Phantom Vibration Syndrome: When You Feel Your Mobile Vibrate

Phantom vibration syndrome is an indisputable example of how technology has invaded the human psyche. Technological devices are no longer just external objects that you access when you need them. Little by little, they have almost become part of our bodies.

Phantom Vibration Syndrome is the feeling that your mobile phone vibrates when it does not. It can happen at any time, and it seems completely real. For a person with phantom vibration syndrome, it seems impossible that the vibration was just a tactile hallucination.

Experts estimate that up to 80% of the population has experienced phantom vibration syndrome. That said, psychologists do not consider it a pathology in itself. If this symptom is accompanied by other worrying behavior patterns such as an excessive dependence on or obsession with technology, it may be more severe.

Causes of phantom vibration syndrome

The brain responds to sensory stimuli. When it perceives a stimulus, the senses send the corresponding signals and the brain responds. If you hear the doorbell, for example, in a few seconds, the brain decodes the signal and understands that someone is outside the door. It is a classic case of stimulus response.

So why does phantom vibration syndrome occur? Why does the brain perceive and react to a non-existent stimulus? Everything seems to indicate that it is due to a kind of expectation of the desired outcome. The stimulus you want is a conversation or a form of communication. Sometimes you have such a strong desire that your senses take it into their own hands and produce it artificially.

There are some of you who would hate to miss a phone call you expect. There are also people who are simply “hyper-connected” and practically live on their mobile phones. Phantom vibration syndrome , in this case, corresponds to a constant state of expectations that come from the desire to stay in touch.

It is worth noting that most people only experience this phantom vibration at certain times during their lives. This can happen, for example, at their most emotionally vulnerable moments. It can also happen when they are particularly stressed or have some form of suppressed anxiety.

Problems associated with this syndrome

Researchers at the University of Michigan believe that phantom vibration syndrome  may not be as innocent as it seems. They did an experiment with 400 volunteers, all of them students. The aim of the study was to establish that there is a relationship between phantom vibration syndrome and confirmation anxiety.

The results of the experiment confirmed their suspicion. They showed that people with confirmation anxiety were more likely to experience phantom vibration syndrome. Confirmation anxiety is characterized by the constant need for confirmation from others.

Similarly, a Dow International Medical College study established another interesting link. They concluded that people struggling with insomnia were more likely to experience vibration hallucinations. The common factor here is anxiety.

When should you worry?

In general, phantom vibration syndrome is not particularly worrying. It is usually just a sign of increased dependence on technology. Under certain circumstances, when psychological defenses are low, these false perceptions tend to emerge. Furthermore, the person will not have these hallucinations most of the time.

Some professions are more prone to this syndrome. Health professionals, people with high-risk jobs and people with a lot of responsibility at work often feel vibrations. In these cases, psychologists consider it an adaptive behavior. These people must always be on guard to do the job well. It is therefore not surprising that they have this type of hallucinations.

Researchers also found that most people do not pay much attention to these experiences. They think it’s an insignificant mistake. They also believe that there is nothing that affects their mood or causes problems.

So when should you worry about phantom vibration syndrome? It is only a problem if you also experience frequent anxiety. You should also worry if these “false alarms” cause disappointment or anger. In these cases, it is important to reflect and find out what is behind these false perceptions.