Phone Away Articles
Signs and Symptoms of Cell Phone Addiction
Although cell phone addiction is not yet listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5), research has compared it to gambling addiction, which has clearer diagnostic criteria and is included in the DSM-5.At least 4 of the following signs and symptoms are thought to comprise criteria for cell phone addiction, and the problematic cell phone overuse must cause significant harm in the individual’s life.
- A need to use the cell phone more and more often in order to achieve the same desired effect.
- Persistent failed attempts to use cell phone less often.
- Preoccupation with smartphone use.
- Turns to cell phone when experiencing unwanted feelings such as anxiety or depression.
- Excessive use characterized by loss of sense of time...
10 Signs You Might be Addicted to Your Smartphone
(CNN) -- They say the first step to overcoming a problem is realizing you have one in the first place.
If you asked me whether I'm addicted to my smartphone or whether I overuse it, I would say absolutely not. I pride myself on not keeping my devices (I have two of them!) in my bedroom while I sleep, and keeping them out of reach on the kitchen counter when I'm home with my kids. But, every time I walk into the kitchen, I find myself checking my email and Twitter feed. There's almost a gravitational pull toward my BlackBerry and iPhone even when I know the chance that there is anything I need to see at that moment is next to zero.
How to break your smartphone addiction
If you're a millennial like me or an avid smartphone user of any age, I'm sure you'd agree you would benefit from learning how to break your smartphone addiction.
Smartphones have become our digital appendages, where we can tweet, text, snap a picture, shop, watch videos and more within a matter of seconds.
While this accessibility can be convenient, it can also be overwhelming and even detrimental in the event of cell phone addiction.
As a result, this article is an explanation of what cell phone addiction entails and how to break your cell phone addiction (if you can admit you have one).
Cell Phone Addiction: 15 Numbers That Show The Ridiculous Obsession Americans Have With Their Phones
Have you ever had a family gathering, a social function or a business meeting ruined by someone that was obsessed with checking their cell phone? I see this wherever I go, and it is one of the reasons why I don’t like to leave the house much. No matter who is around and no matter how important what they are supposed to be doing may be, many Americans feel a deep, dark compulsion to constantly check their smartphones. As you will see below, the average user checks his or her phone 35 times a day, but of course there are some people that are well into the triple digits. Cell phone addiction is very real, and that is why there are actually rehab programs for this sort of thing. Unfortunately, we simply can’t put the entire country into rehab, and this problem just keeps getting worse with each passing year.
Below, I want to share with you 15 numbers that show how ridiculous our obsession with our smartphones has become. I think that you will agree with me that our addiction to cell phones has gotten way out of control...
You Asked: Am I Addicted to My Phone?
If you feel your smartphone is hurting your health or relationships, the answer may be yes.
You check it in the bathroom. You check it at the movies. You check it when you’re having dinner with your friends. But you wouldn’t say you’re addicted—and most experts would agree with you. “Only a small percentage of people qualify as addicted,” says Dr. David Greenfield, assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of Connecticut and founder of the Center for Internet and Technology Addiction. “But many people overuse their smartphones.”
The line between overuse and addiction is gray. But Greenfield says you’re moving into addiction territory when you can’t stop using your phone even when it’s harming your life...