You Might Not Be Addicted to Drugs, But Your Screen Is Just As Bad
By Movieguide® Contributor
We all know that screens are addictive, but did you know this addition is so strong that cutting it off can mimic withdrawal symptoms from substances such as heroin?
“We often see narcotics addictions develop when an individual starts by using a drug recreationally — and then gradually becomes more and more dependent on it,” Lee Fernandes, an addiction specialist at UKAT, explained.
“The same can happen with phone additions,” he added. “Someone may start using social media for fun. And it’s a socially acceptable habit — so it’s plausible that you may be using Instagram to see what your friends are doing or using LinkedIn for work reasons.”
But it’s a slippery slope from there into screen time addiction.
Addiction Center defines it as “a compulsive need to use these electronic devices, regardless of the negative impacts on daily activities and obligations such as work, school, or social relationships.”
“Suddenly you’re on it first thing in the morning and last thing in the evening. Suddenly, what was meant to be a quick 10-minute look turns into hours of scrolling…It starts to affect your life. You’re late to an appointment because you were lost scrolling — or you’re not connecting with your partner because someone is on their phone too much,” Fernandes said.
People often gravitate to their phones as a way to self-soothe when they’re “sad, or stressed, or even bored” because of the dopamine rush it gives them.
“Our brains get a dopamine rush when we engage with our phones, which creates a reward loop,” UPMC Health Beat reported. “The more we engage with these devices and platforms, the more we experience that feeling.”
READ MORE: DID YOU KNOW THIS ABOUT AMERICANS’ SCREEN TIME HABITS?
But doing so can “burn out” the brain’s reward center.
“That makes it more difficult to enjoy everyday things,” Fernandes said. “I think about it a lot. On the tube, people used to be reading a book or flicking through a newspaper. Now almost everyone is on their phone. Sometimes, it’s a good thing to be bored.”
If you suspect you or your children are suffering from screen addiction, a digital detox might be in order.
Dr. Axe says taking a digital detox involves “taking a break from electronic devices such as smartphones, computers, tablets and social media platforms. The purpose is to disconnect from technology to reduce stress, improve mental health and reconnect with the physical world.”
Breaking free from this addiction can be hard, though. NeuroLaunch says withdrawal symptoms could include anxiety, irritability, boredom, headaches, restlessness and even phantom vibrations from not getting any notifications.
But it’s worth it for you and your family.
“What you’re actually doing is you’re resetting your kids’ dopamine levels, because when they’re scrolling, when they’re playing, when they’re tapping, their dopamine levels in their brains are exceptionally high,” Molly DeFrank, author of Digital Detox: The Two Week Tech Reset for Kids, and mother of six told CBN in January.
“Real life can’t compare. That’s why they’re complaining with boredom but when you give them this two-week window to reset their levels back down to normal life,” she continued. “You’re giving them time to rekindle a love of real-life activities.”
READ MORE: HOW TO HELP YOUR KIDS LIMIT THEIR SCREEN TIME
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