A case of nomophobia

I found myself watching the PBS documentary on the Dust Bowl during the 1930s. To say it was gripping would be an understatement. The hardships these folks went through were almost unbelievable. Their farmlands were decimated by drought and high winds. The dust killed their livestock. In many cases, they lost their lives or the lives of family members to diseases caused by all the dust.

But these people persevered, some of them moved away to California to start new lives, but the majority of these folks stayed on their land. They continued to fight to grow crops on land that was quickly becoming a desert. The strength and resolve of these Oklahomans was amazing.

When I contrast the struggles of these

Americans with the panic that I see set in when someone today misplaces their cellphone, it is ridiculous. There is even a scientific term for this panic: nomophobia. The term is an abbreviation for “no-mobilephone phobia” and has been around since 2008.

A study by Harris Interactive found that nearly 73 percent of mobile phone users in the United States become anxious when they lose their cellphone, the battery dies or they have no service. The study found that 62 percent of women and 46 percent of men suffer from the phobia. The research compared stress levels induced by the average case of nomophobia to be similar to a trip to the dentist or first day of a new job.

Come on, people. Do you really think losing your cellphone would have that much impact on your lives? There are much bigger things to be concerned about and to focus your attention on. With cloud backup technology and other security features that the cellphone companies have in place, losing your phone is not that big of a deal.

I wonder what those Oklahomans in the ’30s would have thought if they knew the loss of a hunk of plastic would cause their great-grandchildren such concern. It would probably have made them happy because it would have confirmed to them that their determination would pay off in a better life for their descendants.

So the next time you are filled with fear when the battery on your iPhone dies, think about those folks who have it tougher than you. Try looking for someone less fortunate to help. Use that time you would have spent looking at your phone to gather up some donations for Jackson House or volunteer with Habitat for Humanity. Those types of things will have far more impact on your life than sitting around worried about not being able to check your Facebook feed.