Vibranxiety: The sensation that your cell phone is vibrating in your pocket when it isn't.

[BurtWorm]

I get this. Even when I don't have my phone with me.


http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2007-06-12-cellphones_N.htm?csp=34

Good vibrations? Bad? None at all?


By Angela Haupt, USA TODAY

Some call it "phantom vibration syndrome." Others prefer "vibranxiety" — the feeling when you answer your vibrating cellphone, only to find it never vibrated at all.

"It started happening about three years ago, when I first got a cellphone," says Canadian Steven Garrity, 28, of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. "I'd be sitting on the couch and feel my phone start to vibrate, so I'd reach down and pull it out of my pocket. But the only thing ringing was my thigh."

Though no known studies have analyzed what may cause spontaneous buzzing, anecdotes such as Garrity's ring true with the public.

Spurred by curiosity, Garrity, a Web developer, described the recurring false alarms on his blog. The response was not imaginary: More than 30 cellphone users reported that they, too, experienced phantom vibrations.

"I ended up hearing from a lot of people who said, 'Hey, the exact same thing happens to me,' " Garrity says. "And it was somewhat comforting, because it made me think I wasn't insane, after all."

Some who experienced recurring phantom vibrations wondered whether the phenomenon had physical roots: Was it caused by nerve damage or muscle memory?

But experts say the false alarms simply demonstrate how easily habits are developed.

[skygazer]

1. I used to shove my pager down my pants and then call myself

Does that count? :P

[BurtWorm]

2. That's not vibranxiety

Could be vibraddiction?

:shrug:

[Reverend_Smitty]

3. This happens to me quite a bit

I wear cargo shorts a lot in the summer so my phone is usually resting in one of my side pockets, I'm always reaching down to check and see if my phone is vibrating. I thought I was just paranoid, but I guess this is a real thing...I'd be interested in seeing if it's a psychological or physiological thing

[BurtWorm]

7. I notice it happening on my commutes home

and I thought it was related to the bus or train I'm on rattling. But it could be that I'm conditioned to get getting calls at that time.

[pagerbear]

4. I get that too.

Funny thing is that I sometimes miss it when it really is vibrating! (It's always on vibrate--I hate and despise ring tones.)

[BurtWorm]

5. Me too!

My wife says I ALWAYS miss it, but I know that can't be true because I must have had something to model my vibranxiety on. :wtf:

[Xithras]

6. All the time in the car.

My cellphone is usually in my left front pocket, and out of habit my leg is usually resting against the door while I'm driving down the road. If a really bassy note comes on the radio, or I hit a rough patch of road, my leg picks on the vibration and I assume the phone is ringing.

[mzteris]

8. Whew!

I thought I was crazy. :eyes:

Ok - well - I AM crazy, but you know what I mean. :P

[SPKrazy]

9. it's a weird sensation

i've experienced it especially at work with the spectra link phone i carry there. it dropped and no longer vibrates :rofl: but it did and when it did i was always feeling it vibrate when it wasn't :shrug:

i just thought it was me