When Will Social Media Addiction Be Considered a Mental Health Condition?

Published on: 09 October 2018 Last Updated on: 06 June 2021

Digital addiction is not a bona fide medical term – yet – but we are getting closer. The 11th edition of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11), released this June by the World Health Organization has introduced “Gaming disorder” as a true mental health condition. It has three categories – predominantly online, predominantly offline, and “unspecified” that covers pretty much every other disorder related to video games. Thus, video game addiction has officially become a mental health condition that can be diagnosed and treated by medical professionals.

What will be next? Well, one of the things that might make it into the next edition of the IDC is social media addiction, a phenomenon increasingly discussed by medical professionals all over the world.

What is social media addiction?

Today, communication is done mainly through digital channels – especially social networks like Facebook and its Messenger app, Instagram, Twitter, Reddit, Snapchat, and many others. Aside from allowing people to keep in contact and up-to-date with the things their friends and acquaintances do, these digital channels also create a sense of belonging among their users. But just like with any other product out there, moderation is key. Excessive use of social media is known to have a negative impact on the health and well-being of users. And the young – usually, they are the most enthusiastic about new services and technologies – are the most exposed to these negative effects.

A number of studies have been conducted to assess how excessive social media use affects the health of users. Many of them have reached the same conclusion – excessive social media use is associated with several psychological problems, ranging from depression and anxiety to ADHD and even addiction. This affects a minority of individuals but the effects are undeniable.

Smartphone rehab and digital detox:

The problem is big enough to prompt some in-depth studies and even treatment programs on the matter. A study conducted last year in the United Kingdom shows that kids as young as 12 have an issue maintaining a good balance between their “real” life and their digital one. At the same time, kids as young as 13 are reportedly being treated for “digital technology addiction” in the United States. There are “smartphone rehab” centers in many cities, offering recovery programs for teens unable to keep their use of digital devices under control. Sooner rather than later, excessive digital technology and social media use will be defined as a genuine mental disorder and be treated as such.

Until then, be sure to be a good example for your kids, reduce your phone use, and schedule “tech-free” activities to keep phone use at bay.

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The Advantages and Disadvantages of Non-Alcoholic Spirits

Spirits are traditionally defined as alcoholic beverages that have been distilled instead of undergoing fermentation. Hence, it sounds wrong or illogical to put the terms “non-alcoholic” and “spirits” together. However, there are indeed non-alcoholic spirits sold on the market. These specialty drinks also claim to offer benefits without a significant change in taste. To clarify, though, being non-alcoholic does not mean the complete elimination of the inebriant content. Drinks are considered non-alcoholic as long as their alcohol content is lower than 0.5%. These drinks may also be referred to as “virgin drinks,” which can be juices, ready-to-drink coffee and tea, wines, beers, and soft drinks. The Advantages and Disadvantages of Non-Alcoholic Spirits: Advantages: The elimination or significant reduction of alcohol creates a number of benefits. Alcohol has long been identified as a damaging substance for the body. It can cause liver disease, pancreatitis, cancer, ulcers, and other gastrointestinal problems, damage to the brain, osteoporosis, immune system degradation, and malnourishment as alcohol prevents the regular absorption of vitamins and minerals. Of course, there's also the distinct advantage of not having a hangover. Alcohol is responsible for the unpleasant feeling that includes headaches, vomiting, fatigue, nausea, dizziness, shakiness, and stomach pain. Drinking an alcohol-free alternative to beer, wine, or liquor means that you will not have to suffer the unwanted after-effects. On the other hand, there have are claims that non-alcoholic alternatives to the usual alcoholic drinks can be good for the cardiovascular system and overall health. One specific research to this regard is the study published in the journal Nutrition, which involves Spanish nuns who drank non-alcoholic beer for 45 days. After doing a blood test, the researchers found that the nuns had elevated levels of antioxidants in their bloodstream. This was limited research, though, so it cannot be regarded as conclusive. Nevertheless, it's good to know that switching to non-alcoholic alternatives can create a positive impact on health. Disadvantages: The main disadvantage of spirits that are considered non-alcoholic is the experience; they don’t taste and feel the same. People consume these kinds of drinks because of the “kick,” so they wittingly suffer the hangover in order to get the psychological benefits, particularly the temporary alleviation of negative feelings, stress, anxiety, and shyness. These “benefits” may not sound like real advantages to some, but these are what alcohol drinkers have been accustomed to. They think to take these away is like taking away the purpose of drinking alcoholic beverages in the first place. For those who want to switch to non-alcoholic drinks to recover from alcoholism, consuming beverages that smell and taste the same as the drink being avoided can cause a relapse and craving for the real thing, so be cautious of your own habits. Non-alcoholic spirits are not the perfect solution to get out of alcoholism or to enjoy alcohol without unwanted after-effects., as they obviously have advantages and disadvantages. Consuming them is a matter of individual preference and compatibility. Read Also: Tequila, The Alcoholic Cure-All? Am I Drinking Too Much? 5 Subtle Signs You Are (Even If You Don’t Think So) Is Outpatient Treatment For Drug And Alcohol Addiction Effective? 6 Tips For Feeling Comfortable And Confident On A Date Without Alcohol Not On The Straight And Narrow: 4 Telltale Signs Of Drug Use In Teens

