Are we addicted to technology?

[maureenho]

Are we addicted to technology?
By Zoe Kleinman Technology reporter, BBC News

Just five minutes after meeting sleep and energy expert Dr Nerina Ramlakhan in her central London clinic, she delivers some bad news.

"You've got the classic pattern of someone who's in a fatigue cycle," she says.

"You're running on survival energy. Your sympathetic nervous system is in overdrive. I would guess you feel pretty shattered mid-afternoon which would mean you are running on adrenalin, noradrenalin, cortisol."

I'm turning into a dopamine junkie - the brain chemical associated with pleasure that is released when we are stimulated, whether that is by food, sex, excitement... or screen time.

It sounds convincing. Or am I being blinded by pseudo-science?

Dr Ramlakhan works at the privately run Nightingale Hospital, and is a member of its technology addiction treatment team.

Surely tiredness is a by-product of a busy modern life - children, work, hobbies etc - rather than that relaxing time spent watching Netflix in bed?

"The thing many of my patients have in common is the fact that they are in front of screens all the time. Even when they try to sleep at night. It has become so pervasive," she says.

"They go to bed but can't sleep, or fall asleep exhausted and wake up tired. People started telling me they couldn't switch their brains off."

One patient was suspended from work after sending an inappropriate email to a client in the early hours of the morning, she adds.

"When we unpicked the story we realised he was spending more time at work and finding it more difficult to switch off."

He is now on the road to recovery - and hopes to return to his job.

Another recent patient was a 17-year-old who had suffered a seizure.

It turned out he was up all night playing computer games.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-33976695

[annie]

That is sad

[chenrezig]

All I can say is I am glad I have my knitting ... I use a PC all day at work, I have been making sure I have my version of a ciggy break as when I have a break for a mug of tea I go outside (if raining I stand in the doorway near the river) to give my eyes a rest from all the close-up work.

PS - I use my laptop that much the letters are rubbing off, but I found some hi viz stickers on Amazon (wasn't that keen on ordering from them but they were a THIRD the price of ones on the RNIB webiste) that you can put on -will let you know how I get on with them, they are a fiver (plus postage).