Are you a Nomophobe? Do you struggle with Nomophobia? I think I’m precariously on the brink.

Psychologists are now helping patients deal with an anxiety disorder called “Nomophobia,” which is short for “no-mobile-phobia.” Specifically, it is people who experience panic over leaving their cell phone at home, or even more specifically, those whose mobile phones are getting low on battery and they are almost ready to “die” without a charger.

An app has even been developed called “Die With Me” which links people facing life with less than 5% battery life. They can, apparently, chat, commiserate with each other about their lack of power, and then experience the devastation of “dying” together.

One news article reports that since 2014 about 15 papers have been published dealing with the issue of nomophobia. In dealing with smart-phone anxiety, one clinical psychologist is giving her patients simple advice: “Relax. Breathe deeply. Avoid triggers such as leaving home without your charger.”

Nomophobia sounds rather hilarious, although admittedly I have, how do you say, “been there, done that.” Anxieties come in all shapes and sizes; and many of our anxieties do have a debilitating effect on our lives. Some can even enter a “die with me” type attitude where they want to commiserate with other people experiencing the same disorder, and then walk right through death’s door with them.

Some are anxious about pain or personal assault. This anxiety debilitated me for 2 years in Chicago, triggered by one single event of nearly getting mugged. The anxiety was so bad that I feared leaving my apartment. How silly, right? Yes. But for those with anxiety, it doesn’t have to make sense.

Some are anxious about going to sleep. My daughter was debilitated for years about bedtime. Yes, we prayed, tried to address what her fears were, and tried every combination of essential oils that could calm the nervous system. Nothing about the panic attacks made sense, but there we were on a nightly basis dealing with an anxious daughter.

Some are anxious about lack of control or an uncertain future. For the last 8 months, I have had long seasons of sleepless nights, and even a 90 day stretch where I was only sleeping 2 hours a night. Anxiety pressed in. The apostle Paul calls it “the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches” (2 Cor. 11:28). The anxiety made my brain buzz with activity, my breathing labored, my chest tightened. No, it wasn’t a heart issue. It was an anxiety issue which was affecting every part of my life.

Anxiety is a huge deal. Whether you struggle with nomophobia (fear of no-mobile,) or somniphobia (fear of falling asleep,) Glossophobia (fear of public speaking – I have that,) or Coulrophobia (fear of clowns – yes, that’s me too,) the Scripture offers a very practical word of wisdom:

1 Peter 5:6-7 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you.

“Casting” here means to “fling, toss, hurl, scatter in the direction of.” Ironically, the only other time the word is used in the New Testament is when Jesus prepares to get on the colt for the Triumphal Entry, but before He does, the people “cast” their garments on the colt so Jesus could sit on them.

Isn’t that awesome! Casting anxieties…to the One who sits on them! I love that! Throw your anxiety in His direction, knowing that your fears are well cared for by an awesome God.

I grew up singing a chorus, which still comforts me today:

“I will cast all my cares upon You. I will lay all of my burdens down at Your feet. And anytime, I don’t know what to do; I will cast all my cares upon You.”

From now on, when I sing that chorus, I will imagine laying “all of my burdens under His seat!” What an awesome God we serve, who can take our nomophobia, our somniphobia, our glossophobia, and all other phobias and care for us with His tender mercy.