“Is Your Smartphone Secretly Fueling Your Anxiety? A Professor Reveals the Surprising Habit You Must Break!”

Let’s be honest—who hasn’t found themselves spiraling into the abyss of doom-scrolling at 2 a.m.? Between cat videos and endless memes, it’s easy to lose track of time and sanity! But here’s the kicker: our obsession with our smartphones might be more than just a guilty pleasure; it can lead to some serious anxiety, a phenomenon bizarrely labeled as ‘nomophobia’—the fear of being without your phone. I mean, haven’t we all felt a twinge of panic when we can’t find our beloved devices? As more than half of the globe grapples with this anxiety-inducing condition, it raises the question: how did we become so attached to these little screens? In this article, we’ll dive into the signs that you might be suffering from nomophobia, explore its impact on our mental well-being, and share practical tips on reclaiming your time from the clutches of your phone. Trust me, stepping away from that screen could be your best decision today! LEARN MORE.

We all know that too much time on our phones and devices is no good for our mental health, which is why it’s important to schedule regular screen breaks and avoid the dreaded ‘doom-scrolling’.

In fact, there’s even something called ‘nomophobia‘ which is essentially the fear of being without your mobile phone.

Nomophobia can stir up feelings of anxiety or irritability when a person can’t use or access their phone, as well as the intense need to check their device frequently.

Too much time on our mobile phones can be bad for our health (Getty Stock Image)

“It is very difficult to differentiate whether the patient becomes Nomophobic due to mobile phone addiction or existing anxiety disorders manifest[ed] as Nomophobic symptoms,” a study titled, NOMOPHOBIA: NO MObile PHone PhoBIA suggests.

With around 66 percent of the world population showing signs of nomophobia, here are five signs you could be suffering from the condition, according to Time To Log Off:

1) You feel anxious when your phone battery gets low

2) You can’t leave the house without your smartphone

3) You feel annoyed when you can’t access your phone

4) You put your life or others’ lives at risk to check your smartphone

5) You use your phone to check for work updates while on holiday

Experts have warned against having two mobile phones (Getty Stock Image)

Now, a professor specialising in psychology has explained how one particular habit could be causing major anxiety among phone users – and it makes total sense.

David Sheffield, professor of psychology at the University of Derby, believes that having two devices – for example, a phone for work and a phone for personal use – could be linked with anxiety.

Many of us try to separate our work lives by having two phones. After all, it makes sense that switching from one device to another could help encourage a work-life balance, rather than causing any hindrance to our mental health.

However, some experts disagree.

“If you are more neurotic you might be using your phone more and may be more concerned about battery life,” Professor Sheffield told the Daily Mail.

Meanwhile, Maxi Heitmayer, researcher of human-computer interactions at the London School of Economics, added: “Many people seem to feel an expectation of being reachable all the time, both professionally and privately.

“This then leads to the unfortunate scenario where there’s two devices that draw in and compete for attention.”

There are steps you can take to reduce your phone usage (Getty Stock Image)

If you’re worried about your phone use, there are certain steps you can take.

For example, setting app limits, leaving your phone in another room, and spending more time outdoors are all ways you can overcome your addiction.