Addiction center treats 'nomophobia'

A California addiction center says it is creating a recovery group for people suffering from nomophobia -- the fear of being without personal technology. The program is in response to customer demand from people with nomophobia -- "no-mobile-phone-phobia" -- Morningside Recovery Center in Newport Beach said in a release. Studies suggest two-thirds of the population suffers from nomophobia, the center said, and as new mobile devices and technology hit the market nomophobia is on the rise, up 13 percent from two years ago. Staying connected has become an obsession for a growing number of people, and losing their cellphone, running out of battery life and dropping signals brings on fear and anxiety, experts said. Morningside psychologist Elizabeth Waterman said she has seen a deep increase in her "nomophobe" patients.