Discusses the Growing Problems of Living Alone

Researchers have concluded that living alone, being socially isolated, and feeling lonely can pose significant health risks, particularly in older adults. Although the terms living alone, social isolation and loneliness are often used interchangeably, they are not the same thing. Specifically, living alone and being socially isolated are objective determinations either that a person lives solo, or has few relationships or infrequent social contact. According to the Administration on Aging (a division within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services), nearly one-third (28%) of non-institutionalized adults 65 and older – 13.8 million people – live alone. Despite living alone, however, these adults may or may not be included within the category of social isolation depending on the nature of their relationships and the frequency of their social contacts. In contrast, loneliness is determined on a subjective basis. Loneliness is based on a person’s individual feelings of disconnectedness, isolation, or not belonging. Said differently, loneliness arises because of the divergence between a person’s desired level of social connection and the actual level of connection. To be clear, a person living alone may not necessarily feel lonely, whereas someone living with a number of other people may still experience loneliness. Risk Factors A recent survey of older adults determined that 43% feel lonely on a regular basis. More concerning is that among those who report feeling lonely, there is a 45% increased mortality risk. Steve Cole, the director of the Social Genomics Core Laboratory at UCLA, explains: “Loneliness acts as a fertilizer for other diseases. The biology of loneliness can accelerate the buildup of plaque in the arteries, help cancer cells grow and spread, and promote inflammation in the brain leading to Alzheimer’s disease. Loneliness promotes several different types of wear and tear on the body.” Research has established links between living alone, social isolation, and loneliness to a variety of physical and mental conditions, including high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, a weakened immune system, anxiety, depression, cognitive decline, Alzheimer’s disease, and even death. Indeed, a recent meta-analysis – representing cumulative evidence from 148 studies involving over 300,000 participants – determined that greater social connection is associated with a 50% reduced risk of early death. A second meta-analysis by the same researchers – representing cumulative evidence from 70 studies involving more than 3.4 million participants followed for an average of 7 years – similarly concluded that living alone (objective determination), social isolation (objective) and loneliness (subjective) each had a significant effect on the risk of mortality. Specifically, the analysis concluded that the likelihood of death increased a statistically significant 26% for loneliness, 29% for social isolation, and 32% for living alone. To put those risks in context, the researchers determined that the magnitude of risk is comparable to – and in some cases even exceeds – other well-accepted risk factors such as smoking (up to 15 cigarettes a day), obesity, lack of physical exercise and high blood pressure. Loneliness has also been associated with increased emergency admissions to a hospital, longer length of stays, and delayed discharges. In fact, a November 2017 study concluded that the lack of social contacts among older adults is associated with an estimated annual increase in Medicare spending of $6.7 billion. One Can Be the Loneliest Number, But it Doesn’t Have to Be Greg Bishop, an attorney in Park City, suggests that retirement is a great opportunity to develop the types of connections that can prevent or alleviate the health consequences of living alone, being socially isolated, or feeling lonely. He notes that although there is a general consensus about the potential problem areas, the solutions are more elusive. He explains that although living alone and being socially isolated are determined objectively, the underlying causes are overtly personal. For example, living alone may be the result of the death of a partner or because of a recent divorce, whereas being socially isolated may arise from relocating after retirement or from the children moving away. Given that the underlying causes vary drastically, the solutions for living alone, being socially isolated, and feeling lonely will also differ. In short, there is no one-size-fits-all solution to these issues. That said, older adults will likely benefit from the following suggestions: Proactively stay involved in the lives of your family and friends. Find meaningful ways to connect with them via video chats, phone calls, text messages and letters Establish new social connections – go to the gym, take a dance class, learn to play chess, or join a book club Establish a more meaningful relationship with a church or social groups Look for opportunities to help and serve others. Fred Rogers – the television icon from Mister Roger’s Neighborhood – shared that when he was a boy and saw scary things on the television news, his mother told him to “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” While that advice comforted him as a child, perhaps better advice for older adults dealing with social isolation and loneliness would be to “Look to be a helper. There are always people who are in need of help.” Read Also: Why Do You Need a Queens Personal Injury Attorney 6 Signs That You Need To Hire a Personal Injury Attorney Don’t Battle It All Alone: 5 Reasons Why You Need an Adoption Attorney These Four Qualities Are What You Should Be Looking For In Attorneys!

