Causes of mobile addiction in teenagers and how to get rid of it

Civilization has brought many necessary things into our lives that have made our existence much easier. True, everything has “two sides of the moon”. Including the benefits of civilization. And if earlier we were afraid of the dark and spiders, then modern fears make us think about the benefits and harms of these new technologies. One of the modern phobias is nomophobia.

What are the dangers of this addiction, what is it like, and when is it time to see a doctor ?

Causes of nomophobia - what is phone addiction?

Is it possible for a modern person to live without a mobile phone? Oddly enough, some people do quite well without them. But for most, a real disaster is forgetting your cell phone at home while running out to work in the morning. A day that has passed without a phone is considered wasted, and how many nerves have been wasted, how many necessary calls have been missed, how much gossip from friends has passed by - it’s impossible to count.

A phone battery that suddenly runs out causes no less panic . Being left without communication – what could be worse? The phone is always at hand - on the road in your pocket, while sleeping under the pillow, in the kitchen during lunch, and even in the bathroom and toilet. And being outside the “coverage area” is a complete disaster that threatens a nervous breakdown.

According to statistics, every seventh person in a country with a developed civilization suffers from nomophobia.

What are the causes of this disease of the 21st century - nomophobia?

• Fear of helplessness and isolation from the outside world. As soon as telephone booths became a thing of the past, telephones became not just our constant companions - they completely subjugated us. And if previously the lack of connection with the world was a completely natural phenomenon, today it leads to panic - there is no way to call for help, there is no connection with loved ones and friends, there is not even a clock or calendar. What can we say about the Internet in smartphones, e-books, games, etc.
• Advertising. Adults are still able to resist the flow of unnecessary information, but the unformed psyche of children does not allow them to filter out the unnecessary and necessary. Moreover, the more unobtrusive the advertising (films, cartoons, sports and show business stars, etc.), the more firmly the idea becomes stronger in the child’s head that life without a phone is impossible, that “skin and bones” is the standard of beauty, that smoking is cool, and a bottle of whiskey should always be on your home bar. As for moms and dads, they are influenced by numerous promotions, fabulous discounts, “multi-functionality,” fashion, etc.
• Fear of loneliness. Self-sufficiency as a phenomenon is gradually disappearing into oblivion. And today’s young generation mistakenly takes the ability to be alone for a long time, surrounded by mobile phones, tablets and laptops, as self-sufficiency. How many people can survive at least a day without modern means of communication? According to experiments, no more than 10 percent of people withstand this “hell.” Why? It would seem that it would be difficult to spend a day in real normal life, leaving all means of communication at home? But no. There is no one to send an SMS to, no one calls, no one sends emails or calls on Skype. And there comes a feeling of uselessness, followed by emptiness and panicky fear of loneliness. It’s like you’ve been thrown onto a desert island, your scream is carried by the wind, and the only one who hears you is you.
• The illusion of sociality and impunity. In real life, a person has practically no friends, communicates with anyone extremely rarely, is withdrawn, taciturn, and perhaps has a bag of complexes. A telephone is one of the ways to feel in demand, ignoring any barriers inherent in real life. Forums, social networks, etc. On the Internet you can be anyone, you can spit on the rules of decency, not restrain your emotions, and not feel guilty. With the help of SMS alone, they start affairs, break off relationships, and cross boundaries that in reality they would not have the courage to cross.

How to help a teenager cope with smartphone addiction

Any addiction poses a threat to both the physical and mental health of a person. Teenagers, due to their “immaturity,” are in a particularly risky position. If you notice signs of mobile addiction in your child, then start sounding the alarm without delaying the matter. If you let the situation get out of your control, then everything may end in long-term therapy in a specialized clinic.

In order to reduce the level of influence of the gadget on your child, and over time, finally get rid of nomophobia, use the following tips:

• Do not allow your child to carry his phone with him at all times when he is at home. No one is calling on you to take the device away from him and put it on a distant shelf. However, it is worth introducing a rule to leave smartphones on bedside tables or on your desk.
• Regular conversations. If you previously did not pay attention to your child’s passion for a smartphone, not seeing any threat in it, now be prepared to spend all your time correcting the situation. Think about personal communication: talk with the teenager as often as possible, take an interest in his successes and help him find a way out to solve existing problems, discuss a recently watched movie or a book he read, etc.
• A pet. Buy your child a pet and oblige him to look after it. In this way, you can not only distract him from his cell phone, but also contribute to his development of responsibility.
• Physical exercise. Remind your child about the benefits of sports and that currently a healthy lifestyle is also a very popular trend. Enroll him in the sports section; it would be better for him to disappear there than to spend hours on his device.

