Telephonophobia (fear of telephones): causes and symptoms

Much is said nowadays about addiction to telephones (nomophobia) and how many people have become used to using them in such a way that they are unable to live without them. Mobile phones accompany us everywhere, and with technological advances and the appearance of smartphones, they are like having a small computer in our pocket. Despite the fact that these devices are addictive, they are really useful.

However, there are individuals who do not enjoy the benefits of having a mobile device and suffer from what is known as telephonophobia, that is, irrational fear of telephones, whether mobile or landline. In this article we will talk about this phobic disorder and delve into its causes, symptoms and consequences.

• Related article: “Nomophobia: the growing addiction to mobile phones”

The importance of phones in our lives

Telephones allow us to communicate with people who are far from us. They are an indispensable tool for our daily life and for many jobs, which is why they are considered one of the most important inventions in the history of humanity. For many years it was thought that the creator of this device was Alexander Graham Bell, along with Elisha Gray, but in reality, he only patented it.

The inventor of the telephone was Antonio Meucci.

Since then, the telephone has evolved and given way to mobile phones and later to smartphones (smart mobile phones), from which it is not only possible to talk, but also connect to the internet, and therefore, to social networks, to different "apps" and different web pages where it is possible to make purchases, make transactions and many more functions.

It is clear that we can live without mobile phones, but no one doubts that they are really useful

Telephonophobia: what is it?

Not everyone enjoys the benefits of mobile phones, as some individuals suffer from a condition called telephonophobia, which is the irrational fear of phones. These pathologies, according to the DSM (Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders), belong to anxiety disorders.

Telephonophobia is a specific phobia, and therefore an irrational fear of certain objects or situations.. Some specific phobic stimuli are spiders, injections or snakes.

Specific phobias are known as simple phobias; however, there are other types of phobic disorders that are considered complex: social phobia and agoraphobia.

• You can learn more about this type of phobias in our article: “Types of Phobias: Exploring Fear Disorders”

Phobias and their development by classical conditioning

Phobias are frequent phenomena, and many patients go to psychological therapy to treat them. Fear is a feeling that we all experience, and it is relatively common to feel discomfort and fear about something. Now, in some cases, these fears are really irrational, so it is necessary to seek professional help.

Phobias develop due to a type of associative learning called classical conditioning., which occurs when a person experiences a traumatic event and associates phobic stimuli with this event. Classical conditioning was first investigated by a Russian physiologist named Ivan Pavlov, but the first to carry out experiments with humans was john b. Watson.

• We invite you to learn more about this concept in our article: “Classical conditioning and its most important experiments”

Other causes of phobias

However, phobias can not only be learned by direct experience, but also by observation, is what is known as vicarious conditioning, a type of learning that resembles modeling and imitation, but is not the same. same. In our article “Vicarious conditioning: how does this type of learning work?We will explain it to you in detail.

As you can see, phobias are learned, although some theorists think that there is a genetic origin and that phobias are hereditary. Although this option is being ruled out more and more, experts think that we are biologically predisposed to fear certain stimuli, because fear is an adaptive emotion that causes the fight-flight response, which has been key in the survival of the human species. This would explain why fears do not respond well to logical arguments, since they are formed by primitive and non-cognitive associations.

phobic symptomatology

The symptoms are common in all phobic disorders, since the only thing that varies is the stimulus that causes it.. As it is an anxiety disorder, this is its main symptom, together with fear and discomfort, which provokes an avoidance response, which has to do with the fight-flight response to situations of danger. The discomfort and anxiety are so great that the phobic wants to get out of the situation as soon as possible to reduce the symptoms.

These symptoms occur at three levels: cognitive, behavioral, and physical. Cognitive symptoms include fear and anxiety in front of mobile phones, as well as anguish, confusion, lack of concentration, irrational thoughts, etc. The avoidance of any situation in which the person can visualize having a mobile phone nearby is their main behavioral symptom. Physical symptoms include: rapid heartbeat, hyperventilation, stomach pain and nausea, choking sensation, dry mouth, etc.

Treatment

Phobias are disorders that cause great discomfort but are treatable and with some success. In fact, research confirms that there is a high success rate when the patient goes to psychological therapy and is treated with cognitive behavioral therapy. This form of therapy includes different techniques, and they are especially useful for overcoming phobias. relaxation techniques and exposure to phobic stimuli, either through imagination or in alive.

In fact, a widely used technique that encompasses the above is automatic desensitization, a technique developed by Joseph Wolpe in 1958, and which aims to expose the patient to the phobic stimulus gradually while teaching coping skills (particularly coping techniques). relaxation).

• Therefore, this technique consists of 4 phases, which you can find detailed in our article “What is systematic desensitization and how does it work?”

However, currently, other forms of therapy are also used and have proven to be very useful for anxiety disorders in general. Are the Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MCBT) and the acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). In addition to psychological therapy, in extreme phobias, drugs can also be used, but always in combination with psychotherapy.