Bizarre prosthetic phone is designed to wean people off their devices

April 4, 2017  22:43

A Phone Separation Anxiety (PSA) 'epidemic' is sweeping the world, making people anxious and insecure when they're without their electronic device.

But help is at hand, as researchers have created a new prosthetic phone to help wean addicts off their devices. 

The 'prosthetic phone' looks and weighs the same as a normal phone but it can't text, take photos or use the internet as it is just a block of plastic.

Phone addiction is a real medical condition and has been scientifically termed as Phone Separation Anxiety (PSA), also known as Nomophobia.

Research found that Britons spend nearly nine hours a day hooked to their device and nearly one in three people are unable to go even an hour without checking their phone.

One in five of the 3,000 Britons included in the survey have owned up to using their mobile while driving, according to new research.

 A company has now created a 'prosthetic phone' to help people wean themselves of electronic devices.

Research found the average person spends nearly nine hours a day hooked to their device, and nearly one in three people are unable to go even an hour without checking their phone.

One in five of the 3,000 people included in the survey have even owned up to using their mobile while driving.

The prosthetic phone is designed to help people feel less anxious when are separated from their phone.

The phone has been developed as part of the Give Your Mobile The Boot campaign by London-based financial services firm MORE TH>N.

'These results confirm there are growing numbers of people suffering from an addiction to their phones', said Amanda Hills, a freelance psychologist based in South West London.

This addiction is a real medical condition, and has been scientifically termed as Phone Separation Anxiety (PSA), also known as Nomophobia - the fear of being without your mobile device.

The phones, which are only available in the UK, are free and people can get hold of them by registering to take part in a one-week clinical trial.

The initiative is part of a project to encourage drivers to put their phones in the boot of their car before they begin the journey.

Dr Hills offered advice for people who are struggling to get over their phone addiction.

'Try and decrease your phone usage over time', she said.

'Leave it in another room when you sleep - physically separating yourself from your mobile device will re-wire your brain in readiness to lock it in your car boot before you drive.'

Dr Amanda Hills offered advice for people who are struggling to get over their phone addiction:

1.  Breathing -  Start by taking a couple of deep breaths. Keeping your mouth closed, breathe in gently through your nose to the upper chest. Practising breathing exercises for five minutes each morning and before bed, will start to train your body and mind to de-stress, and relieve early stages of anxiety.

2. Know your triggers -  It is important to know your triggers and recognise you have a need. Give yourself space to ask ‘What do I really want to pay attention to now? What’s the most important priority?’ In this case it’s focusing on driving safely.

3. Stretch - Try sitting comfortably on a chair or on the floor with your eyes closed and breathe in and raise your arms out to the side and above your head for a good stretch. As you exhale deeply, think of letting go of all stress and bring arms back down to your sides.

4. Plan ahead - Make it a habit to answer important emails and messages 30 minutes before the car journey and tell people you won't be available until you’re out of the car. You can even try putting your phone on flight mode for a few hours a day to practice.

5. Distance yourself - Try and decrease your phone usage over time. Leave it in another room when you sleep - physically separating yourself from your mobile device will re-wire your brain in readiness to lock it in your car boot before you drive.

Last month a team from the University of Michigan found over 80 per cent of college students experience phantom phone calls or texts more than once a day.

Researchers administered an online survey to over 750 undergraduate students.

Those who scored higher on smartphone dependency – they more often used their phones to make themselves feel better, became irritable when they couldn't use their phones and thought about using their phone when they weren't on it – had more frequent phantom phone experiences.

Most people will check their phones within 10 seconds of getting in line for coffee or arriving at a destination, the researchers said.

Clinicians and researchers still debate whether excessive use of cellphones or other technology can constitute an addiction.

 

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