Do You Think Your Phone's Vibrating When It's Not? It May Be Phantom Vibration Syndrome

Did you ever experience leaving your phone in your pocket or somewhere and getting a feeling that it just might be ringing or vibrating from a call and text message when it is not at all?

There is actually a name for that and it is called Phantom Vibration Syndrome.

Is it harmful? What can you do stop it?

Here is what you should know about it:

Phantom Vibration Syndrome: What is It?

WebMD says that Phantom Vibration Syndrome happens when people get the feeling that their phone is vibrating when it actually is not. It was previously referred to as "ringxiety."

The article published on its website describes it as a modern-day phenomenon. "Apparently some of us are so concerned about missing a call or text that we've become extra aware of the sensations that mean one is incoming," WebMD adds.

The article mentions Robert Rosenberger, Ph.D., who is studying the effects of technology on human behavior. According to him, noticing a vibrating phone has become such a habit for people that even the slightest movement in clothing or anything feeling that resembles a vibration causes people to think that their phone is vibrating.

"Through bodily habit, your phone actually becomes a part of you, and you become trained to perceive the phone's vibrations as an incoming call or text," he said.

A report by CBS News cites licensed clinical social worker and associate professor of psychology Randi Smith, Ph.D., who says that Phantom Vibration Syndrom is "almost like a hallucination."

Dr. Smith notes that it can be really scary how people have become so dependent on their devices. For some people, it can be somewhat of an obsession already.

Studies About Phantom Vibration Syndrome

An article by NPR states that a study conducted in 2012 involving college students yielded results that show 90% of the participants have experienced phantom vibrations. It is also mentioned that 9 out of 10 participants in the study said that the feeling barely bothered them. There are those who said it did not bother them at all.

A similar study was conducted with hospital workers as participants of the survey. The participants of the survey said that the they get the feeling of their phone vibrating when it really is not either weekly or even monthly.

How Do You Keep Your Anxiety Level Down?

Research psychologist Dr. Larry Rosen said that one way to manage your anxiety level and keep the Phantom Vibration Syndrome at bay is to step away from your phone and not use it for a while every now and then.

According to the article by NPR, people should spend around 30 minutes to one hour away from their phone, per Dr. Rosen.

Dr. Smith shares the same sentiment and says that students in particular should go on a "media fast."