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What do you fear? New phobias may be created by technology

Reported by: MaryEllen Resendez
Email: mresendez@abc15.com
Last Update: 10/31 3:13 pm

PHOENIX -- We've heard of arachnophobia, the fear of spiders, or coulrophobia, the fear of clowns, but how about nomophobia?

"Never heard of it," said Angela Baca, a shopper at Tempe Market Place.

Nomophobia is the fear of being out of cell range or your cell battery dying.

"Oh, I don't know what I would do without my cell phone, probably freak out," Baca said.

A lot of people freak out over no cell coverage bars or that battery outline turning to empty.

We took a list of these new phobias to Dr. Daniel Merrill, a psychiatrist at Chandler Regional Medical Center. He laughed at some of them.

"I don't think I would call that a phobia, more an exploration of why do they feel they have to be in constant contact," Merrill said.

How about vidigamephobia? That's the fear of video games or game creatures coming to life.

"I might have it," said Gage Humphrey. "I don't like video games and I can see getting nightmares from some of the characters."

Dr. Merrill said he hasn't seen a phobia of video games, he's seen cases of the opposite.

"I've seen people who struggle with playing video games too much, to where they've lost loved ones or jobs," Merrill said.

We even found interphobia. The fear of the Internet. Merrill said this anxiety is more among the elderly.

"As we grow old we have the reluctance to embrace new technology," he said.

If you suffer from any of these anxieties, Merrill said there's a possible cure,

"In my opinion it would be to have more one on one time with people, your boss, your children or more one on one time with a spouse," he said. "While all this new technology may help us feel connected, it can also make us feel alone."