(518) 606-3805
Email via Form
Schedule Free Consultation
Ask Dr. Cale
Login
No apps configured. Please contact your administrator.

Login with your site account

No apps configured. Please contact your administrator.

Lost your password?

Dr. Randy Cale Dr. Randy Cale
    • Neurofeedback
    • Services Offered
      • Brain Mapping Assessment (QEEG)
      • Neurofeedback Brain Training
      • Neurofeedback Training at Home
      • Peak Performance Training for Athletes and Professionals
      • Individual or Family Therapy/Coaching Services
      • Other Services
    • What to Expect?
    • Conditions Treated

          • ADD/ADHD


          • Anxiety & More


          • Autism/Aspergers


          • Depression


          • Insomnia


          • Learning Disabilities


          • Migraines


          • OCD


          • PTSD


          • Seizures and Epilepsy


          • Stroke or Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

    • About
    • Blog
    • FAQs
          • What is Neurofeedback Anyway?
          • How Does Neurofeedback Work?
          • How Long Before I See Results?
          • Why is Neurofeedback So Effective?
          • Why Neurofeedback Is Effective with So Many Psychological Disorders?
          • Home Training Neurofeedback
          • What Conditions Are Responsive to Neurofeedback?
          • Will My Insurance Cover Neurofeedback?
          • How Neurofeedback Can Help Your Family?
          • Does Neurofeedback Improve Neuroplasticity?
          • Can Neurofeedback Improve Mental Performance?
          • Mendi vs MyndLift vs Neurofeedback?
          • Is Neurofeedback Going To Change Personality?
          • What is PEMF or Pulsed Electo-Magnetic Field Theory?
          • Will Neurofeedback Work for Me in Albany NY?
          • Anxiety, COVID, and Neurofeedback
          • Neurofeedback for Anxiety
          • Sleep and Neurofeedback
          • ADHD Kids Driving Crazy
    • Neurofeedback
    • Services Offered
      • Brain Mapping Assessment (QEEG)
      • Neurofeedback Brain Training
      • Neurofeedback Training at Home
      • Peak Performance Training for Athletes and Professionals
      • Individual or Family Therapy/Coaching Services
      • Other Services
    • What to Expect?
    • Conditions Treated

          • ADD/ADHD


          • Anxiety & More


          • Autism/Aspergers


          • Depression


          • Insomnia


          • Learning Disabilities


          • Migraines


          • OCD


          • PTSD


          • Seizures and Epilepsy


          • Stroke or Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

    • About
    • Blog
    • FAQs
          • What is Neurofeedback Anyway?
          • How Does Neurofeedback Work?
          • How Long Before I See Results?
          • Why is Neurofeedback So Effective?
          • Why Neurofeedback Is Effective with So Many Psychological Disorders?
          • Home Training Neurofeedback
          • What Conditions Are Responsive to Neurofeedback?
          • Will My Insurance Cover Neurofeedback?
          • How Neurofeedback Can Help Your Family?
          • Does Neurofeedback Improve Neuroplasticity?
          • Can Neurofeedback Improve Mental Performance?
          • Mendi vs MyndLift vs Neurofeedback?
          • Is Neurofeedback Going To Change Personality?
          • What is PEMF or Pulsed Electo-Magnetic Field Theory?
          • Will Neurofeedback Work for Me in Albany NY?
          • Anxiety, COVID, and Neurofeedback
          • Neurofeedback for Anxiety
          • Sleep and Neurofeedback
          • ADHD Kids Driving Crazy
  • Home
  • All Posts
  • The Dangers of Unlimited Phone Use

All Posts

15 Oct

The Dangers of Unlimited Phone Use

  • By Admin
  • In All Posts, Anxiety, Anxiety & Fear, Behavior Issues, Brain Neurofeedback, Healthy Habits, Parent Coaching, Technology
  • 0 comment
  • / Reading Time: 4 minutes
teen-and-phone-by-laura-chouette-at-unsplash

In today’s digital era, teenagers are practically married to their phones. As parents look on, perhaps with a sigh of relief that their teenager is quiet and preoccupied, there is an underlying problem. Some of us have acknowledged this problem, but not many. This article is an effort to reduce complacency and encourage action.

The Link Between Phone Use and Mental Health Issues

Few seriously consider the role of electronics in the dramatic rise in mental health issues among teens.  Even though we often find children/teens isolated with social media, playing games, or surfing, we do not seem to have a heightened concern for such activities. We do not see joy, happiness, and increasing motivation to thrive when we observe our children during these times! Instead, we often see, and children report the opposite: frustration, embarrassment, anxiety, sadness… to name a few.

Mounting evidence suggests a direct correlation between prolonged phone usage and many mental health concerns in children and teenagers. It’s an alarming reality that compels us to do something different. With the explosion of social media usage among children, this technology has become the most common method for kids to connect and communicate. But with this connectivity comes an unintended consequence: a heightened risk for mental health issues.

Recent studies indicate that unlimited phone use can contribute to increased levels of anxiety and depression among kids. To explain this, we see that with excessive screen time, children are often subjected to an unrealistic portrayal of life through social media, causing them to form unhealthy comparisons and foster negative self-perceptions. They find themselves wanting more and more, often neglecting the many beautiful blessings of a good life. Cyberbullying becomes a looming threat, too, creating a hostile virtual environment that amplifies feeling of isolation and, in extreme cases, can even lead to suicidal thoughts.  Much is now hidden from parents without parental objection when communicating with peers.  The use of apps with disappearing content has become acceptable despite the data suggesting that unmonitored communications between teens will often erode into negative, profane, anxiety-producing conversations.

Of course, teens will argue that this is how they connect.  However, it is only one way of connecting, and many options offer more excellent opportunities for healthy connections.

