We really have a big problem. In these past three years, I have heard too many folks saying that they want to give-up using their smartphones excessively because deep in their hearts they believe that the machine is making them and their relatives sick, yet they simply can’t. I don’t blame them for wanting to live a life of technomoderation, though. As a matter of fact, who wants to be a slave to the Smartphone anyways? I don’t. Yet, for some giving up their smartphone use for a few hours a day is impossible.

What a tragedy! It is definitely possible for people to give up their smartphone a few hours each day as long as people aren’t diagnosed with cell phone addition. The issue, ladies and gentleman, is that too many of our compatriots simply don’t know they have smartphone Addiction.

Let me remind you of some important statistics. Do you know that people check their smartphones an average of 110 times each day? 40% of people use their smartphones while on the toilet, 12% use their smartphones in the shower (unreal, isn’t it?), and 1 in 5 adults use their computerized devices while having sexual relations. It is not over — 56% of parents check their smartphones while driving and 75% of people have admitted to texting at least once while driving. Let me say this loud and clear. Our society is in trouble largely because of the smartphone.

Citizens of Cleveland, Tennessee, we must wake up from this modern day nightmare because if we don’t, we are going to lose another generation of Americans. We already lost one and can’t afford to lose one more. We can start fixing this problem by identifying that we are in fact conditioned to use these tech gadgets to a point of no return. Here is my advice: If you see your kid, daughter, grandson or wife constantly connected, sit down with them, have a serious conversation with them about addiction, and make an effort to seek a psychologist and work out a plan to help them to get out of this situation.   

This is the reality of our times my fellow Americans. If people want something badly enough, typically people get what they want within reason but not when fighting an addiction. I am not tired of hearing people complaining and finding excuses for why they can’t fight this monster we call the smartphone. The reality today is that people don’t wan’t to take action about their chosen behavior, even though they recognize that the behavior they engage in isn’t good for them.

I wish that our situation was different today but isn’t. Here is what I think. Listen carefully: If you really believe that staying on a machine for 9 hours a day is bad for you, get away from it without regrets. If you can’t, seek help. You only live once! We might as well live a good life of moderation and reason. Doesn’t that make sense? Good! I heard you saying, “YES, Dr. A!”

I know this proposition is complicated. It is common sense but it will take effort in order to make it work. I don’t know about you but in my book, when I put my mind into something, usually I get what I want. People should be able to get what they want by better understanding their circumstances. You deserve better, trust me. We have no other option anymore other than fighting heads on this Smartphone Addiction epidemic.

I will leave this article with my motto, “Use technology but in moderation.” If you can’t, please realize that you aren’t alone. Millions of people are struggling with a wide variety of technological side effects and quite frankly, they are in the same boat as you. The good news is this. We can turn this whole technological addiction around by understanding the need to seek guidance from a psychology professional when required. That’s what I think.