In the modern world where technology is more accessible than ever, most people might admit they sometimes struggle to keep off their phones, but are you aware of just how serious the addiction can be?
A doctor with expertise in stress has revealed a particular test that will prove whether you are addicted to your phone. Find out about the effects this addiction to technology could have on you, possibly causing ‘popcorn brain.’
This test will show if you are addicted to your phone
A viral TikTok video shared by author, podcaster, and researcher Mel Robbins (@melrobbins) shows an interview clip with Dr. Aditi Nerurkar, MD speaking about phone addictions.
Dr. Aditi Nerurkar (@draditinerurkar) revealed that phones are making it extremely difficult for people to stay offline. She suggests performing a simple test that will show if you are addicted to your device.
See if you are addicted to your phone with the quick test that involves keeping your phone in another room for as long as possible – from 30 minutes or even a couple of hours if you can.
While your phone is out of reach, sit down with a piece of paper and a pen, and every time you feel the compulsion to check your phone, draw a little mark.
See how many times you feel the urge to check your phone. If the outcome is a lot, you are probably addicted. The stress expert claims that “you will be shocked and appalled.”
Listen to the full episode with Dr. Aditi Nerurkar on The MelRobbinsPodcast, titled “#1 Stress Doctor: 5 Tools To Protect Your Brain From Stress & Feel Calmer Now.”
These are signs that you could have ‘popcorn brain’
Dr. Aditi Nerurkar (@draditinerurkar) revealed an addiction to our phones is causing “popcorn brain.”
If you completed the test with multiple urges to reach for your mobile device, you could have popcorn brain…
‘Popcorn brain’ is a biological phenomenon that refers to the excessive amount of time people spend on their phones: “Anytime that you’re waiting, you’re in a grocery store, in line waiting to buy food, you’re on your phone.”
Popcorn brain is a psychological condition where someone cannot keep their mind and attention fixed on anything, thought to be caused by spending too much time on social media.
According to Psychology Today, ‘popcorn brain,’ was a term introduced by David Levy, a researcher at the University of Washington in 2011.
It refers to a mental state typified by scattered thoughts, fragmented attention, and a propensity for the mind to swiftly transition from one topic to another, resembling the rapid popping of popcorn kernels in a heated pot.
The stress expert reveals that there have been many near-miss pedestrian accidents due to popcorn brain.
To elaborate, Dr. Aditi Nerurkar continues: “You are just always on your screen, always engaging all day every day, during all waking hours. And it creates a sense of hyperstimulation in your brain, which makes it difficult to live offline, because offline life moves at a decidedly slow pace.”
Dr. Aditi Nerurkar is a Harvard stress expert, an internal medicine physician, public health expert and a medical correspondent with expertise in stress, resilience and mental health.
