Since time, smartphones replaced cell phones; they turned out to be an inseparable part of our lives. Though there is no major difference in the use of smartphones among any age group, almost everyone is fond of his or her phone to an immeasurable extent but youth, nowadays, is getting addicted up to a level of risk.
In this modern era of digitalization, mobile phones have become not only an entertainment but also a necessity and hence it is not that easy to cut off this device completely from our lifestyle. However, smartphone addiction among teenagers is so common that parents everywhere are struggling hard to get their ward back.
According to a study, around 70% of parents feel their teenage child is deeply addicted to his or her device. More than 80% of youth check their mobile phones at least 4 times in an hour and even at the dinner table.
Besides serving endless advantages and opportunities, the internet has opened unending other wicked doors for the users and teenagers are getting into them very easily. Social media, games, and, apps for hours had become an important part of their daily routine. Applications like PUBG, Tiktok, Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, and Snapchat grab a huge time-share of your child.
Apart from lacking in studies and sports, these teenagers are also losing real social and emotional connection with their parents, siblings, and society. Their smartphone is now their whole world in which they express their emotions of love, fear, and anger by means of approving, commenting, admiring or criticizing the social posts. This habit not only affects their academics and career adversely but equally to their mental health. Excessive addiction can show the following symptoms.
• Addicted people usually like to stay alone and do not get involved in social gatherings or activities for too long.
• They constantly check for the likes and comments on their posts or pictures in a very short time span.
• They continue to use their mobile phone even in the prohibited areas or dangerous situations for instance texting while driving.
• Sleeplessness and impulsive behaviour are often common in an addicted person due to the frequent and overuse.
• They are seen in excessive urgency to accessible with their phone and if someone tries to stop them or they do not find their device; they become uneasy and sometimes may turn violent as well.
• They feel an immediate need to respond to messages and alerts notifications in order to achieve satisfaction.
• When they are unable to use their phone or connect with social media, even for some minutes, they start getting feelings of anxiety.
With the constant support of the family and proper mobile addiction counselling, anyone can come out of this stage effectively. The above-mentioned signs demonstrate several negative effects on the addicted person. In the present day, not only the teenagers but also the grown-ups and even the adult couples are getting addicted to their mobile phones.
Sunita Panday is an expert and certified counsellor for mobile addiction. She treats the addiction by employing Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and Individual process therapy to curb the involvement of suffering time. Using some easily adaptive exercises and coping strategies, we help a person to overcome his or her mobile addiction. Here you get a check-in policy model to follow, which will consist of some healthy and realistic limits.
At Sunita Panday’s Psychotherapy and counselling clinic, we talk openly about the benefits and drawbacks of excessive mobile use to counsel the person. By making an acceptable schedule or timetable for limiting the overuse of screen, Counsellor Mrs. Panday educates the teenagers to practice mindfulness and meditation to control urges.