You may wonder why people have phone addictions. I will explain to you why many people have phone addictions and what causes phone addictions. And how we can help the people who have these addictions and why it isis it not good to have a phone addiction.

A phone addiction is when you spend so much time on your phone: you wake up in the night to check your phone to see if you have any notifications and not being able to leave your phone for a second, you take your phone everywhere because you can’t leave your phone alone. A reason why your phone can be addicting is because of dopamine, which is a chemical in the brain that induces happiness. It is released every time we receive a message, alert, notification, etc., on our phones. 

People who have studied mental health issues have proven that excessive cell phone use can lead to anxiety and depression. Adolescents who were addicted to their smartphones were more likely to experience chronic stress and low emotional stability. Can also lead to poor sleep scrolling on your phone right before bedtime may cause you to experience restless sleep. Researchers at Ohio State University studied college students who used their phones an average of 46.6 minutes per night and established the relationship between their cell phone usage and sleep quality. 

Also using a smartphone while driving is dangerous and causes you to take your eyes off the road. Cell phone users who are addicted to their devices are more likely to use them while driving, increasing their risk of being involved in a car accident. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 2.9% of drivers use handheld devices while driving. In 2018, 400,000 people were injured in car accidents where distracted driving was to blame and 2,841 people were killed due to distracted driving car accidents.

Some tips for preventing cell phone addictions: when you set healthy boundaries between yourself and your cell phone, you’re more likely to avoid smartphone addiction. Encourage your family to also obey these boundaries by setting cell phone usage limits for young children. Create rules in your household, such as a “no phones at the dinner table” mandate. Intentionally unplugging from your phone for a few hours every day, such as when you’re exercising or having a meal with your family, helps you reconnect to the world around you. To prevent cell phone addiction, you should also track your data usage and set limits for yourself and your family members. Remove the apps you find yourself spending the most time on, such as games or social media.  Change your cell phone settings so you don’t receive as many notifications. Engage in hobbies or activities that don’t involve your cell phone, such as playing a musical instrument or painting. (Cell Phone Addiction: What You Need to Know | Articles)