There are people who take technology addiction lightly because they do not think of it as being a true addiction. They assume that anyone can turn off a device and carry about their business if they really want to. This isn’t always the case, though. There are many people who are addicted to technology and aren’t able to control their usage on their own. This is where professional help is sometimes needed. It’s important to know how serious technology addiction can be. The following guide walks you through a few negative things technology addiction can cause in someone’s life.
Physical Issues
When someone becomes addicted to technology, they often have the urge to focus on it more than anything else. Some people develop neck or back issues from hunching over to look at their phones or computers. Headaches and eye strain are common due to staring at the screens for hours on end. Some people also develop internal issues, such as bladder infections, because they attempt to hold their need to urinate for as long as possible to avoid taking a break from their technology. People who are constantly on their phones even develop issues within their thumbs from constant texting and scrolling.
Psychological Issues
People who are constantly checking their social media can become depressed from it. They get a sense of value from people liking or sharing their posts. They become fearful that they will miss out on an event if they aren’t able to constantly check their accounts. There are people who develop eating disorders because of the harsh criticism they get online.
This form of addiction can also cause anger or aggression to develop. When someone dedicates hours of their day to beat a game only to lose, it can seem devastating to them. Some people act on the rage and break things or scream in anger at everyone around them. Not being able to beat a game can also cause a sense of worthlessness and depression. They feel that if they aren’t good enough to beat a game, they won’t be good enough for anything else in life.
Technology Addiction Can Cause Hygiene Issues
Someone who is addicted to technology sometimes overlooks proper hygienic care. They worry about playing a game or staying on social media more than showering or even brushing their teeth. This can cause hygiene issues to arise, such as acne, foul body odor or even dental issues. Failing to bathe regularly can also lead to fungus growing on the body. Athlete’s foot, jock itch and even patches of dry skin can occur when someone goes a long time without cleaning their body. It’s important for someone to be able to take care of their body at all times. If someone has become so dedicated to a form of technology that they aren’t taking care of themselves properly, they may be suffering from an addiction to it.
Social Issues can Develop with Technology Addiction
Many people use technology as a way to escape from their everyday life. They may feel more comfortable talking to people online than talking to them in person. This can help some people to be able to grow confidence in themselves so that they can build personal relationships with people in their real life. For others, it can cause them to become even more withdrawn. They focus solely on their internet relationships and no longer worry about making friends in real life. This can be detrimental because they lose their social skills. It’s important to be able to carry on a conversation or go to social gatherings for many professions. If someone becomes so withdrawn from life that they can’t hold a normal conversation, they could limit their career options in the future.
Relationship Issues and Technology Addiction
When someone becomes obsessed with technology, they often neglect the people in their lives. This can cause many relationships to become strained. If someone is married or in a relationship and starts spending a lot of time online, it can make their spouse question the stability of their relationship. It could make their spouse feel as though the person is cheating emotionally. It can be very difficult to get a relationship strong if both parties are getting the attention that they need.
Marriages aren’t the only relationships that suffer when a technology addiction occurs. Many family relationships, such as the relationship between children and their parents can suffer too. Children can feel as though their parents are unfair or not understanding if they attempt to limit technology usage. This can create a divide between the two that can be difficult to overcome.
Financial Issues
Addiction to technology can cause someone to feel as though they cannot go without something. They may feel as though they need to have the latest gadget, game, or device. They will be willing to do anything that it takes to get the item that they seek. This can lead to financial issues because the person may forgo paying their bills to get the items that they want to buy. This means that they could get very deep into debt. Some people end up ruining their credit score because they go so deep into debt due to technology addiction.
If you feel that you or someone you love may suffer from a technology addiction, there is help available. The first thing that you should do is try to limit the technology usage. If you find that the person can easily limit themselves, they may not be addicted. If they aren’t able to limit themselves, they may need professional help. There are treatment facilities available that offer technology addiction treatment resources. The person may need to separate him or herself from technology altogether for a period of time. Some people simply need to be guided on how to use technology in a healthy way. Either way, determining what type of help someone needs and supporting them to get it is the best way you can help someone recover from their addiction.