Withdrawal symptoms may seem similar to those of drug addicts, but increasingly, psychologists have observed these addiction symptoms in people who use devices like smartphones and tablets.
And as more and more households now have a tablet, many children may become addicted. In April, a story was published about a 4-year-old girl who was seeing a therapist to help her kick her iPad addiction
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V), sometimes referred to as the "Bible" of psychiatrists, has officially added online gaming as a mental disorder, although it is still under review.
Symptoms can range from physical to losing touch with the outside world. Here are seven signs that a child who is addicted to the iPad may show:
Removal
Withdrawal from heroin or alcohol can cause headaches and dizziness, but device addiction has physical symptoms too. In a 2011 study, researchers asked 1,000 college students around the world to give up their smartphones or other mobile devices that connect to the internet for 24 hours. Many reported symptoms like anxiety and depression; one anonymous student said he felt like he was itching like a bedbug.
If your child is irritable, anxious, or sad after you take away their iPad, then they may have an unhealthy attachment to the device.
Tolerance
If the child is addicted, he will want to play with the device more and more, so if he once played for 20 minutes and that was enough for him and now he forgets about it after hours, there is probably a problem.
Loss of Interest
If children once enjoyed playing soccer or other outdoor games with their friends and have now lost interest and prefer to play games on the tablet, then there may still be a problem.
Lack of Control
It is well known that young children are not known for their self-control. Children who have problems have real crises when their parents take away their mobile devices.
On the other hand, parents of young children should be able to set limits for their children.
Deception
Have you found your child hiding under the table or bed playing their favorite toy? This is another "bell" that tells you that the child is trying to find a hiding place, that is, a way to avoid family members in order to have more time with their favorite device.
Troubleshooting
Addicts often use a substance or activity to escape a negative mood or feeling.
Children who use the iPad to avoid dealing with sadness, anxiety, or other negative emotions could be in trouble. For example, if a child picks up the iPad right after a fight with a family member, they may be avoiding dealing with these negative emotions by using the tablet.
Loss of Opportunities
Losing important relationships, failing at school, or underperforming at work are all signs of addiction.
For all these symptoms, it is important to note that mentally healthy children, especially young ones, have a slight obsession with every new activity.
In young children, if parents set limits, these consequences of excessive use can be avoided. The fact that a parent cannot take the device away from a three-year-old does not mean that the child has a problem, but that the parent has a problem with saying no.
If parents cannot impose themselves on a baby then they should equip themselves with courage for adolescence.
