As smartphones these days get, well, smarter and smarter, more and more people get hooked on them. If you think you’re one of them because you cannot imagine a day without having your prized gadget in your hand, then read on. This article will talk about some of the signs you might have smartphone addiction.
The truth is there is no such thing as “smartphone addiction” listed on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders or DSM, which is a handbook used by mental health care experts in the US and many other parts of the world as a guide to diagnosing various mental disorders. However, a lot of experts say that is very much comparable to gambling addiction, something that’s included in the said authoritative guide.
Clearly, a smartphone is a must-have these days. Not only do they allow you to send and receive calls or text messages, but also carry out so many other things — from checking your social media feed, taking photographs and videos, keeping track of your fitness level, to lowering your stress or anxiety with the help of an app.
Because of the many different functionalities of a smartphone, it’s something that can become an indispensable daily tool for getting in touch with family and friends as well as keeping up with the rest of the world. But certainly, there is a fine line that lies between merely utilizing all the greatness a smartphone has to offer and being addicted to it. If you believe that you’re hooked on your smartphone, then you may be right if you exhibit these:
You Have the Urge to Use Your Device More and More
Just like any other forms of addiction, there comes a time when an individual develops tolerance to the substance being abused, and thus there’s this need to level up just to get the desired effect each time. The same is true with smartphone addiction — if you have this urge to use your device more and more, then it’s clear that you have developed tolerance to it and now you have to exploit the technology further to feel satisfaction.
You Turn to Your Smartphone Regardless of What Happens
When you’re feeling down, you reach for your smartphone. When you’re having anxious thoughts, you get your hands on your smartphone. When you’re all stressed out, you fish your smartphone out of your pocket. Undeniably, there are numerous instances in which turning to your smartphone is a smart choice, such as when you’re lost or you wish to buy a hard-to-find item. But it’s a different thing if you rely on your device every single time.
You are Constantly Taking a Peek at the Screen
It’s perfectly normal for you to grab your smartphone and check out the screen if it vibrates or rings, especially if you are waiting for an important call, text message or e-mail. However, it’s an entirely different story if you glance at the screen compulsively even without your smartphone vibrating or ringing — and most especially even if you’re in the middle of an important task like an office meeting or while driving your car across a busy intersection!
You Begin and End Your Day with Your Smartphone
Most likely, you are hooked on your smartphone if it’s the very first thing that you tinker with the minute you open your eyes in the morning, and the last thing you fidget with before you catch some Z’s. But it’s not just at the start and end of your day that you obsess with your device, but all of the time throughout the day. You need to hit the brakes if you fiddle with your smartphone while in watching TV or taking a shower — and that’s why you have a waterproof one.
Do you feel like you are addicted to your smartphone? If you believe so, then kindly share below some of the things you do that reveal you are clearly hooked on your precious device.
