Mobile Addiction: Texting, Tablets and More
Smartphones, tablets, and other portable devices have become an integral part of our daily lives, which can cause us to become addicted to checking them frequently. Are you addicted to your smartphone? Is your tablet habit causing relationship problems with your significant other? Find out how to recognize mobile phone addiction and what you can do about it with this article on mobile technology. Mobile phones have become an integral part of our lives, whether we like it or not, it is hard to go without one. It has become more than just something to be able to call someone or send texts to friends and family, it has become our life support systems as well as being used for entertainment purposes and even social media sites like Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr. The way people use mobile devices can vary from person to person depending on personal preference as well as age group or social status, but there are dangers of overusing them which can lead to consequences that people don’t necessarily realize at first glance. Definition of Cell Phone Overuse Cell phone overuse is when you spend so much time on your cell phone that it has a negative impact on your relationships or everyday functioning. If you’re spending hours sending texts or playing games on your cell phone instead of hanging out with friends or family, you may be suffering from mobile addiction. The American Psychiatric Association recognizes cell phone overuse as an impulse control disorder in its diagnostic manual. This means that there are specific criteria for diagnosing excessive use of a cell phone. The Diagnostic manual states that people who suffer from mobile addiction have trouble controlling their use, even if they know their behaviour causes problems for them. They also feel like they need to use their phones to cope with life. The main difference between cell phone overuse and other addictions is that many people don’t think of themselves as having a concern until someone else points it out to them. It can take a while before you realize how your cell phone affects your life, but once you do, it can be helpful to keep track of how often you pick up your phone and what triggers those behaviours. This self-awareness will help you understand when your use of technology is getting in the way of everyday activities or social interactions. You may also want to keep track of how much time you spend on your phone each day so that you can set goals for yourself and monitor your progress toward changing your behaviour. The following are some signs that may indicate excessive use: You feel anxious or upset if you don’t have access to a cell phone or Wi-Fi connection. You use your phone in places where it isn’t appropriate, such as at school or work. Furthermore, you spend so much time on your phone that it interferes with your daily functioning. For example, you might find yourself texting instead of paying attention during class or work meetings because you are constantly checking for new messages. You use your phone to avoid dealing with difficult emotions like anxiety or loneliness. What are the symptoms? These days, nearly everyone has a cell phone – some even have smartphones. Smartphones can connect you to email, text messages (SMS), social networking sites, games and other applications. That’s why it’s so easy to get addicted to them; they offer instant access to friends, family and work colleagues. You can send emails at any time of day or night. You don’t need to be in front of your computer to check your Facebook status or Twitter feed, either. The ease with which we can stay connected is both a blessing and a curse. It is great for our productivity, but terrible for our health! Cell phone addiction has become an epidemic that must be addressed before it gets out of hand. Are you one of those people who just can’t put down their cell phone? Do you feel like someone is constantly trying to reach you? If so, you may be suffering from mobile addiction. Here are some signs that may indicate you are addicted to your cell phone: The first step toward recovery is admitting there is a problem. If you think you might have mobile addiction, take a moment to consider how much time each day you spend using your cell phone. If it seems excessive, then perhaps it’s time to cut back on usage and develop better habits for managing your time spent on your mobile device. Why it Can Cause Anxiety? Mobile phones are part of our daily lives. From morning to night we use it for making calls, texting friends and family or surfing social media sites. Recent research shows how mobile technology can cause stress and anxiety issues, especially among adolescents. A recent study showed that an increasing number of young people are addicted to their smartphone sin fact, many say they would rather give up eating than give up their phone. The results were surprising, as 20% of students said they could not go a day without using their smartphone, while 17% said they were unable to go a day without using any kind of electronic device. These devices have become so addictive that some teens are even taking extreme measures to get them back when they’ve been confiscated by parents. Another study showed teenagers who spend time on Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites are at risk of depression. They found if kids spent more than two hours a day on these sites, there was a higher chance of becoming depressed. Furthermore, another survey from Common-Sense Media found almost 80% of teenagers sleep with their phones near them at night, which makes it harder to fall asleep. This is because blue light emitted from screens suppresses melatonin production, causing trouble sleeping. Although most adults don’t think about it, but mobile addiction can cause health problems such
