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  City doctors warn of growing cellphone addiction

City doctors warn of growing cellphone addiction

Published : May 9, 2016, 7:35 am IST
Updated : May 9, 2016, 7:35 am IST

Nomophobia, the fear of losing cellphones, has a negative impact on mental health as doctors claimed that they have noticed behavioural changes in people who are extremely dependant on their cellphone

Nomophobia, the fear of losing cellphones, has a negative impact on mental health as doctors claimed that they have noticed behavioural changes in people who are extremely dependant on their cellphones.

One in every 10 Indians has psychological problems due to smartphone addiction. Dr Rajeev Mehta, consultant psychiatrist at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, said, “Smartphone dependency has increased in the last few years. Today, a 6-year-old also knows the difference between a smartphone and a normal phone. The children have become addicted to playing games on mobile phones and as a result it can hamper their physical activities, leading to obesity.”

Smartphone addiction also leads to lack of concentration and shifting of attention from academics, the psychiatrist added.

Citing an example if a patient, a Class 12 student, Dr Mehta said: “His addiction to smartphone hampered his studies. He flunked in the exam. As his parents observed behavioural changes in him, timely counselling was given to the patient. And now, he is responding well.” The only solution to this problem is switching off the cellphone for a few hours, he added.

The changes in behaviour are at times so subtle that many users don’t realise the reason behind feeling stressed and disoriented, said the doctors, ad-ding that the “cellphone lifestyle” is taking its toll on young people as well as adolescents, affecting their health and well-being.

“There was a time when cases of behavioural changes were found in technologically-advanced countries like South Korea, but today it has become the cause of concern for Indians too,” said Dr Nand Kumar, additional professor in the AIIMS department of psychiatry.

Dr Kumar said he comes across several patients who cannot imagine their life without cellphones. “I have recently come across patients for whom life without their cellphone is unimaginable,” he said.

Location: India, Delhi, New Delhi