Symptoms of phone addiction – check if you have nomophobia

You may not even realize how addicted you are to your phone . You can talk about nomophobia if...

• You get excited and nervous when you can't find your cell phone.
• You feel anger, panic and impending hysteria , rapid pulse and dizziness when you lose your phone.
• The feeling of discomfort, trembling in your hands and loss of control over yourself does not leave you until the moment the phone is found.
• The feeling of anxiety does not go away , even if you spend 10 minutes without your phone.
• When visiting (at an important meeting, in class, etc.) you constantly look at your phone , check your email and the weather, check whether the antenna is receiving, despite the fact that no one should call or write to you now.
• You don't raise your hand to turn off the phone , even in an environment that requires it.
• You take your phone with you on vacation , to the beach, to the garden, in the car (while driving), to the store, which is 2 minutes away, to the bathroom, to the toilet and under your pillow at night.
• If a text message or call comes in while you are crossing the road, you pull out your phone, despite the danger.
• You are afraid that your phone's battery will run out , and you even carry a charger with you just in case.
• You constantly check to see if a new SMS , letter has arrived, or if there have been any missed calls.
• You are afraid that the money in your account will suddenly run out . Which you always put into your account “with a reserve”.
• You constantly monitor all the new products in the world of mobile technologies, update the phone itself, monitor the beauty of the case, purchase various accessories (cases, key chains, strings, etc.).
• You regularly download pictures , games and programs, change ringtones and settings.

Negative effects of continuous smartphone use

Many people have developed a habit (more like an addiction) of constantly holding their phone in their hands. Of course, you can perceive this as a harmless way to get rid of boredom. A smartphone is a great source of entertainment and a great tool for working and communicating in the modern world. But research shows that heavy smartphone use has a detrimental effect on some aspects of our lives.

Loss of the ability to empathize and connect with others

Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor Sherry Turkle argues that communicating via phones makes us less empathetic. Typing a message is convenient, but we don’t see facial expressions or hear intonations, which are so important for understanding other people. Moreover, researchers have proven that if we have a phone in our field of vision, we will pay less attention to others, and conversations will be more superficial. When we know there is a possibility of distraction, we don't see the point in connecting with someone on a deeper level.

In the West, there has long been a problem of loneliness for a large number of people, and the development of smartphones has played an important role in this.

Insomnia

According to sociological surveys, 44% of people aged 18 to 24 fall asleep with a smartphone in their hand. And a quarter of those surveyed agreed with the statement “I don’t sleep as well as I used to because I use gadgets all the time.” Smartphone use can have a negative impact on your sleep: blue light from the screen affects your circadian rhythm, and the buzzing sound can wake you up in the middle of the night (by the way, 4 out of 10 people will definitely check their phone at night after receiving a notification). And if you are also worried about how someone will react to your message, it will be difficult for you to put the device aside and just fall asleep.

Distraction of attention, loss of the ability to fully devote oneself to a task

Although smartphones are often touted as a tool that will allow you to work on the go, ironically they are often the biggest hindrance to our productivity.

Smartphones, along with other digital devices, train our brains to be constantly distracted. Calls and notifications cause our attention to wander. We can't really immerse ourselves in our work because there's always a chance that we'll miss our phone.

A recent study found that when smartphone addicts put down all their devices to complete one task, they still couldn't concentrate. The habit of dividing attention is too deeply ingrained in the brain. In other words, our ability to be thoughtful and fully immersed in our work is atrophying because of smartphones.

Loss of ability to be fully present in real life

More and more people start their day by reaching for their phone. On average, we spend about 8 hours a day on laptops, smartphones and computers. 81% of users have their phone on 24 hours a day. More than half of millennials say they use their phone constantly.

Every time you look at your phone screen, you stop noticing what is around you: your children, a beautiful landscape during a trip, a friend who is sitting opposite you. You are simply not in the present. By giving your life to your phone hour after hour, are you sure you're not losing anything?

How to overcome mobile phone addiction, and when should you see a doctor?

Nomophobia has long been recognized by all experts in the world as an addiction similar to alcoholism, drug addiction and gambling addiction . It is even included in the list of rehabilitation programs in many centers for helping addicts.

Of course, phone addiction will not damage your liver or kill your lungs, but its “toxic” effect extends to a person’s consciousness and his relationship with the real world.

