Sleep and concentration problems, irritability, anxiety, lack of motivation and work or academic performance, loss of self-confidence… These are some of the consequences of techno-stress, a change associated with the abuse of mobile phones and social networks. this psychology acts to give an answer

As Francisca López Torrecillas, Professor of the Department, explained to EFE, it is a new addiction that fundamentally affects young people and in some cases replaces others that were ever more prevalent in this population, such as consumption of alcohol, tobacco or cannabis. She is a member of the Department of Personality, Assessment and Psychological Therapy and the Mind, Brain and Behavior Research Center at the University of Granada.

One thing seems clear, although the approach to this mental health disorder presents psychologists with new challenges, given that it is a relatively new type of addiction as it is linked to the appearance of social networks: «Unlike what happens in addictions. Items in which the problem is denied have a more positive recognition by those who suffer from them in these situations».

What makes it easier is the likelihood that the person will receive treatment for this change, which has worsened as a result of the pandemic, as well as other mental health problems.

López Torrecillas, a member of the team responsible for all things mental health in the Granada university community, admits students seeking help with their networking problems: “First of all, they state that they spend too much time (on them)”.

“The problem is more with social networks where you expose yourself and live in a storefront than with WhatsApp,” he explains, “and it’s very difficult to separate the use of mobile phone from addiction to networks,” since it’s often accessed by phone.

This leads to a distinction between three types of changes: technostress, nomophobia and cell phone addiction, ‘definitions of the same problem are taken from three different angles’.

The first is a negative emotional state resulting from the overuse of information and communication technologies, ultimately of social networks, and the difficulty of managing these virtual situations.

Nomophobia is an irrational fear of not being able to communicate or use a mobile phone, and mobile addiction is the continuation of abusive behavior despite the negative consequences it brings.

But what they all have in common is the negative emotions they produce: intense anxiety, irritability, anguish, irritability, loss of self-confidence, lack of motivation at work or in usual activities, problems with work and academic performance, conflicts. impairment in interpersonal relationships, memory and concentration difficulties, or decision making.

As a result, if those who suffer from these addictions sometimes give up or continue other activities, they can no longer live as pleasantly as before, social relationships deteriorate and emotional problems arise.

According to López Torrecillas, the suggestions that work are simple: create a list of alternative activities that are rewarding, such as exercising without a cell phone, going to the movies with friends or playing sports with a group, pursuing hobbies or meeting face-to-face. boredom with “optimism and good humor”.

And think of everyday problems as challenges: “Sometimes like waves that we jump over well and sometimes drag us down, but if we keep jumping over them, we’ll get better and better,” he concludes.