Are You Addicted to Your Cell Phone? Here are the Signs!

This is a picture of my new iPhone 6 Plus in it's beautiful new leather case. I am in love and want everyone to know! Are you sleeping with your cell phone? If you just can't get enough you may be addicted! There IS such a thing as cell phone addiction! A behavioral addiction, (like gambling, sex or exercise), produces pleasure in your brain that can lead to you becoming addicted to it.

Here are some signs of any type of substance or behavioral addiction:

Salience- I didn't know what this word meant either. It's when something is so deeply ingrained into your daily routine. Is your phone the first thing you reach for in the morning? Would you drive back home if you left your phone there? O.K., I'm one for one...
Euphoria- Do you get excited when you hear a text or call come in? Do you use your phone a lot when you are bored? Now I'm two for two. I'm not panicking though.
Tolerance- Has your use escalated? Do you need more use to get your phone fix? This one is directed at those of you who bring your phone with you while you use the bathroom. WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU?! Yuck,man. I'm two for three now and feeling good.
Withdrawal Symptoms-Do you panic when you misplace your cell phone? Are you stressed or anxious when you have to turn it off or be separated from it? Duh! Well, of course!
Conflict-Do people around you complain that you use your phone too much? Is playing games on your phone or checking out Facebook interfering with getting work done? Not for me, nope! Three for five! Woo-Hoo!

How did you do? Are you reading this on your phone?!

I have known the despair of love and loss when I permanently misplaced my iPhone 5 this fall. I can't talk about it without reliving the moment of realization when I accepted that it was so much more than a phone to me! It was like realizing that you are in love with your best friend at their wedding! Maybe I do watch too much Lifetime Television... But the loss still hurts! The pictures and videos! The contacts! All of my notes and lists! Laughter is the best medicine they say. Maybe this will give me new perspective...