Are you a nomophobic?

I'm not a fan of the term, but I'm guilty of the obsession to have my cell with me all the time. To be fair, I don't have a home phone, and I don't hear the ringer on the cell if it's too far away (I don't always have it loud and it's annoying in public when I forget to turn it down). This probably started the habit of always picking it up when just going from room to room. For moments of downtime, I like to have it and take a quick turn on a game or read an e-mail or check G+. Magazines for the bathroom are so early 2000's any more. Mostly, I prefer the quick back and forth text or e-mail conversations over a phone call – unless it's from my daughter or girlfriend; even then, quick questions and answers or an unobtrusive "hello" while at the office are better served textually. To be successful at this, you have to be always connected, which means cell on hand. I think the only times it is far from me are at the office where there are situations that move me from my desk unexpectedly and it's plugged in, or when I'm doing a task where the phone, even in a pocket, is in my way or could become damaged (assisting with a warehouse task, working around water, human cannonball).

Typed in bed from my cell phone.

Reshared post from +Kathleen Gick

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Do You Suffer From Nomophobia? – Forbes
A man speaks on his mobile phone while riding a scooter along a street in Beijing on May 17, 2010. (Image credit: AFP via @daylife) It’s not real until a TV news organization throws a label on it. No…

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36 Responses to Are you a nomophobic?

  1. Elizabeth Newton says:

    I like having a phone, I especially love smart phones (for game aps mostly), but I miss the days when no-one could reach me. I often leave it home while I'm out, at work or whatever. I think its good to have a break from it now and then and for, I'm connected enough on my pc when I'm home (walk past, check G+, check out that news item someone flagged etc). Sometimes, its just REALLY good to disconnect.

  2. Jo Cavill says:

    I literally freak out if I don't have my phone on me and it has led to friends calling me antisocial (checking my phone several times an hour when we are hanging out) and arguments with my husband who thinks I'm addicted to G+ (which is probably true!) Is there a support group I can join or should I just embrace my nomophobia?

  3. Scott Cramer says:

    I say embrace. Mostly because it makes me feel like I've got company! Lol 😉

  4. Elizabeth Newton says:

    You know what I find funny? I get called 'antisocial' by people because I don't have my phone with me everywhere I go, from the very same people who are saying this to me while they check their phones for messages! 

  5. Jo Cavill says:

    +Elizabeth Newton – it's a no win situation!

  6. Scott Cramer says:

    +Elizabeth Newton That's because the inmates outnumber the orderlies at the asylum now. 😉

  7. Elizabeth Newton says:

    Lol I know!

  8. Claudio Ibarra says:

    Sounds like "no 'mo phobia" (no more phobia) to me.

  9. Brendan Farrell says:

    I'm in the grey area on this. I do like having my cell phone near me for everything you mentioned but when I'm working around the yard or in the garage I leave it in the house. I do have the compulsion to check it often, as my wife will attest to. It's just a modern marvel that has really changed my need for a desktop computer. I'm now mostly using just this phone and my tablet.

  10. Jyoti Dahiya says:

    Must. have. Air. Control. (game). accessible. at. all. times…

  11. Rowan Cota says:

    I'm pretty sure I don't have nomophobia because while I have a phone (and it charges on the bedstand next to where I sleep) I don't feel scared of not having it with me, I just feel like it would be a major inconvenience because of how much of my life goes through my phone.  (Calendar tracking, Google token, camera for those quick snapshots, etc.)  Phobia implies fear or anxiety reaction, and I don't have that.  The biggest thought I have about not having/losing my phone is "Wow what a HUGE hassle getting another phone would be."

  12. Scott Cramer says:

    Well said +Rowan Cota. I don't think I'm at full-blown diagnosis, but I'm probably closer than you or +Brendan Farrell by far because I do get a bit anxious if I leave my phone; most likely because I will forget it and then really will miss something (or so the phobia tells me). 😉

  13. Rowan Cota says:

    I dunno, +Scott Cramer…I mean, if you really are scattered enough to forget it (which, you know, I am easily distractable and would forget mine if I weren't trained pavlovianly to carry it) I think that's a normal fear, not a phobia.  😀  Unless, you know, it gives you shakes and heart palpitations.

