Beyond Like & Follows: The Impact of Mobile Phones on Mental Health
Mobile phones have become one of the most common features of everyday life as the world has continued to step into a digital era, but the impact that they can have on mental health is a rising concern across the UK. Although there can be some positive elements to technology and having a phone, there are also many negatives that can lead people down a spiralling pathway.
The impact of mobile phones can be dependent upon a number of individual factors: age, frequency of use, nature of consent are just a few factors to consider. Ultimately, do you know what impact mobile phones are having on those around you, or on your own mental health?
If you are concerned about your own mobile phone usage and habits, or have concerns about a loved one, please get in touch with New Leaf Recovery today. Our team are here to help guide and support you in many different ways.
A Rise to Domination for Mobile Phones
A mobile phone is something that we can’t live without in today’s society, with everyone from all ages having access to a mobile easily. But where did these pocket sized devices come from?
In April 1973, Motorola released the first every truly mobile phone, starting the ball rolling on a dominating piece of technology that has now taken over the world. Since then, phones have gradually increased in number, taking a drastic upturn in the new millennium (2000) as technology continued to develop.
Statistics show that in there are now more mobile subscriptions that people on the planet! People are using mobile phones for far more than just a call these days. Phones can be used for communicating with loved ones, work, sending emails, social media, networking, gaming and so much more today, meaning that people often have their life all connected on one device that travels everywhere with them.
How have mobile phone subscriptions overtaken the population? Some people even have access to multiple phones in order to complete work business without impeding on their personal technology.
Do you spend too much time on a mobile phone and have concerns about how this is impacting you?
Contact New Leaf today for support and guidance.
The Impact of Mobile Phones on Mental Health
As mentioned above, mobile phones come with a multitude of uses today, some bringing positive benefit to people, whilst others can have devastating consequences on mental health.
Positive Benefits of Mobile Phones
In a world where face-to-face communication is reducing, mobile phones have become a more vital part of daily work and life. Some of the benefits that these devices can bring include:
- Social Connection: Phones allow people to remain connected with their loved ones or friends very easily. In particular, for the younger generation, this can reduce feelings of isolation or loneliness with has a positive impact on their mental health.
- Convenience: Not only with communication, but for educational resources, entertainment, and work, phones are a quick, easy, and convenient way to remain connected when needed.
- Access to Support & Information: Having access to a mobile phone that is connected to the internet provides users with a plethora of resources at their fingertips whenever they need it.
Negative Effects of Mobile Phones
Although there are positive elements to mobile phones, sadly there are far more negatives when it comes to mental health.
- Screen Addiction: spending too much time on a mobile phone can lead to addiction to using it, which can then lead to not only further addictions, but a negative impact on your mental and physical health.
- Cyberbullying: Younger children in particular can be vulnerable to cyberbullying on top of physical bullying, leading to isolation, psychological distress, and mental health concerns.
- Reduced Physical Activity: excessive mobile phone use can lead to a sedentary lifestyle, meaning your physical activity reduces, leading to mental health concerns as well as physical health problems.
- Sleep Disturbance: Use, particularly before bedtime can interfere with your sleep routine, having a detrimental impact on your mental health.
- Fear of Missing Out (FOMO): With the rise in social media, there has also been a rise in FOMO, with many not wanting to miss out on the latest event, trend, or experience. If they do, it can lead to other psychological feelings of anxiety of inadequacy.
- Self-Esteem: With so much online showing a false representation of ‘normal’, there can be a big impact of self-esteem and comparison, especially amongst younger children. This leads to mental health concerns, phycological concerns and physical problems.
- Reduced In-Person Interaction: When spending more time on mobile phones, there is less in-person interaction. This can impact a person’s social skills and emotional intelligence in the long run, as well as their mental health.
- Privacy Concerns: A concern regarding the amount of data that is put online has been at the forefront of many changes in recent years having been impacting people’s mental health for a number of years.
- Reduced Attention & Productivity: Whether it is for work, school or social means, mobile phones can cause a reduction in attention span and productivity throughout your day. Notifications pinging can lead to a distraction that then reduces your productivity.
- Depression: In several studies, it has been noted that more people claim to feel happier when they take part in non-screen based tasks as opposed to those who are on their phones constantly. This constant usage can lead to feelings of depression.
- Contribution Towards Relationship Stress: Using mobile phones in times when they should perhaps be put away can lead to stress on relationships for people of all ages.
- Chasing Dopamine: Dopamine is usually the brains chemical trigger that is responsible for reward seeking. When it comes to mobile phones, this can often be what people are searching for, leading to them spending more time on their phones to find it.
- Anxiety: With mobile phones, that can happen in different ways. Those who use their mobile phones constantly can feel anxious when they are not using them; when using them, mobiles can lead to users feeling anxious too. This is a psychological dependency leading to mental health concerns.
Often with mobile phone addiction, there can be more than one negative impact of excessive usage, with mental health often paired with a physical or psychological concern as well.
If you are finding yourself struggling with some of these negative impacts on mobile phones, give New Leaf Recovery a call today.
Understanding & Recognising Mobile Phone Addiction
It is vitally important to understand your own habits regarding mobile phones and internet or gaming usage. If you find yourself struggling without your phone or being on it for a while, seek help today from New Leaf Recovery.
It can also be important to understand and recognise the signs of mobile phone addiction in those around you so that you can help your loved ones before addiction takes root. Some of the questions to ask include:
- Is there anxiety present when you are without your mobile phone?
- Is there a need for your phone to be with you constantly?
- Are conversions had via text message instead of in-person?
- Are you or a loved one spending less time with families or friends in favour of being on your mobile phone?
- Is your sleep regularly disrupted when you are up late on your phone?
- Is motivation, productivity and creativity decreasing from someone?
If you or a loved one is struggling with their mobile phone usage, or if you have noticed a downturn in their mental health as of late, don’t hesitate to contact New Leaf Recovery today for further help and support.
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Our team of compassionate staff are able to guide and support you through your addiction, helping you to find the right support and start your journey to recovery as quickly as possible.
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