The Link Between Cell Phone Addiction And Mental Disorders

The majority of people are using cell phones in 2019. The majority of people use cell phones in 2019. Cell phones have had both positive and negative effects on our health over the past decade. There have been many mental health issues, including anxiety and depression. Cellphones have made it easier to sleep. Cell phones can make symptoms worse for people with existing disorders. ADHD is an example. Social media use can increase symptoms. The physiological harm that cell phones have caused is getting worse.

Cell phone usage is negatively affecting mental disorders. A mental disorder is a condition that alters one’s thinking, behavior, and mood. Mental disorders include anxiety, depression, eating disorders, ADHD and even anxiety-related disorders. ADHD, which is a mental disorder, can affect attention span. It includes symptoms like hyperactivity, impulsiveness, difficulty focusing and hyperactivity. People with ADHD are more likely to become addicted to cell phones than they are to other things. ADHD people are more likely than others to become addicted. Caroline Davis, York University graduate in kinesiology states that ADHD is more likely to become addicted to something. Davis compares ADHD to addictions which have the same symptoms. These symptoms can be magnified by digital apps. Charles P. Vega’s experiment found that ADHD symptoms appeared in an average of 9.5% of students who engaged in seven high-frequency activities on their phones. 10.5% of those who participated in all 14 activities were affected, compared to 4.6% who did not engage in any of these activities. This experiment revealed that 9.5% had been affected. However, only 4.6% were affected. People have become more dependent on cell phones, resulting in depression. Social media has grown to be influential platforms, from Six Degrees (the earliest social media platform) to Snapchat or Instagram. According to hootsuite paragraph 4, 45% of people use social media. Social media has been linked to depression in more people. Social media is more likely to affect girls than it is for boys. As it stands, teens are more vulnerable than ever and social media can make them feel even worse. Now that social media is so dominant, the chances of having in-person interaction with people are decreasing. People now don’t think about the future but how to make it presentable. Because most social interaction is via social media, people will spend a lot of time talking to others on their phones. Florida Behavioral Health Center’s study found that social media use and depression is linked. Social media has made eating disorders more common. Social media is used for communicating and posting information. The popularity of social media has led to many people sharing amazing things. This can lead to people feeling less confident in themselves, even though it wasn’t meant to. Feeling important is something everyone wants. This feeling is a constant, and it can cause one to either stop doing things or change their ways to conform to social media’s “standards”. AJ Dellinger is a writer, editor, reporter and states, “That feeling may also lead to a cycle: spending more time online makes you feel better about yourself, which makes it easier to use social media more often.” This is an indication of cell-phone addiction. The number of cell phones used has increased the risk of developing depression.

Cell phones have made anxiety rates rise dramatically. Anxiety, a mental disorder, is defined as excessive nervousness or paranoia. Cell phones allow us to be connected with anyone at any time. This can be both beneficial and harmful. It is possible to contact family and friends around the globe. This allows you to contact people even if you are not friends. This can cause fear in someone. This can cause anxiety and constant nervousness. Teens feel anxious when they aren’t on social media. Teens can worry about whether someone is speaking with them, or what important events are taking place. Sarah Fader’s article stated that nearly 20% of those with social media accounts can’t stay away from their accounts for more than three hours. (Fader Paragraph 2). Anxiety can result from being away for too long. Social media shows people’s best sides without showing their worst. This makes it easy to feel bad about yourself.

Although cell phones can be a negative thing, they can have positive physical effects. Cell phones are good for brain activity. The brain makes glucose to aid us in our daily activities. Glucose is a stimulant that improves cognition and makes it easier to remember things. Dr. Nora Volkow found that the brain used glucose (blood glucose) slightly more when the phone was on …”. The study found that your brain’s alertness is rising while you use your phone. Social media allows you to connect with people that you like. Humans feel connected when they are connected to others. Positive emotions can cause depression to reverse. Keith Hampton claims that social media has positive effects on depression. Positive effects of cell phones, especially those that are social media-based, can include increased brain activity, positive emotions, and even better sleep quality.

