Nomophobia is one of more than 250 known phobias, a type of anxiety that is most often the result of a personal dramatic experience, explains psychology professor Jurgen Margraf.
That dramatic event is stored in the brain, and some triggers can also cause a physical reaction.
Regardless of whether the word is gelotophobia - the fear of being ridiculed, or oneirogmophobia - the fear of "wet dreams", a person suffering from phobias has a hard time bearing it, and can even become physically ill.
A phobia is classified as an illness after several criteria are met, Margraf says. For example, when the fear reaches an unbearable or barely bearable level or when the phobia impairs the quality of life.
In that case, the person should seek the help of a psychotherapist.
"Phobias are often treated with cognitive-behavioral therapy," says Peter Falkaj, director of the Ludwig Maximilian University Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy.
The therapist will try to create a situation that causes anxiety with the patient and then analyze it and show possible solutions.
Therapy is usually combined with an appropriate amount of antidepressants, and the type of phobia affects the choice of therapy.
Some people manage to overcome the phobia on their own, but if self-therapy does not produce results, working with an experienced therapist is the best way to prevent this mental disorder from becoming chronic, reports B92.
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