Although we might deny it, many of us are intensely attached to our smartphone, and spend way too much time online or on social media. Although not formally recognised as a disease, digital addiction is a growing area of concern – even in the Caribbean. Clinical Neuropsychologist, Dr Rodney Stewart, sheds some light on digital addition: key signs and symptoms of which we should be aware; its connection to other illnesses; and his advice if we are concerned that someone might be addicted.

 

This episode is also available in Apple iTunes and on Stitcher!

Are you addicted to your smartphone? If you (somehow) forget your phone at home and you are quite some distance away, do you turn back to get it? Do you wake up in the middle of the night to check your messages, or to go online? If you hear an alert or notification, do you feel compelled to check it? Is your phone the first thing you check when you wake up?

Although you might have answered ‘no’ for the first question, did you also answer no for the rest?

In this episode, we will be discussing addiction, and specifically, digital addiction.

In September 2018, the World Health Organisation officially recognised gaming disorder as a disease. Whilst this recognition does not yet extend to smartphones, for example, or to areas such as social media, or to broader Internet activity, it has been long recognised that those media do have addictive qualities. Consequently, research is beginning to suggest that we might need to be more vigilant with respect to our online activity.

In order to get a better understand digital addiction, and how we might begin to identify it ourselves and others, we sought expert advice.

Dr. Rodney Stewart

Dr Rodney Stewart is a Clinical Neuropsychologist, with almost 20 years of experience in the field, who is based in Curaçao. He is also the Owner of INTERACT: Diagnostic, Learning and Training Center, which provides (neuro-)psychological assessments, treatment, counselling and training services.

In our discussion with Dr Stewart, he shared some interesting and surprising insights on digital addiction, including some of the observations and experiences gained through his medical practice.  To that end, below is a list of the main questions posed to Dr Stewart during our conversation, which were answered during the episode:

  1. What does a neuropsychologist do, and how is it different from what a typical psychologist does?
  2. What is addiction?
  3. What is the medical community’s view on digital (or technology) addiction?
  4. What are some of the (behavioural) symptoms that would cause Dr Stewart to be concerned that an individual might be addicted to technology?
  5. Whether Dr Stewart has seen any cases of digital addiction in his practice, or is aware of any cases?
  6. What is, and why is there a relationship between digital addiction and depression?
  7. Whether there any other mental or behavioural issues that might be connected to digital addiction?
  8. Why is technology so addictive?
  9. Whether there are any tests we, as individuals, can administer to determine whether or not, or the extent to which, we might be addicted?
  10. Why is there such considerable concern about digital addiction among children?
  11. If a parent or guardian is concerned about their child becoming addicted to technology, what advice would Dr Stewart give them?
  12. How would that advice differ if the parent or guardian is concerned that their child IS (already) addicted to technology?

 

We would love to hear your thoughts!

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Select links

Below are links to some of the organisations and resources that either were mentioned during the episode, or otherwise, might be useful:

 

 

Image credits:  Nevit Dilmen (Wikimedia Commons); R Stewart

Music credit:  Ray Holman