What is Screen Dependency Disorder? (SDD)

Does your child have problem such as self-isolation, mood swings or anxious? Did you check your child’s screen time? They may have screen dependency disorder.

What is Screen Dependency Disorder?

Screen Dependency Disorder refers to any screen-related addiction such as internet addiction, video game addiction, mobile phone dependence, Facebook addiction and pornography addiction. Children, adults or anyone can become addicted to gadget. Children between age 2 to 5 years old is recommended to be exposed to gadget for less than an hour and no exposure towards children below than 2 years old. People addicted to gadget can interrupt their daily activities.

Adult may have problem focusing on their daily life such as working, dealing with kids. Instead of their eyes focusing on their children, they choose to focus on handphone or tablet. Quality times at home becomes lesser because of too much focusing on gadget. Remember when technology is not advance as now? Home really feels like home. Now, everybody is busy with their gadgets. Although they are present, it feels like they are not there. Children have a lot of things to ask, they are a creature with curiosity. However, who would answer their question when parents are too busy with gadgets? It is more worrying when parents even buy a handphone or tablet for their children. Children are too loud? Give the tablet. Children ask too much question, there is gadget to distract them.

Why addicted to screen-related gadget?

Hence, why people become so addicted towards screen-related gadget? This addictive behavior of using screen-related gadget releases a neurotransmitter called dopamine that promotes motivation. People becomes addicted towards gadget because of the multiple and unpredictable rewards. For example, there is a new post in Instagram from a friend who is getting married, then another post shows a nice and delicious food and then you found another post showing cute and funny cats. Although it looks easy and straightforward, but it gives a pleasure and motivation to your mind, a kind of reward for the brain, hence you keep on scrolling the Instagram 😉.

Video games, mobile games also use similar strategies by providing multiple rewards. For example, the famous game – Candy Crush. Almost all ranges of ages know Candy Crush. Whether it is a kid or grandmother, they know how to play candy crush. It is a simple puzzle game which you can play everywhere at any time. As for Candy Crush, there are rewards such as unlimited life for certain hours and it keeps you playing candy crush. New level or new events in the mobile game also motivates you to play longer. When this happen, people often neglect their responsibilities.

Effects of Screen Dependency Disorder

Why Screen Dependency Disorder is harmful to your mind, body and brain? A Family Life and Child Development specialist and Early Childhood Education consultant, Avelino-Tandoc said Screen Dependency Disorder can damage brain functions in long term effects. It can cause problems at the brain related to impulse control, executive functions, damaging an area in the brain called insula which responsible with empathy.

Screen Dependency Disorder may lead people to be sleepy and less focused. Consequently, people will extend sleeping during daytime and in the end effecting sleep cycle. Another than that, excessive dependent on screen leads to insufficient information processing and have a poor task performance.

Screen Dependency Disorder also can affect speech delay, weight gain/loss, insomnia, mood swings, eyesight problems, self-isolation, withdrawal symptoms, lack of sympathy, and poor organization skills. Screen-related addiction is almost like drug addiction or alcohol addiction and the effects also similar. Before things getting worse, it is better going for a treatment.

Do your children or you have symptoms like above? There is no need to worry anymore. SOL have a SOL-ution for you – NEUROFEEDBACK. Neurofeedback can be used to treat screen related addiction. It is SAFE, PAINLESS, NON-INVASIVE and NO SIDE EFFECTS. Contact us for further inquiries at +60340226689.

By: Ms Nurfarahin – SOL Neurofeedback Trainer