The latest, often unrecognised dependence is cell phone addiction. Prevalent across all age groups, it is more common among teens and young adults. Cell phone addiction does not appear dangerous on the surface, but can lead to serious health consequences if not dealt with.
Symptoms:
- The person feels depressed, irritable, even enraged when separated from the cell phone even briefly. They make it a point to keep the cell phone close to them.
- It is hard for them to pay undivided attention to anything. even when engaged in other activities, they will be doing some or the other thing on the phone.
- Cell phone addicts keep a track of technological advancements and change handsets quickly. they are obsessed with latest gadgets. Cell phone addicts incur huge bills.
- There is a marked decline in their studies, hobbies or work as their cell phones become top priority.
- Cell phone addicts experience helplessness as whenever they try to restrict phone use, they cannot.
- They live in denial; they do not see the excessive use of cell phones as a problem.
Causes:
- Cell phone addiction is not a simple bad habbit, but is influenced by complex underlying factors.
- Many people who develop this addiction suffer from unpleasant and intolerable emotional states such as emptiness, loneliness, boredome and rage. The phone helps to distract them from these feelings.
- Individuals with low self esteem may consider their phone as a status symbol and get drawn towards it to earn admiration and the envy of others. Falunting a latest model gives them a high.
- Others get obsessed with their cell phones as they fear abandonmet from their peers. They feel that if friends put high premium on their phone and they don't, they will be rejected and abandoned.
- Trying to restrict cell phone usage and blaming the addict are often counterproductive.
- it is important to inderstand what purpose is the addiction serving - is it an escape from pain or a means to gain self-esteem and acceptance?