How a Black Magic Healer Can Be Beneficial to You

The world is a mysterious place and tales of otherworldly beings and people possessing supernatural abilities still abound. Even today, there is much to discover and learn about the other dimensions of the world. One of the prevailing things from the darker side of history is the practice of black magic by witches and sorcerers. The popular notion was that they used their unholy abilities with the help of charms and incantations to place curses on their enemies, and the results were devastating. Their hapless victims may come down with debilitating diseases or go through varying intensities of physical and mental torture. Some become shadows of their former selves and slowly sink into unexplainable despair. You may have then heard of the witch hunts that took place during the middle-ages. People believed that some girls possessed dark powers that were used for evil deeds, causing hysteria that drove to their intense persecution. Very few people are aware of its continued existence, but black magic is still very much practiced in this time and age. There are still people who seek out a black magic healer to cure them of any sudden changes in behavior, odor, physical appearance, and mental state. How a Black Magic Healer Can Be Beneficial to You: Here are some facts to update everyone about the black arts and why it’s beneficial to know a black magic healer in case of an unfortunate event. Black Magic is Invisible: Black magic involves disrupting the elements by conjuring the power of evil spirits and demons. Unlike the myriad of magic circles that you have probably seen from children’s shows, black magic does not materialize in the real world. Instead, it remains invisible to human beings. Black magic practitioners communicate with evil spirits by inducing dark energy through negative emotions. Moreover, they practice underground or out-of-sight, so it’s almost impossible to detect whether somebody engages in black magic or not. Only a skilled, spiritual black magic healer will be able to identify any form of black magic. Black Magic Needs a Connection to You: Although black magic may seem omnipotent, it comes with significant limitations. For a practitioner of black magic to inflict curses and other damaging effects toward a victim, they would need to get hold of something that the person owns. For instance, a favorite trinket or photograph can be used as a catalyst to inflict harm. That is because remnants of the victim’s energy are attached to personal possessions. Thus, by visualizing the victim through a familiar, a curse placed on that object can transmit harm to the actual person. That is why you should be wary of people you have had a falling-out with, including stalkers. As the internet has made information on virtually anyone available, getting hold of your identity is not difficult. Once they find a photo of you, they can take away your sight, make you infertile, or make you lose all sense of reason. A lot of famous identities suddenly fell ill or disappeared from the face of the earth, and most would dismiss such incidents as natural occurrences or staying away from the limelight. But the few informed black magic users know that it’s the work of a skilled black magician. If a black magic healer had been contacted to help, then many lives would still be here today. Black Magic is Healable: When you detect that you or somebody you know may be affected by black magic, know that there is still hope. A skilled black magic healer will be able to create the proper talismans and other magical items required to break away the evil spells. These healers work on a spiritual level and are the antithesis of those who delve in black magic. All you need to send them are essential pieces of information, such as your name and your parents’ name, location, and the like. As with inflicting black magic, the reversal process also requires aspects of yourself to find spiritual imbalances and create the best cure. Spiritual healers are the only ones who can cut the effects of black magic while retaining the essence of the person. As a result, the victim can return to normal in no time. Read Also: Why Should I Hire An Intuitive Life Coach? Stoke Your Spirit: 4 Soulful Ways To Reach Spiritual Wellness And Lead A Calmer Life A Man And His Watch: Iconic Stories Of Watches That Withstand The Test Of Time

When Will Social Media Addiction Be Considered a Mental Health Condition?

What is social media addiction?

Smartphone rehab and digital detox:

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Content Rally

Content Rally wrapped around an online publication where you can publish your own intellectuals. It is a publishing platform designed to make great stories by content creators. This is your era, your place to be online. So come forward share your views, thoughts and ideas via Content Rally.

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The Advantages and Disadvantages of Non-Alcoholic Spirits

Discusses the Growing Problems of Living Alone

How a Black Magic Healer Can Be Beneficial to You

When Will Social Media Addiction Be Considered a Mental Health Condition?

What is social media addiction?

Smartphone rehab and digital detox:

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Strengthening Your Community In 2018

Here Are Some Things That You Should Know When You Use Storage Units

Content Rally wrapped around an online publication where you can publish your own intellectuals. It is a publishing platform designed to make great stories by content creators. This is your era, your place to be online. So come forward share your views, thoughts and ideas via Content Rally.

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Popular

Follow Us

Recent

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