I'm addicted. To my mobile phone. I'm possessive about it. And don't let it out of my sight, or hand, for more than a few seconds. I message, hate calling (it heats up my ears) and have withdrawal symptoms even if I'm away for five minutes. Have I missed a call, do I have an unread sms? Gosh.
Francisca Lopez Torrecillas, a lecturer at the department of personality and psychological assessment and treatment of the University of Granada, surveyed several 18 to 25-year-olds. Torrecillas says mobile addicts 'can become totally upset when deprived of their mobile phones for some time, regardless of the reason. Switching off their phones causes them anxiety, irritability; sleep disorders or sleeplessness, and even shivering and digestive problems.' Sweden's Sahlgren Academy also found that adolescents who made more than 15 phone calls and sent more than 15 text messages in a day not only slept poorly, but when compared to kids who made did the same less than five times a day, they were also leading more careless lifestyles, including spending more time on their computers, drinking more alcohol and caffeinated drinks.
Woah. I haven't thankfully got to that, though I'm sure I'm pretty close. All of us would be able to point out to the mobile phone 'addict' among us. But can we recognise the symptoms when it happens to us. Here's a short checklist. See how many you tick off.
- You can't get through dinner at a restaurant without sending text messages or pounding out a note on the Blackberry.
- You compulsively check for voice mail or new text messages and are irritated when you don't receive any.
- If your mobile phone stays silent for some time, you get worried and check to make sure you haven't set it wrong.
- You often mistake the ringing of other people's phones as that of your own and tend to be bad-tempered.
- There's a need to continually buy the 'lastest model' with advanced features
- You feel anxiety when you're away from the phone.
If most of this sounds like you, then you are well and truly addicted. Might explain why people who 'forgot' to check their messages over the weekend, or switch off their mobile post 8 pm irritate you so much.
Many years ago, British Telecom launched a campaign to encourage users to switch off their phones more. The Switch It campaign promoted the "sensible, considerate and responsible use of mobile phones". Would we be able to do something like that? Just switch off our phones and relax.
Most of my friends are like me, always on the phone. If we're meeting up for a coffee, the cell phones occupy prime place on the table instead of being shoved into the bag, if we're out shopping, its sunglasses, shopping bags, wallets and a phone in our hands. Even in a movie hall, most of us message to update friends on what a bad or what a rocking film it is.
Perhaps it's something to do with always wanting to stay in touch. Switching off is then like cutting off blood supply and only the really brave attempt it. But unlike the life support system, turning this one off might actually bring you back to life.
1 comment:
I'm really shocked with survey results - anxiety, irritability; sleep disorders or sleeplessness, and even shivering and digestive problems. it seems Mobile is become part of us rather our body.
I actually used to feel "How can a person live without a mobile" but i seen a person very closely who does not have mobile. He's a dean and director of an media institute. He manages his work, personal life & other activities much better than most of us.
I tried something like that and really enjoyed that day. (It was difficult to get contact nos, but i managed somehow) and that day I understood why parents always used to shout - Phones are for messages and not for chatting!
Post a Comment