The psychological effects of cell phones have irreversible consequences for people psychologically. Mental disorders are the main cause of negative psychological effects. The most common disorders that are affected include anxiety and depression. Each day, more people are exposed to their insecurity and this is causing them to feel worse. Cellphone use can also lead to mental disorders like ADHD. Because cell phone use isn’t controlled, symptoms can worsen. Despite the negative side effects of cell phones, some people have experienced improved mental health. Positive cell phones can have positive effects on brain activity and emotions. Poor influences and the relationship between online and offline relationships have both had negative and beneficial effects on our health.

Works citées

Adams, Sue K, et al. “Adolescent Sleep and Cellular Phone Use: Recent Trends and Implications for Research.” Health Services Insights, Libertas Academica, 3 Oct. 2013, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4089837/#b6-hsi-6-2013-099.

Alyssa Alyssa, Banyan’s Director for Digital Marketing & Technology is the author. After her own addiction struggles, she is now a successful digital marketer and technology director at Banyan. “Are Social Media and Depression Linked: Florida Behavioral Health Center.” Behavioral Health Of The Palm Beaches, 19 July 2019, www.bhpalmbeach.com/are-depression-and-social-media-usage-linked/.

Brooks and Megan. Charles P. Vega. “Teen ADHD Associated With High Social Media Use.” Medscape, Medscape, 16 Aug. 2018, www.medscape.org/viewarticle/900587.

Davis, Caroline, et al. “Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Relation to Addictive Behaviors: a Moderated-Mediation Analysis of Personality-Risk Factors and Sex.” Frontiers in Psychiatry, Frontiers Media S.A., 20 Apr. 2015, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4403287/.

Dellinger, AJ. “A New Study of over 3,000 Teens Found a Link between Time Spent Online and Symptoms of Depression.” Mic, 15 July 2019, www.mic.com/p/social-media-use-depression-symptoms-linked-in-new-study-of-over-3000-teens-18198961.

Fader, Sarah, et al. “Social Media Obsession and Anxiety.” Anxiety and Depression Association of America, ADAA, Nov. 2018, adaa.org/social-media-obsession.

Felman, Adam. “Anxiety: Overview, Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments.” Medical News Today, MediLexicon International, 26 Oct. 2018, www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323454.php.

“Media & Eating Disorders.” National Eating Disorders Association, 22 Feb. 2018, www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/media-eating-disorders.

Neighmond, Patti. NPR. NPR. 14/03/2019. “A Rise in Depression Among Teens and Young Adults Could be Linked to Social Media Use.” NPR. 2019, www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2019/03/14/703170892/a-rise-in-depression-among-teens-and-young-adults-could-be-linked-to-social-medi.

Newberry, Christina. “130+ Social Media Statistics Which Matter to Marketers In 2019”, Hootsuite Social Media Management. Hootsuite.com, 13 Mar. 2019, blog.hootsuite.com/social-media-statistics-for-social-media-managers/.

Rao, Srinivas. “How Our Use of Social Media Fuels Envy, Comparison, Anxiety, and Depression.” Medium, Mission.org, 22 Oct. 2018, medium.com/the-mission/how-our-use-of-social-media-fuels-envy-comparison-anxiety-and-depression-538e4c87b963.

Skerrett, Patrick J. “Cell Phone Use Stimulates Brain Activity.” Harvard Health Blog, Harvard Health Publishing, 24 June 2016, www.health.harvard.edu/blog/cell-phone-use-stimulates-brain-activity-201102231548.

Walker, Tracey. “The Impact of Social Media on Mental Health.” Managed Healthcare Executive, MH Life Sciences, 12 July 2019, www.managedhealthcareexecutive.com/news/impact-social-media-mental-health.

Author

  • katebailey

    Kate Bailey is a 27-year-old educational blogger and volunteer and student. She is interested in educating others on various topics, and is passionate about helping others achieve their goals. She believes that education is the key to success, and hopes to share her knowledge with as many people as possible.

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