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How to overcome Phone Addiction

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Re: How to overcome Phone Addiction

#301

Post by ksec »

originalvichy wrote: post #143
Bakary wrote: post #112

Some ideas on this topic: 1. Inconvenience based solutions don't address the problem: using apps to restrict phone use, physically hiding the phone etc. Once you leave those carefully constrained conditions, you are more vulnerable than ever. Not to mention the contradiction with the core issue that it's a symptom rather than a cause. 2. Turning abstinence as an ongoing status condition (e.g. "X days since I did Y")…

I definitely have a browsing addiction. Learning things as an information junkie is addictive. What’s funny is that when I go for trips in the mountains with little to no internet I do fine. It is less like a chemical addiction and more like a habitual craving. If I have more interesting things to do I will not browse. If I’m bored though...

> I definitely have a browsing addiction.

I agree. I think what most people have are "News" or information Addiction. Where as news is any update on Social Media, Current Trends on Pop, Music, Movies, Tech, Politics, Economics etc.

There were a few research paper suggesting News being the biggest addiction, much more so than porn. And Smartphone addiction is by nature an extension of this news addiction.

Did my Idol post something on IG?

Did my soccer / football team sign a new centre back?

Did Apple finally released a new Keyboard with more travel distances?

Did X finally win the election?

Did TSLA just broke though the channel and continue their gain in stock market?

New Covid Variant?

Is there a confirmation email for my job? Or you know somehow you are expected to reply your email within 30min with your current employer.

A lot of these are preying on our human curiosity. And Smartphone is only a Terminal, where Internet / Mobile Network is the connection. It is the same before Smartphone with Internet on PC, or good old fashion TV.

We dont have an addiction to any of these devices, we have addiction to those content. And it has been like for that decades, blaming everything on Smartphone is simple and easy enough. But doesn't really help with the real problem.

Re: How to overcome Phone Addiction

#302

Post by bumby »

hombre_fatal wrote: post #290
sizzle wrote: post #280

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I want to do it on the beach, I'm afraid of running into the ocean and drowning. What would you say is the probability of this scenario occurring for a first time trip?

I've been with dozens of people on their first trip with acid that I knew was acid. And I've had dozens more experiences with people thinking they were taking acid when it was really 25I or something even worse (if it tastes like something, it's not acid). When I was younger taking any drug anyone could get their hands on, I was usually in the latter camp. And I think very few people are privileged enough to not be i…

Although my original comment was specifically about the toxicity of mushrooms, as somebody who’s never tried any of these drugs I’m curious if there’s a distinct difference between the type of trip with LSD vs mushrooms? Is one more likely to induce a violent trip for example?

Re: How to overcome Phone Addiction

#303

Post by zikzak »

originalvichy wrote: post #143
Bakary wrote: post #112

Some ideas on this topic: 1. Inconvenience based solutions don't address the problem: using apps to restrict phone use, physically hiding the phone etc. Once you leave those carefully constrained conditions, you are more vulnerable than ever. Not to mention the contradiction with the core issue that it's a symptom rather than a cause. 2. Turning abstinence as an ongoing status condition (e.g. "X days since I did Y")…

I definitely have a browsing addiction. Learning things as an information junkie is addictive. What’s funny is that when I go for trips in the mountains with little to no internet I do fine. It is less like a chemical addiction and more like a habitual craving. If I have more interesting things to do I will not browse. If I’m bored though...

This is how I got hooked. As someone who grew up pre-internet (realistically speaking) my brain learned to live with libraries, paper calendar, tasks lists on pads of paper, etc. Also, not knowing if someone called until I got home (and not having answering machines or, sometimes, not having a phone in the apartment I lived in, or TV).

When I got access to the Internet, the idea that I could learn things easily, or have a digital calendar, or write messages just removed so much friction. I was working as a cook but getting back into programming as a hobby at the time (started as a kid with BASIC on Commodore computers then didn't have a computer for almost ten years). I first used the K&R book to learn C but the Internet provided access to things outside the scope of the book.

Then, working as a programmer a few years later, I told my boss I'd hit a stretch goal if he got me an iphone to replace my flip phone. I use Android now, it was a different time. :)

Once I got that, it was 24/7. I'm finding balance now but it's tough. I am concious of my six year old always seeing me and emulating my behavior.

Re: How to overcome Phone Addiction

#304

Post by Bakary »

graeme wrote: post #193
Bakary wrote: post #112

Some ideas on this topic: 1. Inconvenience based solutions don't address the problem: using apps to restrict phone use, physically hiding the phone etc. Once you leave those carefully constrained conditions, you are more vulnerable than ever. Not to mention the contradiction with the core issue that it's a symptom rather than a cause. 2. Turning abstinence as an ongoing status condition (e.g. "X days since I did Y")…

> The solution that works with 1 and 2 is probably urge surfing as it tackles the issue directly So: 1. Feel an urge to browse or notice you are browsing 2. Pause and breathe. Focus on the sensations and thoughts that come to mind, then return to the breathe Anything else? And is the end goal to stop browsing if you are doing it? It seems like an interesting idea, if you had some practical steps I’d appreciate it as…

Here are some more details. I used this to treat browsing addiction. Before that, I had to come to the conclusions outlined in the OP to direct my thinking about the problem. I stumbled on the term urge surfing by accident, and tried it out.[0] This video explains essentially everything you need to know about the topic. I used a guided audio meditation sequence in the beginning as it was harder than I expected it to be. I do not have the link to this, but it should be easy to find one.

It can be an uncomfortable process as you realize the full extent of your predicament and the strength of the craving. But after a while, it works exactly as intended. You then gain confidence in knowing that cravings can abate on their own no matter how strong they feel at the onset.

