It would be hard for any person to argue that mobile phones are not quickly dominating our daily routines and ways of communication in today’s world. The latest statistics on smartphone use and dependence give us incredible insight into how we’ve made them an integral part of our daily life. However, at what cost are we paying for this convenient form of technology in the palm of our hand? As of 2024, about 6.3% of the world’s 6.8 billion smartphone users are believed to have a phone addiction. Mobile phone addiction is on the rise, and an isolating pandemic that forced physical distance between each other did not help the situation. While most prominent among teenagers and young adults, smartphone addiction has gone up steadily. According to a survey by Common Sense Media, the percentage of teenagers who feel addicted to their phones has increased from 39% in 2015 to 50% in 2021. However, adults over the age of 25 are not having any less a problem with addressing mobile phone addiction treatments: technology and mental health concerns. In fact, Generation X and Boomers are both not far behind when it comes to mobile phone addiction. The need for understanding the mental and physical health risks associated with mobile phone abuse and dependence is understated.
The Importance Of Addressing Mobile Phone Addiction Treatments
One of the best things someone can do, whether they feel phone addiction is rearing its ugly head in their own life or someone else’s, is take action. For someone curious about their own mental health, a simple way to sense any anxiety is to turn off their mobile phone for a period of time. Taking note of the initial mental reaction, emotions felt, physical reactions (if any) and overall state of mind. This action can also be taken by a parent, allowing the child’s reaction to give insight on their mental health associated with technology absence. In one study, only 53% of Americans claim they have never gone without their phone for over 24 hours. While 44% of adults in the United States say they feel anxious when they don’t have their phones with them. People who are addicted to their smartphones may find themselves spending more time scrolling through social media posts than engaging with other people in person, leading them to feel isolated and disconnected from reality, further fueling their anxieties. Research has only just begun on the impacts of a person’s mental health in relation to the use of technology, especially concerning mobile phones or ‘smartphones’. Therefore, it is absolutely essential to educate yourself on the impacts of technology and mental health. As well as look into addressing mobile phone addiction treatments as soon as possible, if deemed necessary.
Mental Health Negative Effects
Anxiety – One of the most noticeable effects from mobile phone addiction is digital anxiety– feelings of anxiousness when separated from the phone for too long. This type of anxiety usually manifests itself in physical symptoms such as sweating, shaking, and heart palpitations when someone goes without their phone for an extended period of time. Similarly, this type of anxiety can occur for someone with mobile phone addiction that does not receive a text, email, or social media notification right away.
Depression – While our mobile phones can give the illusion of staying connected, it actually is showing an increased feeling of isolation and depression in younger adults. Mobile phone addiction can lead to a decrease in actual social interactions with friends, family, and peers in the real world. Constant attention to mobile phones for updates, notifications, and texts can distract a person from engaging with the world around them. This can impact the formation of meaningful relationships and having healthy conversations with people in person. Which in turn can lead to feelings of isolation and loneliness (depression) for anyone needing mobile phone addiction treatments.
Lower Cognitive Performance – A 2020 study found that people who have been diagnosed with mobile phone addiction or smartphone addiction had problems with the part of their brain responsible for transmitting messages and poorer cognitive performance. In fact, mobile phone addiction can alter brain activity in the prefrontal cortex and temporal areas, which can impact creative thinking in another study. Proving this is the fact that top notch colleges seek graduates of Waldorf education, mostly due to the lack of technology used in foundation education.
Sleep Disturbances – Addressing mobile phone addiction treatments: technology and mental health is crucial when it comes to healthy sleep. Mobile phones, as well as all other devices with screens, emit blue light, also known as high-energy visual (HEV) light. This kind of blue light is a type of visible light that makes up about one-third of all visible light. Light from a mobile phone screen signals the brain to stay awake by delaying the natural production of melatonin. Especially when used within two hours of bedtime. Melatonin is the hormone that helps regulate our sleep-wake cycle, so when it is disrupted, it can lead to difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep throughout the night. This can lead to poor sleep quality, daytime fatigue, and increased mental health symptoms.
Physical Health Negative Effects From Mobile Phone Addiction
Eye Strain – Eye health is important, and an over use of mobile phones and screen technology can take a physical toll on eye health. Glare and too much time spent looking at screens can cause fatigue or discomfort in your eyes, as well as dimmed vision. Staring at a mobile phone screen also reduces blinking, which helps keep eyes lubricated and protects them from dust and sunlight. Even squinting at small text on a phone screen can overwork the muscles around the eyes, neck, and shoulders.
Headaches – In relation to eye strain, untreated mobile phone addiction can lead to headaches. Even the posture of bending your neck to scroll through your phone, also known as “text neck,” can strain your spine and lead to headaches. And for anyone struggling with migraines, excessive mobile phone use can increase the pain of migraines and make treatments less effective.
Body Pain – Time spent sitting or lying down while holding a mobile phone can place strain on the neck, shoulders, and back of anyone struggling with addiction. When these positions are held for extended amounts of time, it can lead to pain and sometimes more severe musculoskeletal issues.
