Have you argued with your son about the use of his mobile? Probably more than once, today many parents face their children's mobile addiction. It is very common, and has physical and psychological effects that are harmful to our well-being. The mobile phone allows us to be connected with the world, our friends, family... However, this dependence on mobile phones takes us away from them, which has serious consequences. Today in Psychology-Online we show you some of the most important consequences of mobile addiction, one of the modern addictions that most affect youth.
A person addicted to mobile you must have 4 of the following symptoms:
- Need to use the mobile more and more
- Failed attempts to reduce mobile use
- Concern about mobile use
- Using the mobile when we feel anxious or depressed
- Overuse characterized by loss of sense of time
- Putting a relationship or job at risk due to excessive mobile phone use
- Tolerance: need the newest mobile, more applications, or increase use
- When the person does not have a mobile, they appear: depression, irritability, anger, restlessness, tension ...
In addition, mobile phone use tends to reach cause significant disturbances in their life. In this other article of Psychology-Online we discover the symptoms and treatment of mobile addiction.
1. Increased stress levels
People addicted to mobile compulsively check their phones each minute. Their body and mind are constantly activated, waiting for their phone to ring or checking every certain interval of time that if they have received any notification. Sometimes, the mobile does not allow you to disconnect, for example, you are on vacation, and the first thing you you do when you get up is to look at your mobile to talk with your friends, keep up with work, etc. What makes you not really disconnect and your stress levels do not decrease.
Research has found that the need to read and respond immediately increases stress. In some cases, this stress causes the person to hear vibrations from their mobile that are not real. A study by the University of Zurich shows that those participants who use a mobile constantly have a higher level of brain activity every time their fingers touch the screen of the mobile. East increased brain activity leads to increased stress.
2. Insomnia
When we sleep our mind and body rest. However, allowing mobile phone use to invade your sleeping hours can lead to increased stress, less productivity, low energy levels, difficulty concentrating, and low activity cerebral.
Research has shown that the amount of caffeine in double coffee has less of an effect than exposure to mobile light at night. However, many people find it normal not to have a double coffee before going to sleep, but they find it completely normal to bring their phones to bed.
The Exposure to mobile light can delay sleep Due to its ability to suppress melatonin, the hormone that regulates sleep time, which can lead to various sleep disorders, such as insomnia.
3. Anxiety and depression
Spending a lot of time in front of the mobile screen can cause high levels of anxiety and even depression, since many people are constantly waiting for their friends to talk to them, and they worry if they don't answer them. Research suggests that the longer you spend on your phone, the more likely you are to suffer from depression.
4. Aggressiveness
Addiction can be so serious that when these people have their cell phone taken away, they can become very aggressive. A large number of teenagers do not let anyone touch their phones. When they lose them, they can show signs of aggression causing mood swings, feelings of unhappiness, irritability, etc.
5. Not doing healthy activities
The time spent using the mobile prevents the person from performing healthy activities such as physical exercise, socialize, learn... The person finds the solution to her problems with the help of a click, and that is the reason why That avoid the effort. They begin to communicate solely through technology. Instead of practicing sports with other children, they can get to play through the mobile, without actually doing physical exercise.
6. Difficulty relating to other people
Although they are with friends and family, they have the need to continually check their mobile. Because of this, the people around him feel disappointed, causing possible conflicts.
When we use our phones we disconnect from the real world, which generates problems in face-to-face social relationships. Although telephones allow us to be connected to the world, people become completely isolated from the real world.
In addition to the social and mental consequences that we have indicated in the previous section, being addicted to mobile phones can also lead to physical consequences such as the following:
- Chronic neck tension looking down to see the mobile phone.
- Eye strain and blurred vision as a result of focusing on a small screen
- Decreased neural connectivity, leading to poor emotional regulation
- Bad eating habits, such as junk food so as not to waste time on other activities and to be able to spend more time on the mobile.
Mobile addiction can lead to significant physical and mental disorders. It is important to monitor the use of the mobile phone.
This article is merely informative, in Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
