{"id":147142,"date":"2019-03-06T05:30:03","date_gmt":"2019-03-06T10:30:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ict-pulse.com\/?p=147142"},"modified":"2019-03-06T06:08:30","modified_gmt":"2019-03-06T11:08:30","slug":"ictp-045-digital-addiction-signs-remedies-clinical-neuropsychologist-dr-rodney-stewart","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/2019\/03\/ictp-045-digital-addiction-signs-remedies-clinical-neuropsychologist-dr-rodney-stewart\/","title":{"rendered":"ICTP 045:  Digital addiction, possible signs and remedies, with Clinical Neuropsychologist, Dr Rodney Stewart"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em>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 \u2013 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.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/w.soundcloud.com\/player\/?url=https%3A\/\/api.soundcloud.com\/tracks\/585672579&amp;color=%23ff5500&amp;auto_play=false&amp;hide_related=false&amp;show_comments=true&amp;show_user=true&amp;show_reposts=false&amp;show_teaser=true\" width=\"100%\" height=\"166\" frameborder=\"no\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><strong>This episode is also available in\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/ict-pulse-podcast\/id1373550291\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Apple iTunes<\/a>\u00a0and on\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.stitcher.com\/podcast\/ict-pulse-podcast?refid=stpr\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Stitcher<\/a>!<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>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?<\/p>\n<p>Although you might have answered \u2018no\u2019 for the first question, did you also answer no for the rest?<\/p>\n<p>In this episode, we will be discussing addiction, and specifically, digital addiction.<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>In order to get a better understand digital addiction, and how we might begin to identify it ourselves and others, we sought expert advice.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_147145\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-147145\" data-attachment-id=\"147145\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/2019\/03\/ictp-045-digital-addiction-signs-remedies-clinical-neuropsychologist-dr-rodney-stewart\/rodney-stewart-r-stewart\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Rodney-Stewart-R-Stewart.jpeg?fit=480%2C478&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"480,478\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;2.2&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;iPhone 7&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1548176165&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;2.87&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;250&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.05&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Dr. Rodney Stewart (R Stewart)\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Dr. Rodney Stewart&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Rodney-Stewart-R-Stewart.jpeg?fit=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Rodney-Stewart-R-Stewart.jpeg?fit=480%2C478&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"wp-image-147145 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/fgd.dfv.mybluehost.me\/.website_c81a1e61\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Rodney-Stewart-R-Stewart-300x300.jpeg?resize=300%2C300&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Rodney-Stewart-R-Stewart.jpeg?resize=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Rodney-Stewart-R-Stewart.jpeg?resize=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Rodney-Stewart-R-Stewart.jpeg?resize=440%2C440&amp;ssl=1 440w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Rodney-Stewart-R-Stewart.jpeg?w=480&amp;ssl=1 480w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-147145\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Dr. Rodney Stewart<\/p><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/rodney-stewart-709b014\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Dr Rodney Stewart<\/a> is a Clinical Neuropsychologist, with almost 20 years of experience in the field, who is based in Cura\u00e7ao. He is also the Owner of <strong style=\"font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;\"><em>INTERACT: Diagnostic, Learning and Training Center<\/em><\/strong><span style=\"font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;\">, which provides (neuro-)psychological assessments, treatment, counselling and training services.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>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. \u00a0To that end, below is a list of the main questions posed to Dr Stewart during our conversation, which were answered during the episode:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>What does a neuropsychologist do, and how is it different from what a typical psychologist does?<\/li>\n<li>What is addiction?<\/li>\n<li>What is the medical community\u2019s view on digital (or technology) addiction?<\/li>\n<li>What are some of the (behavioural) symptoms that would cause Dr Stewart to be concerned that an individual might be addicted to technology?<\/li>\n<li>Whether Dr Stewart has seen any cases of digital addiction in his practice, or is aware of any cases?<\/li>\n<li>What is, and why is there a relationship between digital addiction and depression?<\/li>\n<li>Whether there any other mental or behavioural issues that might be connected to digital addiction?<\/li>\n<li>Why is technology so addictive?<\/li>\n<li>Whether there are any tests we, as individuals, can administer to determine whether or not, or the extent to which, we might be addicted?<\/li>\n<li>Why is there such considerable concern about digital addiction among children?<\/li>\n<li>If a parent or guardian is concerned about their child becoming addicted to technology, what advice would Dr Stewart give them?<\/li>\n<li>How would that advice differ if the parent or guardian is concerned that their child <strong>IS<\/strong> (already) addicted to technology?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>We would love to hear your thoughts!<\/p>\n<p>Do leave us a comment either here beneath this article, or on our\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ICTPulse\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Facebook<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/ict-pulse-consulting-limited\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">LinkedIn<\/a>\u00a0pages, or via Twitter,\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ICTPulse\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@ICTPulse<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3>Select links<\/h3>\n<p>Below are links to some of the organisations and resources that either were mentioned during the episode, or otherwise, might be useful:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/rodney-stewart-709b014\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Dr Rodney Stewart<\/a><\/li>\n<li>INTERACT: Diagnostic, Learning and Training Center \u2013 <a href=\"http:\/\/rs-interact.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">website<\/a> |\u00a0 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/interactdltc\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Facebook<\/a><\/li>\n<li>World Health Organization, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.who.int\/features\/qa\/gaming-disorder\/en\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Gaming disorder<\/a><\/li>\n<li>ICT Pulse article,<\/li>\n<li>International Journal of Education and Research paper, <em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.ijern.com\/images\/May-2013\/41.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">The nature of Internet use by teens in three parishes in Jamaica<\/a><\/em><\/li>\n<li>Jamaica Observer article, <em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.jamaicaobserver.com\/columns\/Are-social-media-sites-making-us-sick_14651969\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Are social media sites making us sick?<\/a><\/em><\/li>\n<li>Jamaica Observer article, <em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.jamaicaobserver.com\/news\/Internet-addiction-may-indicate-other-mental-health-problems---study_74302\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Internet addiction may indicate other mental health problems \u2014 study<\/a><\/em><\/li>\n<li>The Gleaner (Jamaica) article, <em><a href=\"http:\/\/jamaica-gleaner.com\/article\/news\/20180506\/judith-forbes-are-millennials-suffering-cyber-addiction\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Are Millennials Suffering From Cyber Addiction?<\/a><\/em><\/li>\n<li>Trinidad and Tobago Guardian article, <em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.guardian.co.tt\/sports\/is-social-media-addiction-out-of-control-6.2.690306.880989dea3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Is social media addiction out of control?<\/a><\/em><\/li>\n<li>Trinidad and Tobago Newsday article, <em><a href=\"https:\/\/newsday.co.tt\/2018\/08\/20\/social-media-makes-me-feel-ugly\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Social media makes me feel ugly<\/a><\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em>Image credits:\u00a0 <span class=\"mw-mmv-author\">Nevit Dilmen<\/span> (<a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Wikimedia Commons<\/a>); R Stewart<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Music credit:\u00a0 Ray Holman<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>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 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":147148,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[355],"tags":[436,36,72,266,281,37,42],"class_list":["post-147142","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-podcast","tag-addiction","tag-devices","tag-health-risks","tag-healthmedical","tag-internet","tag-smartphones","tag-social-media","et-has-post-format-content","et_post_format-et-post-format-standard"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Addiction-bound-tied-ropes-hands-wrists-amenclinicsphotos-ac-flickr.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p2iE1G-Chg","jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/147142"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=147142"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/147142\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":147155,"href":"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/147142\/revisions\/147155"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/147148"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=147142"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=147142"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=147142"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}