Do you Need a "Digital Detox"
By: Laurie Monteforte
Updated: February 4, 2013
Middle Smithfield Township, Monroe County - A Monroe County woman gave up her cell phone for two days as part of a "digital detox" experiment.
Technology can be overwhelming and some say addicting. "I do think I'm addicted to my cell phone." said Charise Henry of Middle Smithfield Township. She added, "I sleep with it next to me, I almost always have it by me. I check it frequently."
Henry may spend more time paying attention to her phone than to her husband, Jeff. He complained, "When I try to talk to her she doesn't pay attention or I have to be like 'hello.'"
Charise Faceboks furing films. She even texts behind the wheel."When someone texts me, I can't stop myself from responding," she explained.
But is there really such a thing as an internet addiction? Dr. Robert Morrow of Pocono Health System explained,"An addiction is an over use or dependence of either a substance such as drugs or alcohol, or in this case, what we are talking about is an activity."
Dr. Morrow said there is no official internet or social media addiction diagnosis.
However, Psychiatry experts are updating the "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders."
The new version, set to come out this spring, will list "Internet Use Disorder" as a possible condition recommended for further study.
But Dr. Morrow says you don't need a book to tell you if you need help. He said, "Whether or not it's an official diagnosis, if it's a problem, it's a problem."
The doctor noted that there are some addiction warning signs. You may need help if you use your internet or social media habit to avoid people or situations. Other signs include if your habit negatively impacts your relationships, you feel guilty about it, and your need for your technology increases as time passes.
Charise said she has felt some of those symptoms so she was willing to try a "digital detox." She gave Eyewitness News her phone for two days.
Would the digital detox be refreshing or depressing? Visit http://pahomepage.com/fulltext?nxd_id=314012 to see part two of the story.
Technology can be overwhelming and some say addicting. "I do think I'm addicted to my cell phone." said Charise Henry of Middle Smithfield Township. She added, "I sleep with it next to me, I almost always have it by me. I check it frequently."
Henry may spend more time paying attention to her phone than to her husband, Jeff. He complained, "When I try to talk to her she doesn't pay attention or I have to be like 'hello.'"
Charise Faceboks furing films. She even texts behind the wheel."When someone texts me, I can't stop myself from responding," she explained.
But is there really such a thing as an internet addiction? Dr. Robert Morrow of Pocono Health System explained,"An addiction is an over use or dependence of either a substance such as drugs or alcohol, or in this case, what we are talking about is an activity."
Dr. Morrow said there is no official internet or social media addiction diagnosis.
However, Psychiatry experts are updating the "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders."
The new version, set to come out this spring, will list "Internet Use Disorder" as a possible condition recommended for further study.
But Dr. Morrow says you don't need a book to tell you if you need help. He said, "Whether or not it's an official diagnosis, if it's a problem, it's a problem."
The doctor noted that there are some addiction warning signs. You may need help if you use your internet or social media habit to avoid people or situations. Other signs include if your habit negatively impacts your relationships, you feel guilty about it, and your need for your technology increases as time passes.
Charise said she has felt some of those symptoms so she was willing to try a "digital detox." She gave Eyewitness News her phone for two days.
Would the digital detox be refreshing or depressing? Visit http://pahomepage.com/fulltext?nxd_id=314012 to see part two of the story.
