By Lucie Fraisse Published onNews ToulouseSee my news

Three days to live without your phone, this is the principle of the world days without cell phones which are held this year from February 6 to 8, 2019. A not so simple exercise, as the cell phone is so much part of our lives. A torture even for some who literally cannot live without it.

And this torture has a name: it is nomophobia. The term actually translates the contraction of an English expression "no mobile-phone phobia", nomophobia. And designates the excessive fear of being separated from his mobile phone.

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Tensions, anxieties and a lump in the stomach

Professor Nicolas Franchitto is head of the addiction department at Toulouse University Hospital. He explains:

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E-cuddly toy with the world at your fingertips

In consultation, the Toulouse professor receives patients, often young, who speak of “anxiety” at the idea of ​​being deprived of their precious smartphone. “Some people tell us that the telephone is their friend. One of my colleagues speaks squarely of E-doudou.”

It must be said that the phone has many advantages to make addicted. Like the games for example, or the colors of the screen. Push notifications too. Or the fact that with a laptop everything is immediate or almost: with a simple swipe of the fingers, in a few seconds, you can find out the day's weather at home or on the other side of the world, surf on social networks, watch a series, listen to music, exchange messages with friends...

Professor Franchitto details:

The "phantom ringtone", an unmistakable sign

It remains that we must make the difference between addiction and excessive use of the smartphone. According to the Toulouse doctor, a few signs should alert. “when you don't think about your cell phone as soon as you wake up, that's not a good sign. We are talking about smokers who are tense before their first cigarette in the morning, for the cell phone it's the same, there are people who are not well until they have consulted their cell phone. »

Another sign that can alert: the ghost ringtone.

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Ways to detox

If you have the feeling of suffering from these different symptoms, know that there are ways to better manage your time using your smartphone. Some applications allow, for example, to measure the time spent using it during the day. “It allows you to have an objective measure of the time you spend there, I find it rather good to try to reduce. »

Also try to shift the time when you go to consult your screen by a few minutes. “To a patient who has an eating disorder and who usually eats two donuts at 4 p.m., we will advise to eat 1 and a half donuts at 4:10 p.m. You can work the same way with a smartphone. »

Nicolas Franchitto develops:

Do not hesitate to consult

And if we really feel overwhelmed by our smartphone, or screens in general, professionals can help. “If you feel that you are losing your footing, you have to go to an addiction service, advises Professor Nicolas Franchitto. There are possible strategies, in particular support groups of mobile phone users. »

A survey recently conducted for the smartphone reconditioning site Recommence indicated that 21% of French people say they are completely addicted to their laptop and unable to do without it for a day.

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