The world today is running on the platform of technology. The Internet has taken the world by storm, and it’s impossible to escape. Although the web has a lot of good to offer, it also comes with its own disadvantages. The digitization of everything is making man a slave of the internet. Staying away from smartphones and laptops is becoming next to impossible. There’s no doubt that all this is affecting our physical health but it has more of an impact on our mental well-being.
I am here to talk to you about ‘technology anxiety’ the new age mental disorder which is becoming a grave concern in today’s world.
You can have a quick glance about anxiety in the digital age in the following infographic.
Technology anxiety consists of two types
Technostress
When newly introduced technology causes tension to an individual, it is called technostress. This leads to increase in anxiety where the person becomes extremely frustrated as he/she is not able to adapt themselves to the new technology
Disconnectivity Anxiety
Social media has left us glued to our phones. Disconnectivity anxiety is the unpleasant condition accompanied by worry when you are disconnected from social media or technology in general. Online presence has become a matter of extreme importance. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Whatsapp are deciding a person’s status, and unfortunately, it all adds more stress.
What does Anxiety do to you?
Anxiety can break you little by little if you don’t treat it. Technology anxiety can be easily identified as it causes a number of physical as well as mental symptoms.
Anxiety Pointers
- Flushed or pale skin.
- An increase or decrease in body temperature
- Fatigue and exhaustion
- Racing heart
Some symptoms which you will experience mentally are,
- Difficulty in concentration
- Fear
- Short-term Memory loss
- Difficulty in learning new things
Are you able to relate to them as well? Don’t worry if it’s a yes. A significant portion of people are experiencing technology anxiety in today’s world, and not many are aware of it.
How does it start?
Excessive worry
Anxiety starts with excessive worrying. You get anxious thoughts which begin to interfere with your daily life and lead to fatigue. The difference between normal worrying and anxiety is that in case of the latter you will not be able to carry on with your day to day activities as these anxious thoughts are clouding your mind.
Lack of sleep
The next thing that happens is having difficulty falling asleep. In general anxiety disorder, you will find yourself staying awake and getting worried about things. There may be times where you will be concerned about specific problems like money and sometimes it might be nothing in particular.
In technology anxiety, you will not be able to fall asleep without using your smart phones at least for a couple of hours. Social media addiction is the key reason for this.
Indigestion
There is no doubt that anxiety begins with the mind, but it can slowly creep into your body. Chronic indigestion problems which can lead to stomach aches, cramps all happen due to anxiety. It can even result in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) which can cause constipation.
Social withdrawal
Technology anxiety keeps you detached from the real world and makes you busy in your virtual life. The number of likes and retweets have become a reason for people’s happiness. All this results in people having difficulty in mingling with others even though they have 1000 friends on social media
Panic Attacks
This is perhaps the most hard hitting sign of anxiety. A panic attack is that gripping feeling of fear and helplessness accompanied by physical symptoms such as difficulty in breathing and a racing heart.
Not everyone who has panic attacks is suffering from anxiety. For some, it might be a short term worry which has triggered those attacks.
What Can You Do About It
Unplug Yourself
The best way to keep technology anxiety in check is to unplug yourself from technology once in a while. If you are already addicted to technology, this might seem very difficult in the beginning. Start with turning off notifications from all social media platforms.
8-hour Shuteye Time
Proper sleep can keep a lot of diseases at bay. Make your bedroom a no-phone zone. Stop using all electronic devices at least an hour before you hit the bed. This way the sleep hormone melatonin is secreted in the right amount, and it signals the brain that it’s time to sleep.
No More Alone-time
When you are alone, you end up using your phone more. Avoid such situations and leave your smartphone back home and meet some friends. Spend some quality time with them talking about old memories and other things that interest you.
There are many other ways you can overcome technology anxiety. A leisurely walk, yoga, and mindfulness are some proven techniques that can help you.
Source: Nootrina.com
Author: Mandy Kloppers
Mandy is a qualified therapist who treats depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, trauma, and many other types of mental health issues. She provides online therapy around the world for those needing support and also provides relationship counselling.
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