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FOMO (Fear of Missing Out), binge-watching, and nomophobia (no-mobile anxiousness) are among the many commonest manifestations of digital overuse, mentioned Manoj Kumar Sharma, professor of Clinical Psychology and director of the Service for Healthy Use of Technology (SHUT) Clinic at NIMHANS, who spoke on “Disconnect to Reconnect: Finding Balance in a Digital World” on the second Community Connect programme organised by NIMHANS at Lalbagh on Saturday.
‘Digital fasting’
Pointing out that extreme display use is related to sleep delays, eye pressure, musculoskeletal points, decreased bodily exercise, vitamin D deficiency, and psychological misery, Dr. Sharma mentioned it’s advisable to apply “digital fasting” by consciously staying away from screens for 30–40 minutes a day.
Underscoring how deeply expertise has permeated on a regular basis life, he launched the contributors to rising phenomena similar to Phantom Vibration Syndrome (a neurological phenomenon the place an individual feels a cell phone vibrating when it isn’t, typically as a consequence of extreme use), Zero Inbox Syndrome (fixed e mail checking to make sure that nothing is left unread), Digital Amnesia (the tendency to overlook data that’s simply accessible via digital gadgets just like the web and smartphones) and Smartphone Lavatory Syndrome (refers back to the vary of damaging well being penalties ensuing from utilizing a smartphone whereas in bathroom).
Suggested methods
To counter these challenges, Dr. Sharma emphasised three sensible steps: Awareness, Acknowledgment, and Action. “Suggested methods embody partaking in face-to-face interactions, hobbies, and outside actions; sustaining 60–90 minutes of every day bodily exercise with out devices; setting wholesome digital boundaries – similar to sleeping with out cell phones close by, taking common display breaks, and utilizing wellbeing apps to trace utilization,” he identified.
Dr. Sharma additional inspired contributors to domesticate JOMO (Joy of Missing Out) – discovering contentment with out fixed digital engagement – and to maintain bodily wellbeing. He emphasised the significance of blinking often and taking breaks to stop eye pressure, neck stiffness, or again ache.
The session was organised by the Departments of Mental Health Education, Psychiatric Social Work, and Clinical Psychopharmacology and Neurotoxicology at NIMHANS, in collaboration with the State Department of Horticulture.
A brief demonstration of workouts for bodily wellbeing was adopted by an introduction to the providers of the NIMHANS SHUT Clinic, positioned on the NIMHANS Centre for Well Being, BTM Layout, Bengaluru. Participants had been urged to utilize the devoted Digital Detox Helpline – 9480829675 — for help.
Next session
The subsequent Community Connect shall be held on September 20 at Lalbagh to mark World Suicide Prevention Day. Prabha Chandra, Senior Professor of psychiatry and Dean of Behavioural Sciences at NIMHANS, will lead the session.
Published – August 23, 2025 08:40 pm IST
