Phantom Vibration Syndrome

Phantom Vibration Syndrome is an irrefutable example of how far technology has penetrated the human psyche. Our devices are no longer just external objects that we access when we need them – they have gradually become almost part of our bodies.

Phantom Vibration Syndrome describes the feeling that your cell phone vibrates when it doesn’t. It can occur at any time and it seems completely real. For a person with phantom vibration syndrome, it seems impossible at this moment that the vibration is just a tactile hallucination.

” And one day the mind jumps from imagination to hallucination, and the member of the church hears God, sees God.”

Oliver Sacks

Experts estimate that up to 80% of the population have already experienced phases of phantom vibration syndrome. That being said, psychologists don’t consider it a pathology in and of itself. If this particular symptom is accompanied by other troubling behaviors, such as over-dependence or obsession with modern technology, the diagnoses may be more serious.

Causes of Phantom Vibration Syndrome

The brain responds to sensory stimuli. When one of our sensory organs perceives a stimulus, they send appropriate signals and the brain reacts. For example, when you hear your doorbell, the brain decodes the signal and recognizes that someone is at your door. This is a classic case of responding to a stimulus.

But why does the phantom vibration syndrome occur? Why does the brain perceive a non-existent stimulus and react to it? Everything seems to suggest that this syndrome is due to the expectation of such an event. The stimulus you look for – or perhaps fear – is a phone call or some other form of communication. Sometimes you want this so badly that your senses take it upon themselves to simulate the stimulus.

There is a part of you that doesn’t want to miss an expected call at all costs. There are even people who are just permanently online and practically living in their cell phones. In this case, the phantom vibration syndrome corresponds to a constant state of expectation resulting from the desire to “stay connected”.

It is worth noting that most people experience these phantom vibrations only during certain phases in their life. This can happen in the emotionally stressful moments when you are particularly stressed or carry some kind of suppressed fear.

Problems related to this syndrome

Researchers at the University of Michigan (Michigan, USA) believe that phantom vibration syndrome may not be quite as harmless as it initially appears. They conducted an experiment with 400 volunteers, all of them students. The aim of the study was to determine whether there is a connection between phantom vibration syndrome and fear of attachment.

The results of the experiment confirmed their suspicions. They showed that people with fear of attachment were more likely to suffer from phantom vibration syndrome. Fear of attachment is characterized by the constant need for confirmation from other people.

Similarly, a study by the Dow International Medical College (Pakistan) made another interesting link. The local scientists concluded that people struggling with insomnia are more likely to experience vibration hallucinations. The common factor here is fear.

When should you worry?

In general, phantom vibration syndrome is of little concern. It is usually just a sign of increasing reliance on modern technology. In certain circumstances, these types of false perceptions tend to show up. This is the case, for example, when one’s own psychological defenses are weakened. Apart from these times, the sufferer usually does not have these hallucinations.

Certain occupations are predisposed to this syndrome. Health professionals, people with high-risk jobs and people with a lot of responsibility in the workplace feel the described phantom vibrations more often. In these cases the psychologists consider it a learned behavior. These people need to be constantly vigilant in order to do their job well. It is therefore not surprising that they experience such hallucinations.

Other researchers found that most people hardly pay any attention to these experiences. You think it is a minor incident and go back to business. They also assume that this is nothing to affect their mood or cause problems.

So when should you worry if you have phantom vibration syndrome? It is only a problem if you are also experiencing anxiety. You should also worry if these “false positives” make you feel disappointed or angry. In these cases it is important to question what is behind these false perceptions.