Nomophobia and Social Anxiety: Defined

Nomophobia and Social Anxiety: Defined

Nomophobia

In the age of faster and smarter mobile phones, many users are finding themselves unable to spend a few minutes without using them. In instances when these users are unable to access their phones, they commonly experience severe anxiety. Recently in 2008, the term nomophobia was established to describe such mobile phone addiction. Nomophobia can be described as the rush of anxiety and fear that are felt when a person is disconnected from the world of social media and therefore are out of the loop with friends, family, work and the world. (Archer, 2015)

According to the Business Insider Article Smart Phone Addiction Now Has a Clinical Name, some symptoms that people may experience due to nomophobia are: feeling panicked without their smartphone, inability to focus on conversations, decreased function at work, and constant checking of phones nearby for notifications. (Stone, 2014)

Social Anxiety

The DSM-IV describes social phobia disorder (SPD) as a chronic anxiety disorder characterized by intense anxiety in social situations that involve interpersonal contact. These social situations can cause extreme anxiety or acute interference in an individual’s daily life. (King et al, 2013)

Symptoms of social anxiety and anxiety/panic disorder are most commonly: avoidance of social situations, heart palpitations, muscle tension, sweating, shaking, upset stomach, dizziness and confusion.

A FALSE IDEAL OF HELP

Despite the appeasement that individuals with mental disorders feel, the aforementioned symptoms associated with social anxiety, anxiety disorder, and panic disorder can be worsened by excessive mobile phone use and dependence.

Foundation of Addiction

Many nomophobic and tech dependent people find comfort in using their mobile phones. Each new notification sends a message to the reward center in the brain signaling it to release a neurotransmitter, dopamine. Dopamine is released once our urge to receive a new notification is fulfilled. It produces a euphoric feeling, but fades away in a short period of time. Once the dopamine fades, the waiting game begins again as does the extreme need to see a new notification. While waiting, lack of new notifications increases symptoms of depression, low self-esteem and anxiety in the disordered individuals. Hussung (2015), further explains that in waiting for a phone call, text, email or social media notification the brain and body reacts in a way that registers as anxiety.

Escape from Reality

Nomophobics may use social media on a mobile phone as an escape from reality. King et al (2013) believes that individuals with social phobia disorder (SPD) are using technology and social networking to interact socially in an attempt to comfort