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I Need a 12-Step Program and I Need it Now!

Hi my name is Lanette and I'm a Nomophobic.

(all in unison) Hi Lanette!

I heard about this for the first time on April 1^st, so I immediately wrote it off as an April Fools joke. Now, I just saw it on the evening news. So, it must be legit, right?

Apparently some eggheads in Great Britain are studying this phenomenon in a real research lab somewhere and it's a valid condition. Around 13 million Britons admit to suffering from Nomophobia.

Nomophobia is the fear of being without your mobile phone.

I'm serious.

It's the fear of leaving it, losing it, running out of battery juice, being in the dreaded no-man's land of "out-of area", or otherwise being in a state of inaccessibility to family and friends.

Oh, yeah, I am a Nomophobic.

When I realize I left my BlackBerry on my desk (and I am nowhere near my desk when I come to that realization), I break out in a cold sweat.

I call it my BB for short. It's my little pet name for it - a variation of "Baby". BB, get it? I crack myself up. Anyways, I know I suffer from this affliction because my BB has become an integral part of my life.

I eat with it
I sleep with it
I work with it
I play with it
I work out with it
I bathe with it
I shop with it
I buy cute little accessories for it. My daughter calls it "ghetto fabulous" w/the stunning "bling" I've adorned it with...quite handsome if I say so myself.
I carry it with me wherever I go
I break out in a cold sweat when I realize I'm without it
I immediately stop whatever I'm doing (even at the risk of being late for an appointment across town) and return to retrieve from wherever I may have left it. And I mean whatever I'm doing...
I never turn it off

It's my BB.

Hey, cut me some slack here; I'm a REAL-I-TOR and communication is my business, people!

Posted by Lanette Branch, - Bel Air, MD REALTOR on 04/03/2008 04:47 PM

Comments (21)

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21 Comments on I Need a 12-Step Program and I Need it Now!

APR

2008

Right On Lanette,

I am a Nomophobic myself, I really don't understand the Realtors who don't answer their phones or e-mails, you never know when the business is going to show up

Ain't that the truth, Jane?

I think my biggest fear is of missing a call from a prospective client -- you know the cash buyer who wants to settle in 2 weeks...LOL!

Bathe with it??????? Do you put a little hair net on it and then when you get out have a little robe & sandals...lol, the imagery is cracking me up!!!

That's where I have to cut things off -- the phone is not coming into the bathroom! End of Story! At any rate, I can see that I do exhibit the tale tale signs so I will in need of "professional" help soon.

Lanette - I also confess, I am a nomophobic, except I haven't gone so far to buy it cute accessaries, however, I misplaced my phone the other day and about paniced.

APR

2008

Hi Lanette! I've got the worst dilemma: Something is wrong with my phone and it is burning up the battery too quickly. I could use the insurance to replace the phone but I will be down for two days and will have to use a spare. I won't go without it but I do when the battery dies. What a problem!

Thanks for stopping by my blog Lanette! I am glad I could give you a smile

Every once and a while, I forget to take my phone with me. And when I realize it, I am actually glad it is not with me.

And I purposely don't bring my phone with me when I am at a restaurant, or at a social gathering with friends, and I don't carry it in my pocket. I only hold it on myself when I am expecting an important call. Not all calls are important. Nowadays, everyone think they NEED to have their phone on them at all time, and they have the very fears you speak of. It is kinda funny that so many people are enslaved. I feel sorry for them.

..I'm not nomophobic however I think I did a "nomophobic act"... a few weeks ago I was stuck in Chicago O'Hare airport and forced myself to sit next to a restroom just to charge my phone ... for some reason O'Hare has very few outlets :-( this is not Realtor friendly lol...

My husband needs to join on and admit he is one also. He gets upset when he doesn't have it.

Well....the idea of Nomophobia is an interesting topic of sort. When I purchased my first phone it was in a rather large black bag.....remember those anyone?! Well...anyway...oh...wait a minute.....I hear my phone ringing.....where is it?.....WHERE IS IT!! ....ITS ON THE THIRD RING!!.....ITS A BUYER!!!!A SELLER!!!!AND I CANT GET TO IT IN TIME>>>>>>>>AAAAAAARRRRRGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Back to what I was saying....NO....I am no Nomophobic. :)

Well if you are nomophobic because you are afraid to miss a cash buyer,I can truly understand that. But with all the extracurriculum activities that you do with your phone,Im surprised it is still working. I was going to ask you Lanette if you do something else with it but I am going to leave that alone-LOL. Great post.

I love going into meetings with my phone on vibrate....its a lot of fun! I know.....I know.....TMI!

So there is a word for this illness. Lynette, "My name is Tina and I'm also a nomophobic". I just can't function with my blackberry as well and yes, my cell phone sleeps with me everynight under my pillow. When I forget her at home, I go insane and will double back to get her.

my cell

Lanette, I am right there with you and very proud of it. I don't understand how others operate with a great system in place like it.

APR

2008

Oh please there is not such thing as a cell phone anymore, it is more like an extension of our body :) I too have a blackberry and LOVE getting e-mail and such all the time.

APR

2008

Lanette,

I am not a doctor but I play one on Active Rain. At the very least you can take comfort in the fact that you are only a level 1 nomophob. Those suffering from Level 2 Nomophobia carry multiple phones, for multiple purposes and have the distinct ability to carry on 2 conversations at once. Those with Level 3 Nomophobia sleep with their blue tooth in their ear.

-Chris

Thank y'all for all of your comments; there is much comfort in knowing I'm not alone in my affliction!

Phew - This I am not! I once was really close and then I had two babies!!!! Somehow it changed me. :-)

APR

2008

Wow! I guess I'm a nomophobic too! I keep an insurance policy on my BB.

Great post.

APR

2008

My phone has been used and abused, isn't a blackberry, but is something I can't live without. There are Realtors in our area that don't carry cell phones, HOW??

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