Phone addiction is not an official diagnosis, but therapists are seeing a surge in clients completely dependent on their devices. A Deloitte survey found 70% of adults believe they spend too much time on their phones.
At Steps Together rehab centers in the UK, lead therapist Kelly Watson says the issue cuts across all backgrounds. "We all have similar brain circuitry," she explains, noting how the dopamine reward system from notifications can become overwhelming.
The dependency is severe. One rehab network reports one-third of clients treated for drug addiction now also have a secondary phone dependency, up from one in ten in 2019. Some clients even refuse treatment if it means surrendering their device.
James, 48, sought help for alcohol addiction but discovered his digital dependency was equally out of control after losing his job. "I would be dreading it," he says of his phone. "It felt like a bit of my soul had been sucked out, but I couldn't stop."
For others, the addiction is life-threatening. Jenny, a member of Internet and Technology Addicts Anonymous (ITAA), says she once feared she would "die if I don't watch something." After years of searching, she found recovery through the group's 12-step program and has not streamed content for five years.
Psychotherapist Hilda Burke recommends self-reflection for those concerned about their screen time. "Ask yourself what might be behind the urge," she advises, suggesting alternative activities like calling a friend or going for a run.