In the mobile roundup earlier today, we mentioned that there’s already a rehab program available for cellphone addicts, or people who cannot live without their mobile device.  These people get anxious, dizzy, experience panic attacks, shortness of breath, dizziness, trembling, sweating, accelerated heart rate, chest pain and nausea when they do not have contact with or access to their mobile device.

This is called nomophobia – an abbreviation for “no-mobile-phone phobia” – coined during a study by the UK Post Office who commissioned YouGov, a UK-based research organisation to look at anxieties suffered by mobile phone users.

Some may laugh about this, but it’s actually a serious matter.  You or someone you know may already be suffering from this, you just don’t know it.  If you think you excessively use your mobile device, or you feel uneasy when your cellphone is even just a few feet away from you, then better get yourself checked out.  Head on to the Morningside Recovery Center in California which founded the first recovery group under the care of Dr. Elizabeth Waterman.

Photo: lolzombie

Nomophobia got me thinking, what other forms of technology are people getting addicted to?  So I found a list of “phobias” on ITWorld which I think are just made up phobias but could possibly a real cause for concern.

Loremophobia – The fear of LOsing the REMOte.
Drosmartoiphobia – The fear of DROpping your SMARTphone in the TOIlet.
Drosmarturphobia – The fear of DROpping your SMARTphone in the URinal; a sub-phobia of Drosmartoiphobia.
Foransequephobia: The fear of FORgetting the ANswer to your SEcret QUEstion
Formaspassphobia: The fear of FORgetting your MASter PASSword to your password-management application.
Biemusgetosmartphobia – The fear of Justin BIEber MUSic GETting On your SMARTphone.

Then I thought about the people around me and made up my own set of “phobias”

Recidephobia – The fear of seeing the REd CIrcle of DEath on the Xbox 360.
Yelidephobia – The fear of seeing the YEllow LIght of DEath on the PS3.
Logacoconphobia – The fear of LOsing GAme COnsole CONtroller.
Losinterconphobia – The Fear of LOSing the INTERnet CONnection.
Lofaphobia – The fear of LOsing FAcebook.
Lotwiphobia – The fear of LOsing TWItter.

Yeah, I know those sound absurd.  But hey, I know a lot people whose world would crumble if they see the Yellow Light of Death on their PS3, or if they lose their internet connection.  So don’t laugh so hard, you might be one of those tech addicts I’m talking about.  Check yo’self before you wreck yo’self!