreme anxiety and symptoms of nomophobia. Yes there are other factors to look out for also. Having other psychological disorders, a low self esteem, an extrovert personality are just some other risk factors. Don’t worry though, they’re not all definitive. You can be worried about your phone and still not have nomophobia
How to check yourself then?
The first thing you can do is keep track of your mobile phone use - is it too much, is it affecting other activities? If yes then it’s time for you to think
The next thing is to check yourself when you don’t have your phone around. Does your heart beat become faster? Do you have the urge to find your phone? Can you not concentrate on anything else? Again, it’s probably time to think if the answer is yes
Another warning sign is your thought process. How often do you worry when you think you won’t have your phone around? Do you worry when the phone battery is low? If you’re stressed about all these possibilities, then it’s finally time to cut down your phone usage.
Even though mobile phones are a regular part of our lives now, the addictions and the fear associated with it shouldn’t be a part of us. Use this article as a starting point to keep a check on your mobile phone use and control it before your mobile phone really becomes your extended hand.
