SURVEY: TWO-THIRDS OF PEOPLE HAVE SYMPTOMS OF NOMOPHOBIA

It’s an addiction most people don’t know they have.
 
“Nomophobia means, no mobile phone phobia,” said Elizabeth Waterman, clinical psychologist at Morningside Recovery Center in Costa Mesa.
 
"For some people who use their phone excessively, we know that the brain is actually responding to the phone, as if it's a drug,"Waterman said.
 
Rozelin Smith said she isn’t addicted to her phone, but says if she leaves it at home, she’ll go back for it.
 
“I’m worrisome because I don't know if I’m going to miss a call,” Smith said. “So D definitely try to get home as quick as possible and check my phone.”
 
According to a recent study in the UK by SecurEnvoy, 66 percent of people show symptoms of Nomophobia.
 
Symptoms of Nomophobia include: constantly checking cell phone, panic or anxiety without it, and having multiple phones.
 
Kyra Gardner uses her phone frequently throughout the day.
 
“I check Facebook and sometimes my email, but generally, 89 percent of the time it's for text messaging,” Gardner said.
 
Gardner too, said she doesn’t have an addiction.
 
“I go days without using my phone, not recently, but I will,” she said.
 
Donel Arrington says he use to go months without his phone.
 
“I lived up in the woods with no service.”But says he has become more and more attached to it.
 
“Now I’m back in society more than I was then,” Arrington said.
 
Nomophobia or not, the first step of recovery is admitting there is a problem.