I have used the same broad concept to attenuate OCD symptoms and related anxiety. The counter-intuitive idea behind all this is that by rewarding your anxiety with a certain behavior, you are training yourself to feel more anxiety down the line. Therefore the opposite must happen: putting yourself into situations that directly confront the anxiety and withholding any reward. This is the same exposure and response therapy that is used to treat phobias or generic social anxiety, though obviously without the careful guidance of a trained professional.

[0]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wdsJayLhnM

Re: How to overcome Phone Addiction

#305

Post by Bakary »

layer8 wrote: post #297
Bakary wrote: post #112

Some ideas on this topic: 1. Inconvenience based solutions don't address the problem: using apps to restrict phone use, physically hiding the phone etc. Once you leave those carefully constrained conditions, you are more vulnerable than ever. Not to mention the contradiction with the core issue that it's a symptom rather than a cause. 2. Turning abstinence as an ongoing status condition (e.g. "X days since I did Y")…

Re urge surfing, I wonder if there’s something like aversion surfing. For me the urge is often triggered by an aversion to what I should really be doing at the given time. Thus not acting on the urge isn’t a complete solution, because it still leaves me with the aversion and has me seek some other avoidance behavior. Unlike the urge, which goes away by itself by “surfing” it, the aversion tends to subsist much longer…

This exists, it tends to be the stereotypical advice of committing to just five minutes spent on the task, or the very first actionable goal. Both are connected to an underlying psychological mechanism of rewards perpetuating a dysfunctional behavior

Re: How to overcome Phone Addiction

#306

Post by Bakary »

jariel wrote: post #259
d3nj4l wrote: post #240

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You’re missing GP’s point. The idea isn’t that you can’t live without phones - it’s that going cold turkey abstinence isn’t a good way to kick a compulsion .

I understood his point, I believe that he's way overstating the situation. I don't think he spoke specifically to the hyper-specific compulsion, but frankly I was: 'just don't take it with you' - or - 'put it away' and that will certainly deny the compulsion. You'll use it quite a bit less without thinking about it. It's not nicotene.

I framed my thoughts based on my own struggles. As far as I can tell, I am not alone in this situation.

Ironically, I would instinctively use the same arguments for nicotine that you are using for browsing addiction. On an emotional level, I don't understand why people won't just stop buying cigarettes because I can't directly relate to the addiction. But I know better than to dismiss it or look down on smokers since I have parallel experiences. Just like some generations grew up with the internet, other generations grew up with smoking being far more commonplace than today.

Re: How to overcome Phone Addiction

#307

Post by Nbox9 »

mraza007 wrote: post #184
Nbox9 wrote: post #175

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What would you do if you got a phone call while it was in the kitchen safe?

Well it depends honestly before going to bed I put my phone into kitchensafe box and set the time for atleast 2hrs so I can fall asleep without looking at my phone. During the day if I’m working I’ll put my phone into kitchensafe for like 30 or 45mins so I can focus on the task without looking at my phone. As far as calls are concerned if they are important they’ll probably leave voicemail and I’ll get back to them r…

I think if you are someone’s emergency contact than leaving your phone in a kitchen safe is irresponsible. My strategy for fighting phone addiction always allows me to hear and answer a phone call because it’s the defacto method of communication during emergencies.

Re: How to overcome Phone Addiction

#308

Post by graeme »

Bakary wrote: post #304
graeme wrote: post #193

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> The solution that works with 1 and 2 is probably urge surfing as it tackles the issue directly So: 1. Feel an urge to browse or notice you are browsing 2. Pause and breathe. Focus on the sensations and thoughts that come to mind, then return to the breathe Anything else? And is the end goal to stop browsing if you are doing it? It seems like an interesting idea, if you had some practical steps I’d appreciate it as…

Here are some more details. I used this to treat browsing addiction. Before that, I had to come to the conclusions outlined in the OP to direct my thinking about the problem. I stumbled on the term urge surfing by accident, and tried it out.[0] This video explains essentially everything you need to know about the topic. I used a guided audio meditation sequence in the beginning as it was harder than I expected it to…

Thanks, super interesting I’ll try it. And what’s a long run goal for, say, hacker news and device use?

Rich life is a good goal but what does the day to day look like of using the internet as part of that? Or is simply not doing it based on urges enough?

Re: How to overcome Phone Addiction

#309

Post by mraza007 »

RedAlakazam wrote: post #295
Nbox9 wrote: post #175

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What would you do if you got a phone call while it was in the kitchen safe?

My phone is in the kitchen safe most of the time as well. I've bought an Apple Watch recently and I was mightily afraid it would increase my phone addiction even more. Instead, it got way better and I keep my phone/watch in silent mode 99% of the time. Sudden notifications won't happen anymore and I definitely won't be starting to type out text messages on the watch or start browsing the internet. Important events, s…

I’m just curious to know can you make calls using Apple Watch

Re: How to overcome Phone Addiction

#310

Post by RedAlakazam »

mraza007 wrote: post #309
RedAlakazam wrote: post #295

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My phone is in the kitchen safe most of the time as well. I've bought an Apple Watch recently and I was mightily afraid it would increase my phone addiction even more. Instead, it got way better and I keep my phone/watch in silent mode 99% of the time. Sudden notifications won't happen anymore and I definitely won't be starting to type out text messages on the watch or start browsing the internet. Important events, s…

I’m just curious to know can you make calls using Apple Watch

Yep! You can accept and make calls with an Apple Watch, even with the non-cellular version, as long as your phone is in bluetooth range. It even works without being connected to headphones, although I can't recommend that for long calls.

With the cellular version and the appropriate mobile contract you're not bound to the iPhone bluetooth range anymore.

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