  14. Aldric Newberry says:

    I've got it, although it is more specifically an addiction to the internet as I rarely use my phone for calls. I am like both +Scott Cramer and +Brendan Farrell as I do feel the need to check every 5-10 minutes, but not quite anxious if I miss it IF I'm doing other work.

  15. Scott Cramer says:

    I lose a screwdriver 20 seconds after using it. Very annoying.

  16. Scott Cramer says:

    +Aldric Newberry "If I'm doing other work." True.

  17. Kari Tedrick says:

    Nomophobia. What a stupid label. Yes I must have my phone with me all the time. Yes I check G+ on it frequently, and check it often for missed texts, emails etc. I do get anxious if I leave it behind, but not freaked out. I do not have a fear of being without it. , nor a fear of being unreachable. But I do need to be reached, I'm on call 7 days a week, and I have children.
    On top of all that I am a book-aholic.
    If I am sitting idle for five mintues
    I want to read my book. My phone is my Kindle.

  18. Kari Tedrick says:

    Nomophobia. What a stupid label. Yes I must have my phone with me all the time. Yes I check G+ on it frequently, and check it often for missed texts, emails etc. I do get anxious if I leave it behind, but not freaked out. I do not have a fear of being without it. , nor a fear of being unreachable. But I do need to be reached, I'm on call 7 days a week, and I have children.
    On top of all that I am a book-aholic.
    If I am sitting idle for five mintues
    I want to read my book. My phone is my Kindle.

  19. Scott Cramer says:

    +Kari Tedrick So true on the child front. My daughter lives long distance from me so I definitely like keeping the phone close.

  20. Scott Cramer says:

    +Kari Tedrick So true on the child front. My daughter lives long distance from me so I definitely like keeping the phone close.

  21. Jo Cavill says:

    I think the word phobia needs to be replaced by addiction (well in my case anyway); after all, an alcoholic doesn't have a phobia of being without alcohol, they just have an uncontrollable need to have it – I will now rename this term as one who is a 'nomoholic' 😀

  22. Jo Cavill says:

    I think the word phobia needs to be replaced by addiction (well in my case anyway); after all, an alcoholic doesn't have a phobia of being without alcohol, they just have an uncontrollable need to have it – I will now rename this term as one who is a 'nomoholic' 😀

  23. Scott Cramer says:

    +Jo Cavill I second that. 😉

  24. Scott Cramer says:

    +Jo Cavill I second that. 😉

  25. Aldric Newberry says:

    Standing up

    Hi, I'm Aldric..

    and I'm a nomoholic..

  26. Aldric Newberry says:

    Standing up

    Hi, I'm Aldric..

    and I'm a nomoholic..

  27. Jo Cavill says:

    Hi +Aldric Newberry, welcome to the group 😀

  28. Jo Cavill says:

    Hi +Aldric Newberry, welcome to the group 😀

  29. Kari Tedrick says:

    Nomoholic. +Jo Cavill  There ya go, much better.  Now that is something I can relate too.

  30. Kari Tedrick says:

    Nomoholic. +Jo Cavill  There ya go, much better.  Now that is something I can relate too.

  31. Aldric Newberry says:

    Hi +Jo Cavill !..

    Where's the coffee around this joint? They always have coffee at these meetings..

  32. Aldric Newberry says:

    Hi +Jo Cavill !..

    Where's the coffee around this joint? They always have coffee at these meetings..

  33. Jim Gomes says:

    <— read in bed on cell phone.
    #nomnomnom

  34. Jim Gomes says:

    <— read in bed on cell phone.
    #nomnomnom

  35. Amanda Rachelle Warren says:

    I am going to admit something scandalous here. Prepare yourselves.
    I do not even have the ability to receive (let alone send) text or data over my cell. There are no games on it, there are no downloaded ringtones, and for god's sake no GPS (oh, how anti GPS I am, and for dumb stubborn reasons).  This makes me lame and the butt of ridicule, I realize, but if I had a cell, people could get in touch with me. I can't have that…I prefer to disappear. I'm not a luddite, because I love technology, but I haven't touched my phone in 8 days. I think it might be on a bookshelf in the living room. 

  36. Scott Cramer says:

    +Amanda Rachelle Warren {{{HORROR!!!}}} 😉

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