Addiction to new technologies: symptoms, causes and treatment

Smartphones, tablets and other similar devices can generate dependence.

In today's age, technological advances come in a relatively short period of time, and for many people this represents the need to constantly keep up to date with these advances.

In this article we will see what are the main characteristics of addiction to new technologies, we will talk about how it can arise.In this article we will talk about how this type of need can arise in people, and the most effective forms of treatment in these cases.

What is the addiction to new technologies?

The addiction to the new technologies is a strong need of the subject to be kept interacting with electronic devices. associated with interconnected digital platforms, which allow access to the Internet either through smartphone apps or computer programs.

Generally, in addition to needing to be connected to the web, the subject needs devices that meet specific parameters, so that they can provide a more complete experience in terms of the content they could access.

The main digital elements that can be the basis of an addiction to new technologies are two: the use of video games (especially those with online multiplayer), on the one hand, and the use of social networks.on the other.

Although these two electronic elements in themselves do not harm mental health, depending on the way in which one interacts with them, alterations such as addiction to new technologies can arise. In other words, this type of disorder does not lie in the use of video games or social networks, but in certain ways of getting used to using them (and in certain personal predispositions).

Main symptoms of this addictive behavior

There is a whole range of addictions, each with its own characteristics and symptoms. All represent an irrational need of the individual to have access to some thing or activity. or activity. There will be differences depending on what is the trigger of the subject's addictive behavior.

In the case of addiction to new technologies, the symptoms will be the following.

Compulsive need for information

Subjects with this type of addiction feel a strong need to be constantly informed, especially about topics related to what is interesting in their social circle.

2. Need for cutting-edge technological gadgets

As the addiction to new technologies becomes more intense, it is not enough for the subject to satisfy his need for information through any device, but he will need one that provides him with the latest theological advances in order to feel that he is satisfying his need for information. will need one that provides him with the latest theological advances to feel that he is satisfying his need for information..

3. Tendency to isolation

People who have become addicted to new technologies become relatively isolated from physical social contact. relatively detached from physical social contact. This means that they can socialize quietly through their electronic devices, thanks to their profiles in social networks, but the personal coexistence is a nuisance for them, or a source of stress.

4. Technology dependence

These subjects focus all their attention and resources on keeping up to date with technological advances in all aspects. This situation represents a limitation with respect to dealing with situations outside the context of the screens..

For example, a technology addict may be very efficient when performing activities through a smart device, but if it is necessary for him to do something in another context the subject will be unable to do it with the same efficiency. In the most intense cases of this addiction, he/she may even be unable to perform the task without the help of the technology.

5. Problems concentrating

People who experience these problems are easily distracted by thoughts of what might be going on in those digital worlds they would like to be connected to at that moment.. This makes it difficult for them to focus on tasks that have nothing to do with this form of entertainment. As a result, they often do not pay attention when talking to others, they often postpone their responsibilities, etc.

6. Irritability

In turn, spending many hours without using these electronic devices causes these people to become moody and begin to experience anxiety.

Causes

In general terms, addictions are the product of a distortion in the subject's reward system, which can result in aThis can derive in a failure at an organic level.

When we begin to practice an activity compulsively, or adopt new habits that generate satisfaction, our brain secretes a neurotransmitter known as serotonin (the hormone of happiness). The more time we spend doing that activity without spending time on other activities, the higher the amounts of serotonin we secrete, the more serotonin our brain secretes, the greater the amounts of serotoninthus contributing to the fact that we become more and more dependent.

Treatments

There are basically two ways to treat the anxiety that arises when we stop using these devices so much. Firstly, there is psychotherapy; which consists of sessions with a professional psychologist where the emphasis will be on the emotional part of the subject and on the psychic causes that can trigger the anxious behavior in the person. where the emphasis will be on the emotional part of the subject and on the psychic causes that may trigger anxious behavior in the person.

Throughout the psychotherapy process, the person learns to apply new habits to daily life that lead the person to adopt a more active role and away from the screens, without letting them "fill" all their dead time and the moments when they do not know what to do. For this purpose, cognitive techniques cognitive-behavioral techniques are mainly used..

In second place there are the medicines, which only must be used when it has been determined that the main cause of the anxiety is of organic origin, and always under medical supervision. Similarly, in these cases ideally, medication should be used in conjunction with psychotherapy processes.. In any case, medication should always be prescribed by a physician.

Some of the most commonly used drugs for cases of anxiety are the following:

• Antidepressants.
• Benzodiazepines.
• Buspirone.
• Beta-blockers.
• Antihistamines.

Bibliographical references:

• American Psychiatric Association (APA). (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing.
• Vocci, F. J.; Acri, J; Elkashef, A. (2005). Medication development for addictive disorders: the state of the science. American Journal of Psychiatry (162): pp. 1431 - 1440.
• Salamone, J. D. (1992). Motor and sensorimotor function of the striatum and accumbens dopamine complex: Involvement in instrumental behavioral processes. Psychopharmacology (107): pp. 160 - 174.
• Sydor A, Brown RY. Molecular Neuropharmacology: A Foundation for Clinical Neuroscience (2nd ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill Medical.