How many times have you heard the expression “without a cell phone I am nothing, my life is my cell phone?” I guess immensity of times, but you have really stopped to think what does this expression mean? This is the right moment, for you to think and realize, if you are suffering from nomophobia, in addition, it is transcendental that you can take the next step and conclude, if the use of your cell phone is a necessity or dependence?
Advancement of the New Cellular Technology
Currently, it is no secret to anyone that the cell phone has become an extensive tool of the daily work of the Human Being, and even, for some individuals, it has become indispensable, bringing as a result, addiction and unexpected and alarming changes in consumption habits.
If you go back in written and verbal history, you will realize that the cell phone was born as a means of communication, urgent and basic ; However, from that time until today, the cell phone has become an object of a personal nature, with multiple functionalities and accessories, rapidly surpassing any social class, geographical location, economic position and age . There is a cell phone for any type of person!
In the current market, companies dedicated to the trade of cellular devices and accessories, increasingly and in a hurried way, integrate more functionalities to the so-called smartphones, receiving up to 9.0 points out of 10.0 points possible, that is, according to established qualification standards., they are delivering us as an end product, an almost perfect cell phone . You see why there are people who do not release their cell phone or to go to the bathroom?
Without a doubt, the advancement of cellular technology is an excessively transcendental achievement . The only thing that the cell phones of our time need is that they be able to physically transport you where the person you are calling is. In some countries of South America, when a cell phone is being presented to a friend, it is always answered with amazement and as a joke "he only lacks the bathroom", imagine if they had it , nobody would let him go!
Well, the idea is to convey to you, that the technological growth of smartphones is wonderful, amazing and of exquisite utility, but you have to understand, that they must be used, paraphrasing Aristotle in his work “Moral a Nicómaco”, in his “fair medium ”, precisely, when it refers to the choice between two extremes. Metaphorically, that the representative scale of justice is always in a balanced way, that it will never be uneven.
The Cellular need or dependence?
The North American Research Center Pew Research Center, in 2012, published a survey of North American adults using cell phones. You're going to be stunned! The result: 63% of women and 73% men surveyed cannot spend a continuous hour without checking their cell phone . It is amazing! Is it true? Imagine what would be the result of that same survey, if it were applied to the people of our world today?
I invite you to do this exercise together. Think, if when you go out somewhere, the first thing you pack is your cell phone ; Or maybe you sleep with him by his side and during the night you check it, you observe it unconsciously and automatically, and when you wake up it is the first thing you inspect . When you don't know who's calling and you can't answer, do you feel anxiety and despair? When developing physical exercise tasks, do you constantly check it, and even if you go to the bathroom, do you take it with you? If your answers are positive in their entirety, it seems, you may be suffering from dependence on your cell phone, the medical and scientific community, call this phenomenon, nomophobia .
On the other hand, if you use your cell phone to make urgent and important calls, solve situations of your work, take photos on your vacation, and when you separate from it, you don't feel nervous, anxious and stressed, you are simply s using your cell phone out of necessity and strictly for what is necessary.
Dr. Javier Garc s Prieto, Bachelor of Psychology and Law, expert in Consumer Psychology and addictions, states that, in obsessive cases, in which the dependency creates anxiety attacks, panic and irritability, the difference with the need, is quite clear. He assures that, in medium anxiety attacks, the difference is poor, but not exclusive. This implies that the criterion is not exclusively in the time that you can spend in front of your cell phone, but also, in the causes and percussions that its use may entail . So that there is only need, at no time, anxiety, panic or irritability can be generated.
José Antonio Molina del Peral, Psychologist and Spanish Therapist, indicates that people who show social skills deficit, those who have depressive symptoms, or are insecure and introverted, usually feel more comfortable and happy interacting with other people through technological means, taking refuge in the cell phone, the computer, among others. The more functionalities the smartphone possesses, the more dependent time the person will use.
In Spain, according to recent research and publications, published in several newspapers, talk about cell phone dependence, such as the disease of the 21st century . The most serious! In populations aged 14 to 33, the number of teenagers and young people who manipulate a cell phone tends to increase.
I give you a recommendation to apply in your life. Technology is exaggeratedly powerful and provides useful services, however, you must remain aware, so that you identify those harmful realities and self-regulate the use of your cell phone, not that the cell phone dominates you and totally manipulates you.
Detect symptoms, and intervene possible cell addictions
Clearly, in concise words, I want to list some symptoms or realities that you can observe in your life as a cell phone user, and if it is the case, stop so that you are not a slave more than your cell phone, becoming totally dependent.
First, examine where you use your cell phone. If you take it with you and use it even in the bathroom, stop on your way and count the places you frequent with your cell phone .
Then, see if the use of the cell phone is causing disturbance in normal and calm sleep habits . If when you wake up it is the first thing you observe, or at night, until what hours do you remain attached to your cell phone? Moreover, during the night, do you constantly check your cell phone? Examine yourself!
Third, if you feel stress, nervousness, worry and anguish, when you do not have your smartphone, or the battery is running out, it is a clear signal that you could be dependent on your cell phone.
eye! If they get your attention because you get distracted by your cell phone, be very careful! You should find a way to correct this symptom.
The fifth symptom, if you notice that you automatically check your cell phone, wait anxiously for messages to arrive, or check applications without having initially wanted it, think well! Following this symptom, if your accounts get too high due to consumption of minutes, data or messages, you must create an alert in your life with the use of your cell phone.
If in a personal way "face to face" you do not like to be intimate with other people, but through the chat or a phone call, of some application of your cell phone, if you get ready and communicate easily, it is possible that you are facing another Symptom of addiction and dependence on your cell phone.
As you have observed, this is a broad, varied and complex issue, for now, I want you to know the symptoms of a possible addiction or dependence on your cell phone, and its intervention . Remember that you are worth a lot and you are everything as a person without a cell phone!
Author : William Hern n Estrada P rez, Editor of the Great Family of hermandadblanca.org
