COMPUTERS/CELL PHONES

Electronic addiction, especially among, teens has become extremely prevalent. It is common to see young people on a cell phone or computer for hours at a time. This behavior has many consequences including the negative impact on a young person's sleep cycle and their brain development. Staring at computers and televisions releases the same neurotransmitters that are stimulated during drug use and it becomes an obsessive, habitual behavior that is difficult to overcome in adulthood.

Doing too many things at once—talking on the phone and "IM"ing while trying to do their homework—impedes academic performance and keeps teens feeling stressed out and overwhelmed. This makes it challenging to create and sustain meaningful interpersonal relationships, especially with their families.

In order to become healthy adults, teens need to learn to regulate their desires and impulses. Without external limits, they become distracted and unable to focus or follow through with tasks. They need their parents and other adults to set balanced guidelines that create positive habits.

Please contact us if you need guidance in setting healthy parameters with your teen that support the entire family.