Lethargy – Mobile phones allow a person to do almost anything from the palm of their hand. Which is exactly why addressing mobile phone addiction treatments as soon as possible is important. Time spent on screens is time that people in past generations would spend being physically active—taking walks, working in a garden, playing sports, and working on projects. A sedentary lifestyle, such as one dedicated to a screen, is directly linked to an increased risk of obesity and other physical health problems.
Addressing Mobile Phone Addiction Treatments: Technology And Mental Health
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT): Research has shown that DBT is effective in treating a wide range of disorders such as depression, PTSD, substance addiction, eating disorders, BPD, and mobile phone addiction. DBT can help anyone seeking mobile phone addiction treatments learn healthy coping mechanisms and improve emotional regulation. DBT can also help people reduce their use of interactive media by teaching them skills to identify high-risk situations and negative thoughts. Considered a transdiagnostic or modular treatment that primarily uses a skill-building approach that focuses on the development of four key skill modules.
- Mindfulness: Practices of being fully in the moment, full of awareness and appreciation. Putting aside judgment and attention to understand how others may feel during a situation. Or in other words, the practice of being fully aware and present in this one moment on all levels.
- Distress Tolerance: How to tolerate pain and find healthier ways during difficult situations that led to their unhealthy behaviors. Being able to successfully and effectively deal with short term and/or long term effects from mobile phone addiction.
- Emotion Regulation: Identify unhealthy behaviors and implement coping mechanisms to help modify the negative emotions felt with mobile phone addiction. Shifting decisions made from an emotional standpoint to a more mindful standpoint.
- Interpersonal Effectiveness: Ability to balance the wants and needs of a relationship while respecting boundaries and priorities. Such as how an individual asks for what they want and how they say no, while also maintaining self-respect and relationships with others.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Cognitive Behavioral Therapy aims to change the maladaptive thoughts, feelings, and behaviors from mobile phone addiction into healthy and positive ones. CBT can provide step-by-step ways to stop compulsive behaviors and change perceptions about the mobile phone someone is addicted to.
Motivational Interviewing: Based upon similar principles of experimental social psychology, MI practitioners see motivation as an interpersonal process as opposed to a personality trait. Essentially meaning motivation is a mindset that can be taught and encouraged. There are four key parts used Motivational Interviewing:
- Engaging: Getting to know the client and establishing a trusting and respectful alliance.
- Focusing: Coming to a shared idea about the main focus of a client’s recovery.
- Evoking: Bringing out the client’s own arguments for change.
- Planning:The client is willing and able to envision change and how they will manifest it.
Mindfulness Coaching: Mindfulness-based mental health education therapy effectively alleviates mobile phone addiction and improves cognitive tendencies and mental health in people. Mindfulness coaching focuses on being present and aware in the moment, rather than just goals and outcomes. Mindfulness coaches help clients learn to be aware of their thoughts, emotions, and actions, and how to make choices about what they want from life. This approach especially serves as a valuable reference for effectively preventing and managing mobile phone addiction among teenagers.
Addressing Treatments For Children And Young Adults
According to a 2024 survey, 62% of respondents said their children had their own cell phone. And a lower number is not projected, as mobile phones are more and more necessary by companies in everyday life responsibilities. But how does someone help their child keep a healthy balance between their mental health and tech use? In an unfortunate study, 67% of teenagers report that late-night phone or internet use has caused them to lose sleep. In response to these alarming rates, some countries are taking action in addressing mobile phone addiction treatments: technology and mental health. China has introduced new regulations to reduce the internet and mobile phone addiction found in their younger populations. The regulations state that teenagers between the ages of 16 and 18 in China will be allotted a maximum of two hours of smartphone usage daily, and those under 16 will be subject to a one-hour limit. Only time will tell which treatments and techniques will prove to be the most successful in combating mobile phone addictions. However, it is showing promising results that by setting clear boundaries and encouraging alternative activities, children can have a healthier relationship with technology. Strong actions such as establishing screen-free time, utilizing parental control tools, fostering open communication, and occasionally implementing digital detoxes can help with mobile phone addiction. Parents, teachers, and caregivers can help break the cycle of mobile phone addiction by implementing these actions.
Omega Recovery Offers The Best Mobile Phone Addiction Treatments Available
Omega Recovery was created in Austin in 2018 in order to address the explosive epidemic of addictive and mental health disorders that are occurring in record numbers among young people in America today. Building on the pioneering work of Dr. Nicholas Kardaras, Omega created cutting edge protocols combined with the best evidence-based modalities to meaningfully and effectively treat young people struggling with mobile phone addiction. Omega clients engage in trauma-informed therapies, including CBT, DBT and traditional psychodynamic therapies that treat the whole client, not just the addiction. Experiential treatments such as Nature Immersion and Adventure Therapies are also key in our offerings for addressing mobile phone addiction treatments. With an aim to help shift young people into healthier habits as they also address the underlying issues that are contributing to their unhealthy mobile phone addiction. Our holistic, nationally-recognized and accredited program is here to provide clients with the best evidence-based care, regardless of experienced recovery stage. Whether you’re seeking help for yourself or a loved one struggling with mobile phone addiction, we can help. Omega Recovery offers the best mobile phone addiction treatments because we have an experienced team while also providing the perfect place for healing. For more information visit our website https://omegarecovery.org/ or call us at (512) 601-5407.
