Are we becoming too obsessed with mobile phones?

Mobile phones, and more recently smartphones, have become so popular that they have effectively taken over our lives.

Before leaving the house it used to be a case of have I got my wallet and keys? Now it is a case of have I got my mobile phone? Leaving it behind can cause something of a panic.

The real question though is: is this normal, or have we all become too obsessed with them?

I think we may have if recent research is anything to go by. It seems there is a new psychological disorder called nomophobia, which apparently means fear of being without one’s mobile phone.

Now, I know mobiles are important for many reasons, not least to ensure we can keep in contact, but surely it is going a bit too far now to suddenly fear its loss?

Perhaps what is more frightening though – to me at least – is the fact that these gadgets are still relatively new machines. To take hold of us in such a short time is worrying, to say the least. Even more concerning is the statistic showing that two-thirds of mobile phone users display signs of nomophobia, and it is on the rise. Moreover, the younger you are the greater the chance of you having this disorder.

Another interesting statistic is that 41% of respondents to a survey also said they own two phones, just in case one gets lost, while more women worry about their phone than men.

I’m just lucky that I hardly use my phone, but I have empathy with those that suffer.