Why Parents Need to Take Control of Phone Usage

As parents, our role in managing our children’s exposure to cell phones cannot be overstated. We are responsible for understanding the gravity of this situation and taking decisive action. By taking control of their phone usage, we’re not merely limiting their screen time—we’re protecting their mental health and ensuring their overall well-being.

Most agree that limits are needed when this topic is raised in seminars or online surveys with parents!  Yet, why do so many of us bend the rules and get lax on this over time? Admittedly, an underlying fear seizes many parents when setting boundaries on phone usage. The worry of being too controlling, having teens who don’t fit in, and most strongly is the somewhat bizarre FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out). This social anxiety stems from the belief that others might be having fun while the person is not present. Therefore, FOMO often leads parents to adopt a hands-off approach. Yet evidence continues to flood in illustrating the clear correlations between excessive cell phone usage and escalated anxiety, depression, and even suicidal tendencies among teenagers.

Setting Healthy Boundaries with Phone Time

Setting boundaries doesn’t mean banning phones outright. Instead, we need to cultivate a balanced and healthful approach that respects the role of technology in our kids’ lives while preventing its misuse. It’s not difficult if we learn to parent by inspiration and wisdom rather than by fear.  Fear-based parenting will always have us implementing strategies that produce more problems than they solve. Simple ideas that work include:

  1. Establishing mobile-free zones in the home, such as the table or the car.
  2. Setting times when the whole family is not using phones.
  3. Nurturing involvement in outdoor activities, sports, and recreational hobbies
  4. Establish time for mutual learning of topics or languages
  5. Insisting that we slow down as parents and lead with face-to-face conversations with family members
  6. Use technology to limit technology, with routers, software, and built-in tools that make this easy
  7. When children complain, don’t engage or keep answering the same question. The plan will erode.

By managing our children’s cell phone usage, we’re equipping them with the tools to navigate the digital world safely and responsibly—a skill that’s unquestionably essential in today’s technologically driven society. You can learn more about our behavioral and technology strategies by visiting us at CapitalDistrictNeurofeedback.com.

Tags:FOMOmental health issuesneurofeedbackNFBparentingparenting solutionsphone usagescreen time
  • Share:
Admin

You may also like

woman-fear-with-anxiety-treated-with-neurofeedback-by-vitaliy-shevchenko-at-unsplash

How Fear Feeds on Itself and Heightens Anxiety

  • May 4, 2025
  • by Admin
  • in All Posts
Anxiety rarely storms in loudly. At least not at first. It slips in quietly-disguised as overthinking, people-pleasing, perfectionism, or...
strugglinh-woman-by-mathieu-bigard-at-unsplash
Why We Humans Struggle to Do What’s Good for Us (And How to Change That)
April 20, 2025
frustrated-man-by-malachi-cowie-at-unsplash
From Complaints to Influence: How to Transform Frustration into Positive Impact
April 14, 2025
cutting-piece-of-paper-by-megan-watson-at-unsplash
Be Cautious Of the ‘In the Moment’ Emotions
April 6, 2025

Leave A Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Get The Latest Updates

delivered by follow.it

Categories

  • All About Life (54)
  • All Posts (236)
  • Brain Neurofeedback (57)
    • Addiction (5)
    • ADHD (14)
    • Anxiety (21)
    • Autism-Aspergers (2)
    • Brain Mapping Assessment (QEEG) (4)
    • Depression (7)
    • Insomnia (3)
    • Learning Disabilities (1)
    • Migraines (1)
    • Neurofeedback Research (11)
    • OCD (1)
    • PTSD (1)
    • Stroke / Traumatic Brain Injury (1)
    • What is Neurofeedback (3)
  • Parent Coaching (171)
    • Accountability & Responsibility (5)
    • Active Exercise & Movement (2)
    • Active Ignoring (1)
    • ADD & ADHD (9)
    • Anxiety & Fear (22)
    • Appreciation & Gratitude (2)
    • Arguing & Fighting (6)
    • Behavior Issues (21)
    • Behavior Topics (18)
    • Chores (6)
    • Communication (15)
    • Computers (2)
    • Confident Child (3)
    • Consequences (1)
    • Daily Routines (12)
    • Defiant Child (9)
    • Divorce (3)
    • Family Rules & Limits Setting (6)
    • Goals & Priorities (3)
    • Happiness (23)
    • Healthy Habits (12)
    • Holidays & Vacation (12)
    • Homework (6)
    • In The News (7)
    • Motivation (5)
    • Parenting News (1)
    • Parenting Styles & Role (5)
    • Public Behavior (2)
    • Respect (2)
    • Routines & Structure (10)
    • School Related (2)
    • Self-Esteem (4)
    • Siblings Battles (1)
    • Strong Willed (3)
    • Technology (5)
    • Teenagers (3)
    • Work At Home (1)
  • Videos (1)

Recent Posts

  • How Fear Feeds on Itself and Heightens Anxiety
  • Why We Humans Struggle to Do What’s Good for Us (And How to Change That)
  • From Complaints to Influence: How to Transform Frustration into Positive Impact
  • Be Cautious Of the ‘In the Moment’ Emotions
  • Clutter Invites More Clutter, Which Triggers More Anxiety.

GET IN TOUCH

(518) 606-3805

634 Plank Rd, Clifton Park, NY 12065.

8am to 7pm Mon-Wed, Thu & Fri (PAO)

USEFUL LINKS

  • Terrific Parenting
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Success Stories
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Secure Shopping
  • NFB FAQs

Social Links

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Youtube

Newsletter

Discover The 12 Secrets of Nurturing
Your Child’s Self Esteem


Dr. Randy Cale | Copyright © 2025 | All Rights ReservedThimPress powered by WordPress | Customized & Maintained by RJA

  • Home
  • About
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Products