Excuse Me for Interrupting…

.

“Did you even hear what I said?”

“Mmmm hmmm.”

“I said I am going to break your phone if you look at it one more time.”

“Sounds good babe.”

Insert fuming husband or wife, “neglected” child or dog, and a whole bunch of relationship and health issues. Phone addiction is a modern day problem. We created it to make our lives easier, yet as similarly as gravity, what goes up, must come down. And, with the ease of finding information and directions, the cost has been personal disconnect, eye strain and a new form of digital addiction.

 

Types of Phone Addiction

Okay, beyond the “scroll,” what do we have? Alright, how about this one. Has your girlfriend, wife or partner been posting ridiculous videos of you not paying attention, then looking up to find yourself a Snapchat squirrel or some other embarrassing filter? In new relationships, or in rocky relationships, women can tend to completely overpost and overstep their boundaries of respect to you. This is something that maybe crosses from addiction into something else, but regardless, you can try a few ways to address it.

 

How to Get Your Partner to Break Her Phone Addiction

If you’re dealing with overposting, try humor first. Humor with a tad of seriousness, if it works, can be the easiest and smoothest way to address it. If that doesn’t work, have a serious conversation, but only when both of you are completely relaxed. Anything done under stress can have unwanted and unexpected results.

If it’s scrolling or constantly checking emails, think about your part too instead of just theirs. For example, is your partner on their phone while you guys are watching TV at night? Maybe you need some more activities to keep you active and busier. Or, if your spouse or partner is constantly doing work on their devices, maybe they need support. Are they going through a stressful time at work or in their career? Counseling can help. And, maybe try doing the dishes or helping with the kids a little bit more this week and see if that can help relieve their stress. Asking if you can help because you’ve noticed them “checking out” on their phones lately, can bring the tone from accusatory to supportive. Worth a try.

 

Modern Solutions to a Modern Problem

So, as stated, this whole phone addiction stuff is a modern day issue for men and women alike. We need grounding to deal with the digital age. If you can consciously train yourself to step away from your phone for a few hours a day, that will take you a long, long way. If that’s difficult though, there could be other issues that are unresolved. Do you feel anxious when you check your phone? Counseling, exercise and diet can all help with anxiety. Are you worried about your reputation online? Deep breathing can help you let it go. Whatever it is, taking a look inside can help with repetitive, compulsive behaviors. Need support? Ready for you.

 

About the Author

As a counselor to the 21st Century man, Bryce Mathern created Brass Balls Tender Heart to help men find integrity in an ever complicated world. Relationships, fatherhood, stress, depression and anxiety all affect the modern man. To deal with the physical and mental strain of relentless pressure, men’s counseling and relationship coaching can provide stability where none can be found. It’s a rock when things around you are slipping. And, it’s a place to toss ideas around without fear of judgment. If this article spurs some action, try meeting with me to add counseling into your overall plan.