7 key signs of screen addiction that you shouldn't ignore

Screen addiction can effect your mental health, sleep and relationships without you even noticing.(Image: Pexels)

In this day and age where almost all of our lives is so interconnected to each other through our phones, laptops, tablets, TVs (it hurts just writing this list); it is nearly impossible to avoid screens. Though it allows us to get things done, screen time can turn into an addiction before we even know it and has become a real mental health problem.

What defines screen addiction, according to Dr Asha Menon, a psychiatrist at the Mind Wellness Clinic, Bengaluru, is not the number of hours alone but the extent to which screen time determines mood, attention, interpersonal relationships and global functioning.

Also read: 9 common toxins you are using every day that harm your health directly

These are the key signs that you are moving towards screen addiction and the need for action, according to Dr Menon:

• It literally starts and ends your day either laying in apps or consuming videos. Not only does this habit affect the quality of sleep, but it is also intentionally setting a sloppy tone for your day.

• You feel elevated anxiousness, agitation, or even panic without proximity to your phone and the internet! These symptoms resemble withdrawal symptoms characteristic of other types of addictions and suggest an emotional dependence on devices to relieve discomfort or boredom.

• You constantly get distracted by notifications and reminders during conversations. It interrupts and messes things up not only in conversation but in relationship too because you keep checking your phone very often, which break the interaction.

• You feel an uncontrollable desire for screen time that interferes with obligations or scheduled activities. When cravings for gadgets trump obligations, it suggests that addiction has arrived.

• Eventually you require screen time for increasingly long periods or in ever more hazardous ways to achieve satisfaction.

• You get so lost in devices that you lose track of time. A red flag is going hours on the internet with absolutely no sense of time passing. The phenomenon of screen addiction frequently alters the perception of time, causing individuals to lose track of commitments, sacrifice sleep, and productivity.

• Physical effects crop up more frequently, such just as red eyes, blurred vision, headaches, back or neck pain.

What you can do

The Doctor suggested instituting specific limits on screentime, turn off notifications for applications, spend more time on hobbies not taken to their devices, and designate certain areas in the house to be device free. Get help — if it all seems too much and you feel you cannot stop, seek professional help.

Subtle screen addiction can very gently creep in our lives before we know it! It slips in like a shrouded snake, trapping us in its coils if we're not careful. We need to be vigilant for those signs and take back control of our digital habits and be able to enjoy life with poise and balance again.

And that comes with a price; And if you have never realized this, then be aware that constant connectivity will cost your well-being and hence just be aware and be our armour against the siren song of the online world. It is only with cognizance that we can protect ourselves from its nefarious attraction and take back control over technology instead of allowing technology dominant us.

Disclaimer: This article, including health and fitness advice, only provides generic information. Don’t treat it as a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist for specific health diagnosis.