Researches say cellphone addiction affects the brain similarly as drug addiction — meaning it can alter the size and shape of one’s brain.
“[Smartphone use] gives people a dopamine rush; dopamine and endorphins, just like a drug does,” says Deb Piskoty, AODA Clinical Supervisor at Peaceful Solutions Counseling. “I see the impact. I find the impact on relationships, I see the impact on kids being able to have face-to-face conversations.”
Piskoty also points out that cellphones have only really become an essential part of life for only a few years. Drug addition has been well researched and documented for decades.
So, what’s the best way to keep cellphone use from permanently changing one’s brain? Piskoty says set up screen time and don’t take the phones to bed.
While this isn’t a one-size-fits-all fix, it does help in attaining a restful sleep, which is great for overall brain health. Setting up such habits is strongly recommended for younger users, whose brains are still developing.