A growing number of people are seeking help for what experts describe as compulsive smartphone use, raising concerns that modern devices may be reshaping attention, behaviour, and mental wellbeing in profound ways. For some, the urge to check notifications can feel overwhelming, disrupting work, relationships, and even treatment for other addictions.
Marios, a personal trainer from north London, describes his relationship with his phone as uncontrollable. At times, he spends more than 14 hours a day on screens, with social media platforms such as Instagram playing a major role in his excessive use. Even during therapy aimed at addressing his dependency, he struggles with the impulse to respond instantly to messages, likening his phone to a constant source of temptation that sits “like a drug dealer in his pocket.”
Despite recognising the problem, Marios finds it difficult to disconnect. He is currently undergoing a structured 12-session therapy programme to address what he believes is partly driven by loneliness. Like many others, he reports that his phone provides temporary emotional relief but ultimately reinforces a cycle of dependency and overuse.
Experts say there is growing concern about such behaviour, even though “phone addiction” is not yet formally recognised as a clinical disorder. Surveys suggest the issue is widespread, with a large majority of adults admitting they spend too much time on their devices. Mental health professionals also report an increase in clients whose digital dependency interferes with treatment for substance abuse and other conditions.
At treatment centres such as Rainford Hall in the UK, therapists are seeing more individuals struggling to disconnect from their phones alongside traditional addictions. Clinical staff explain that smartphones activate the brain’s reward system, triggering dopamine release when users receive notifications, messages, or social media engagement. Over time, this reward loop can lead to compulsive behaviour, where individuals feel driven to check their devices repeatedly throughout the day.
Patients in treatment describe severe consequences of this dependency. One individual, James, who initially sought help for alcohol addiction, said his life became dominated by constant scrolling and checking online updates after losing his job. He described feeling trapped by his device, unable to stop despite experiencing distress and exhaustion.
Therapists say many patients arrive in treatment anxious about giving up their phones, often citing work, family communication, and safety concerns. However, they note that underlying emotional issues such as stress, avoidance, and loneliness frequently drive excessive use. Structured rehabilitation programmes typically focus on gradually reducing screen time while helping individuals confront the emotions they have been avoiding through digital distraction.
Support networks are also emerging outside formal treatment settings. Groups such as Internet and Technology Addicts Anonymous (ITAA) offer peer-led recovery programmes modelled on traditional addiction recovery systems. Members describe extreme patterns of use, including sleeplessness, isolation, and loss of employment, before entering recovery and rebuilding healthier relationships with technology.
One recovering member, Jenny, said her dependency became so severe that she had to restrict access to her devices with the help of others. After years of compulsive consumption of online content, she eventually stopped streaming and browsing entirely and now reports feeling more in control of her life. Another member, Tom, described how excessive screen use contributed to losing his business and experiencing severe mental health struggles before beginning recovery through structured support and lifestyle changes.
Psychotherapists specialising in behavioural addiction say that phone overuse often acts as a coping mechanism for discomfort, particularly during moments of uncertainty or waiting for social feedback. They encourage individuals to reflect on emotional triggers that lead to excessive checking and to replace habitual scrolling with alternative activities such as exercise, reading, or social interaction.
Technology companies have introduced screen-time tracking tools and app limits in response to growing concerns, but experts argue that behavioural change ultimately depends on awareness and self-regulation. While digital devices remain essential for communication and work, clinicians warn that unchecked usage can blur the boundary between convenience and compulsion.
Despite the challenges, some individuals report progress through therapy and conscious effort to reduce screen dependence. Marios, for example, says he is slowly regaining enjoyment in everyday activities as he works to limit his device use. However, he acknowledges that the temptation remains constant.
Researchers continue to debate whether excessive phone use should be formally classified as an addiction, but agree that its psychological impact is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore in modern society.
