Smartphones

Addicted to Your Phone? It May Be Impulse Control Disorder

Addicted to Your Phone? It May Be Impulse Control Disorder

The post is developed in partnership with BetterHelp.

More and more of us are spending increasing amounts of time on our smartphones. Whether it’s for business or pleasure, these little computers in our pockets have truly become what feels like an indispensable item.

But at what point does it become an addiction? Can you be addicted to your phone? And if so, why are some people more likely to become addicted than others?

The answer may lie in something known as impulse control disorder. Read on to learn more about impulse control disorder and how it may help explain our collective addiction to our phones. You’ll also learn the signs that may signal a phone addiction. Fortunately, there are ways to break free from this dependency.

Impulse Control Disorder

A person with an impulse control disorder, according to the website of the American Addiction Centers, will generally have difficulty maintaining control over their behaviors and emotions.

Common examples of impulse control disorder include shopping addiction, pyromania, kleptomania, conduct disorder, and oppositional defiant disorder.

As these examples should make clear, an impulse control disorder may end up affecting many more people than just ourselves. After all, if you’re constantly on your phone, chances are that you’re sometimes ignoring the people that are in your life—really in your life, i.e. physically with you.

Although impulse control disorders can be difficult to manage, there’s plenty of helpful advice on the topic to be found online nowadays: https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/impulse-control-disorder/

Signs You May Be Addicted to your Phone

Here are four signs that may signal your phone addiction.

Your Relationships are Suffering

Have you had one or more relationship suffer because of your phone habits? Do you spend less time than you should with family or friends because you’re always on your phone?

If you find that you’re more glued to your screen than your loved ones, it’s quite likely that you have developed a phone addiction.

You Can’t Stop Reaching for Your Phone

If you genuinely can’t stop yourself from reaching for your phone, it may be time to consider that you have a problem. While many of us often spend excessive time on our devices, a total inability to stay off it is not a good sign.

Your Phone Has Become a Way to Cope 

If your phone serves as a coping mechanism, that’s another critical sign that you may have developed a dependency on it. While scrolling on your phone may help distract you from your problems, it may, ironically, end up making you feel even worse.

Addictions are often a sign that someone is coping with physical and/or emotional pain. But if your phone has become your outlet, consider other, healthier options like exercise or a hobby.

Your Overall Quality of Life Is Suffering

To be classified a disorder, it needs to be significantly disrupting the quality of your life. If you feel like your overall quality of life is suffering due to your phone habits, then it’s a surefire sign that it’s reached the level of an addiction.

Help is available, however. If you fear you may have a full-blown addiction, it’s best to see someone about it. Another good idea would be to do a social media “detox” and delete those apps for at least a month.

Conclusion

Our phones have become vital for every aspect of our lives, whether involving school, work, or our social life. But there can be too much of a good thing, and constantly being on your phone is likely to diminish your overall wellbeing. The above signs can help you determine if you may have a problem and, if so, consider changing your habits sooner rather than later.

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you accept our use of cookies.