F.O.M.O - Ugonjwa wa Kupenda Simu ya Mkononi

Wadau, madaktari wamegundua ugonjwa mpya, F.O.M.O. (Fear of Missing Out), yaani ugonjwa wa kuogopa utakosa ujumbe, au habari kwenye simu ya mkononi, Blackberrry. Mimi ninayo! Yaani, nikiamka hata sijatoka kitandani natazama blackberry! Hata nusu saa haipiti bila kuitazama! Loh!

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BOSTON -- Across the country, you see it everywhere. People are constantly checking their smartphones to see if they have new texts, tweets or Facebook updates.

"The first thing I do when I wake up is like many people is look at my BlackBerry to see what's going on on Facebook and Twitter," Judith Forman said.

During the day, Forman is constantly on the computer for her work as a public awareness manager for Reach Out and Read, a Boston charity. Or she's on her BlackBerry connecting with her 1,200 Facebook friends.

"Basically the only time I'm not with my phone I would say is when I'm sleeping," Forman said. "And it's become a bit of a joke with some of my friends."

Forman may have what's being called a FOMO addiction which stands for "Fear of Missing Out."

She's not alone.

Sitting at Back Bay station, Nikki Yeager admits she's on her BlackBerry constantly.

"I do have FOMO," Yeager said. "I'm a FOMO sufferer."

Chemi Kadete says she checks her BlackBerry 20 times a day.

"Now I'm even walking crossing the street looking at this," Kadete said. "It's getting dangerous. I have to admit it."

Newburyport pyschologist Dr. John Grohol believes FOMO isn't healthy.

"You can get into a negative reinforcing way of spending your life," Grohol said. "Looking at all the things you could be doing instead of just enjoying what it is your doing in the moment."

If you're concerned about your smartphone use, Grohol suggest taking stock of exactly how much time you're spending online.

"You're not spending 5 or 10 minutes a day," Grohol said. "You might find out you're spending an hour a day or two hours a day. We only have 24. Is that really how you want to look back on your life?"

He suggests you try this experiment with your smartphone.

"Turn it off. Just turn it off for the evening," Grohol said. "Be with the person that you've chosen to be with. That allows you to be in the moment."

If you can't turn it off and feel overwhelming anxiety, Grohol said you may need professional help.

Read more: http://www.thebostonchannel.com/health/28399119/detail.html#ixzz1R0glSSHE