Screen addiction in adolescence is more common than one might think.
Mary Jo Vanden Wymelenberg, a therapist with Emplify Health Behavioral Health, says that addiction is real, but there are ways to overcome it.
Screentime negatively affects someone’s health by causing a reduction of gray matter in the prefrontal cortex of their brain.
The loss of this gray matter leads to a greater risk of depression, anxiety, ADHD, and suicidality.
Vanden Wymelenberg says that the reason these devices become so addicting to us is because of how they were designed.
They were created to be engaging and give the user a small burst of dopamine.
The user will continue to go back to the device to receive that hit of dopamine again.
If you can’t tell if you or a loved one is suffering from screen addiction, here are some signs: compulsive usage, prioritizing the device over other parts of your life, and lying about your usage amounts.
If you find that you or someone you know has screen addiction, Vander Wymelenberg has ways to help.
She suggests cognitive behavioral therapy, a therapy that looks into a person’s behavior and changes the ones that negatively impact their life.
In this day and age, screen usage is a necessity. Despite this, users need to make sure that they are using their devices safely and responsibly.
Fighting addiction will always be a struggle, but Bellin Health is here to help.
For more information, or to talk to a specialist about a suspected case of screen addiction, visit bellin.org.