Not to mention the
consequences of electromagnetic radiation from any mobile phone:

• Changes at the cellular level up to the appearance of tumors.
• Memory loss.
• Headaches, irritability.
• Decreased immunity.
• Adverse effects on the functioning of the endocrine and cardiovascular systems.
• Decreased vision.
• Disruption of the natural alternation of sleep phases.
• Pressure changes.

It is also worth noting that talking on a mobile phone during a thunderstorm is extremely life-threatening. The telephone is an ideal conductor for discharging electricity. It is advisable to turn it off altogether during a thunderstorm outside.

A telephone is also life-threatening if you talk on it while driving a car .

Children, adolescents and adults: features of nomophobia

“My son is 12 years old. We recently gave him a new smartphone (he used to have a regular phone). And now I no longer recognize my boy. He takes his phone everywhere - when he wakes up in the morning, before bed in the evening, while eating, in the toilet. As soon as he comes home from school, he spends the entire evening on his phone, playing or watching videos. He does his homework under pressure. It seems that the son is completing tasks only to quickly pick up his phone again. I argue with him, but nothing helps. I understand that my child is addicted to the phone - I don’t know what to do.”

— Marina, mother of 12-year-old Igor

Nomophobia can manifest itself at different ages. And in each age group, addiction has its own characteristics.

Psychologists' studies show that young people are more susceptible to the disease of phone addiction. Of the subjects aged 18-24 years, symptoms of mobile addiction were identified in 77% of young people. Among surveyed respondents aged 25-34, the figure is slightly lower - 68% are potential nomophobes.

Nomophobia in children

Many children have been familiar with gadgets since the age of 3. The child has not yet learned to speak well, but he can already easily operate a modern telephone. And every first-grader already has his own smartphone with Internet access. Phone addiction in children progresses much faster due to their still unformed psyche.

This trend is very worrying for psychologists. A child under 7 years old should actively develop, learning about the world around him, and not constantly look at the smartphone screen. And it’s better for a student to spend his free time with peers or in classes than at home with a phone in his hands. Nomophobia “inhibits” the normal development of a child. He becomes restless, anxious and irritable, poorly assimilates information, and loses all interest in the outside world. [4]

The child’s parents are often to blame for the development of “childhood” nomophobia. Not having the time or desire to pay enough attention to the baby, they transfer this “function” to numerous gadgets. It’s easier to give your child a smartphone with games in order to at least engage the active fidget with something. But then you have to make a lot of efforts to rid the child of dependence on the phone and the Internet.

Nomophobia in teenagers

Teenage maximalism manifests itself in literally everything, including the use of gadgets.

Addiction to the phone among teenagers is intense - he registers on all social networks, plays games, subscribes to dozens of public pages, literally comments on his every move with a post on his account, and is constantly “busy” in chats. These are all symptoms of nomophobia.

Most often, shy children who find it difficult to establish communication with peers go to the online world. Only on social networks and on forums under fictitious nicknames can they fully express their own self and make friends. Also, the virtual world is the easiest way for a teenager to get away from existing problems (family or school). When experiencing stress, a child tries to get positive emotions at least “online.”

Children aged 12-16 years are very scrupulous in the fight for personal space. Therefore, tough measures on the part of parents who want to overcome a teenager’s mobile addiction by depriving him of his favorite gadget can be perceived as a real betrayal. In this case, it is extremely important to thoughtfully approach the prevention of nomophobia so as not to destroy the relationship with the child.

Nomophobia in adults

It seems that an adult, unlike a child, is fully aware of what he is doing. He understands the harmful effects that bad habits can have. But even adults sometimes become immersed in the virtual world, making their smartphone their eternal life partner.

The main problem of “adult” addiction to a mobile phone is that many nomophobes do not admit until the very end that they have become hostages of their own smartphone. A person believes that everything is under control, but in fact, this is not the case. At some point, everything changes: it turns out that it is not the person who owns the phone, but the phone.

Addiction to the phone and the Internet in an adult is an established pattern of behavior. If you can’t overcome the habit on your own, you can use 7Spsy behavior modification technology, which will help you replace negative attitudes with positive ones and adopt a healthy behavior model.

When should you suspect you have nomophobia and visit a doctor?

Psychological dependence on the phone is considered destructive and requires treatment if you have all (or partially) the symptoms of nomophobia, to which you can add another (already very serious) sign of addiction - sound hallucinations . They represent the illusion of a call or the sound of an SMS when the phone actually does not ring or is completely turned off.

Nomophobia is not a harmless habit, as many people mistakenly believe. It can become a very serious mental illness that will have to be treated with medicinal methods.

