Kids These days, smartphones are available with a ‘touch screen’ interface. It is true our smartphones, tablet and computer are a hugely productive tool. We can easily access the internet, pay bills, shop online, book tickets, listen to recent songs, and connect with our friends and relatives by using smartphones and tablets. However, we cannot deny the fact that using smartphones has a negative impact on our life.
What is smartphone addiction: A Brief Overview?
Smartphone addiction is also known as “nomophobia” (the fear of remaining without your smartphones) that can often trigger other problems like internet overuse issues or internet addiction disorder. It is true that our smartphones offer us a life of conveniences but with the recent explosion of modern technologies like Androids, iPhones and other similar technologically advanced devices people are getting addicted to smartphones.
According to the recent research approximately 75% modern people are becoming easy prey of smartphone addiction. It is a kind of mental disorder like addiction to gambling and gaming. More than 67% of smartphone users approved the fact that they check their phones very frequently. The other common tendencies among smartphone users’ are – people sleep with their cell phones by their sides, they check their phone as soon as they wake up and people are also falling asleep with phones still in their hands.
Smart phone addiction symptoms
The most common signs of smartphone addicted people are intolerance, degeneration, withdrawal, conflicts, anxiety etc. The detailed symptoms of the smartphone users are discussed below:
- Using smartphones to diminish boredom
Do you often feel ecstatic when you hear the sound of notification from your phone? Then, you may be suffering from smartphone addiction syndrome. In modern days, checking your phone has become a common habit among people. Not focusing on your work and checking the social profile and messages of your friends and relative frequently is another clear sign that you have fallen prey of the smartphone addiction. - Reaching for your smartphone right after your awake
As your phone becomes a crucial part of your daily life you can remain without it. People are immensely addicted to their smartphones; the first thing they do is to check their phones to see the updates and messages. This actually distracts you from your daily works. - Insomnia
People who are addicted to smartphones often suffer from insomnia or sleepless nights. At night, lying on bed instead of focusing on sleep, people tend to check their phones or keep it next to their pillow. This habit not only degenerates your physical health but also negatively affects your mental state. Melatonin plays a vital role in our natural sleep-wake cycle; it acts as a body clock. This chemical sends alert to your body when it’s your sleep time. However, people who are smartphone addicted tend to ignore this alert and easily fall sick due to lack of sleep. - Anxiety
It is true that with the usage of smartphones, we are able to connect to the world with just a click of the mouse. Nevertheless, this efficient technology also makes us alienated from the real world. By using smartphones frequently we started to live in a virtual world. This often causes anxiety and restlessness in our mind. A slight sound of notification in our smartphone is enough to make us anxious. The constant urge of checking phone and finding no message on it often causes stress. - Aggressiveness
The extensive usage of smartphones often results in aggressiveness in teenagers and adults. The people who constantly use their smart phones often get irritated easily. In fact a large number of teenagers even do not let anyone touch their smartphones; if any case the phones have been lost they suffer from mental depression that results in constant mood swings, feelings of unhappiness and also irritation.
Treatment
Cell phone addiction can be defined as a Behavioral Disorder that is basically characterized by the excessive obsession with cell phones.
- Uninstalling all the unnecessary apps
You must remove all the unnecessary apps from your phones. Unproductive apps like the gaming apps can actually increase your smartphone addiction. Thus, you must avoid unimportant apps which eat up your time. - Maintain a time schedule to answer your messages
You should resist the temptation of checking your phone frequently. For this you need to become more disciplined. You must frame a time schedule for checking your phone messages and social media updates. - 60 minute strategy
Avoid using the phone in the first and last 60 minutes of your day. This might seem to be tough in the beginning but you will soon get used to it. - Stop using phones for killing boredom
The latest electronic devices with modern technology such as smartphones and tablets have become an ideal replacement for radio, TV and computers. However, you should limit your smartphone usage as much as you can. If you want to get rid of your smartphone addiction, then you must stop using the device for your entertainment purpose as well.
Some of the healthy habits like yoga, meditation, reading books have been proved beneficial and quite effective in treating smartphone addiction and to build up healthy mind and body.
