Sources: Verizon, Health.com, Healthline.com, CNN, Addiction Center
Let's be real, we have all had it at some point. With the constant pings of social media and never ending TikTok videos, it seems like we can get sucked into a timeless void. I myself used to struggle severely from cell phone addiction, and it has now become a prideful point for me to say I do not use personal social media or see my phone so often to the point it disrupts my relationships.
Speaking of relationships, cell phone addiction is defined as the obsessive use of a smartphone. The behavioral addiction is called “nomophobia,” the fear of being without a mobile device. It seems like everyone can be glued to their phones at times, so how do we know when it's getting too much?
Phone addiction and withdrawal symptoms can lead to a variety of symptoms, such as
anxiety
reduced focus
sleep deficit
stress
loneliness
isolation
distressed relationships
drops in performance in work or school
insecurity
and many more!
According to Addiction Center, "Chronic phone overuse is proven to change reward circuits in the brain chemically. One of the primary affected neurotransmitters is gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Research shows that chronic phone use can increase or decrease GABA production. Disturbances to the GABA system are proven to be a warning sign of addiction." This shows that cell phone addiction is a true illness that should be taken just as seriously as other types of addiction, especially since the cell phone is an integral part of society and daily life.
You can see the signs of such addiction by noticing things like:
leaving family time to go be on their phone
isolating themselves
repeatedly checking social media profiles
accidents due to phone use
Craving access to a smartphone or another device.
fear of missing out (FOMO)
irritation if they cannot be on their phone for a prolonged amount of time
concern from loved ones
Luckily, from personal experience, this IS a solvable problem. It does take time, and there will be some bumps along the road, but you CAN have a healthy relationship with your devices. Setting healthy boundaries can involve getting hobbies to distract yourself, using the Screen Time feature, setting data limits, silencing notifications, spending more time with family or friends, and removing addictive apps and social media.
Your cell phone is a revolutionary tool that gives data on the spot and keeps you associated with the world. Notwithstanding, it's essential to focus on your mobile phone use to guarantee you don't create a dependence on your phone.
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