Signs of nomophobia

If you constantly check notifications on your phone (even when there are no alerts) and do this while communicating with loved ones or friends, you most likely have a phone addiction. In scientific circles, this is called nomophobia - from the English phrase “no mobile phone phobia”, which implies dependence on the Internet and telephone. People who are susceptible to this disorder experience stress if there is no phone nearby. And not just stress - a person can be overcome by panic.

The state of panic when the battery runs out or the Internet traffic runs out is most often associated with a feeling of uselessness and loneliness. Such people put a deeper meaning into the gadget and become attached to it as to real people.

The consequences of nomophobia are quite typical: a person ceases to adequately set life priorities, his value system changes - he can no longer enjoy life, and depression begins to develop.

How to get rid of nomophobia?

• Ask yourself a question: do you need your phone so much that you can’t live without it even for 20 minutes? Most likely, the earth will not open up and the apocalypse will not come if you periodically leave your phone at home .
• Start small - stop carrying your phone around the apartment . You will be surprised, but if you run to the store without a mobile phone, then when you come home you will not find hundreds of missed calls on it.
• It is strictly forbidden to sleep with a phone under your pillow. First, your brain needs to rest before going to bed. Secondly, the radiation that you catch from under your pillow overnight will not compare with your anxiety - “what if someone calls.” Take care of your health.
• Talk on the phone only in emergencies. For example, if you need to call for help, report an important meeting, etc. Talk briefly and quickly - only to the point. If the desire to chat with your interlocutor for an hour or two is simply unbearable, call from a landline phone.
• Turn off your phone every day while you're relaxing . We came home from work and turned it off. You have time to relax, have dinner with your family, watch a new comedy, football, finally. "And let the whole world wait!".
• When on vacation, turn on your phone only in exceptional cases.
• Go to places where there is no “coverage area” more often . To the forest, to the mountains, to lakes, etc.
• Do not use your phone to access the Internet - only for communication.
• Don't buy phones for small children . Do not deprive your kids of childhood and the joy of communicating with the outside world. Teach children to real life and real communication. Reading books rather than online blogs. Towards solving problems in the real world, rather than “shooting emoticons.”

Even if you haven’t found any symptoms of nomophobia, pay attention to the abundance of gadgets in your life and draw conclusions. Learn to listen and hear without them. And be healthy!

If you liked our article and have any thoughts on this matter, share with us! It is very important for us to know your opinion!

How to deal with phone addiction?

If you realize that your mobile phone is an important part of your life and you can't spend a minute without it, it's time to think about it. You may be developing a psychological addiction. This means we need to start solving the problem that has arisen. Coping with mobile addiction is much easier than with drug or alcohol addiction. But this does not mean that you need to make less effort. The main thing is not to despair, then you will definitely be able to become a truly free and happy person.

• Find reasons. Give yourself time and analyze your life, think about what is bothering you. If you have difficulties communicating with people offline, or for you the phone is an escape from problems and an escape from reality, then it is better for you to consult a psychologist. A professional can help you become more open, communicative and responsible.
• Find a hobby . If during the process of self-analysis you realized that your life is not bright and interesting enough, then some new business can help you. Join a club, take up swimming, drawing, music, dancing or something else. If you have the opportunity to spend more time outside, visit exhibitions, go to museums, cinema or theater. It will be much better than living the illusion of an interesting life via the Internet.
• Many notifications are not a sign of importance . Don't take a lot of notifications as a sign that someone needs you. Once you disappear from the network for a couple of days, there will be much less notifications. Replacement in the virtual world appears quickly. Those who are listed as your “friends” on the Internet may not actually be them.
• Change company . If you don't feel comfortable around the people around you, try changing your social circle. A bad environment spoils good habits. If your friends look at their phones all the time, even when communicating with you, then in any case, over time, you will begin to do the same.
• Remove applications . To overcome addiction to your phone, clean it by removing all unnecessary applications. Thanks to this, you will spend less time on your phone.
• Manage your time . Make time for quality communication with friends and family. Appreciate real, not virtual life. Remember about healthy eating (by the way, it’s better to cook your own meals) and physical activity. All this takes time, which you can take away from your phone.

If you have children and your child spends a lot of time on the phone, try to keep him busy with important and inspiring activities. Talk to him and together choose a hobby that interests him. Let your child feel that you need him, that you love and appreciate him very much. Spend more time with him, talk to him, help solve his problems, and then he will be happy to get out of the Internet and find happiness in reality.

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