General (6)Jennifer L. Hall
From: Theresa Bass
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Subject: FW: [EXTERNAL] Fwd: Too much screen time can change your brain chemistry can
directly impact your hormones, it can affect your brain as well too long can have
serious side effects on your physical and mental well-being.
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Subject: [EXTERNAL] Fwd: Too much screen time can change your brain chemistry can directly impact your hormones, it
can affect your brain as well too long can have serious side effects on your physical and mental well-being.
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---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Craig A Durfey <
Date: Sat, Oct 23, 2021 at 4:51 PM
Subject: Too much screen time can change your brain chemistry can directly impact your hormones, it can
affect your brain as well too long can have serious side effects on your physical and mental well-being.
To: <CADURFEY(
10-23-2021
(P.R.D.D.C.)
PARENTS FOR THE RIGHTS OF DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED CHILDREN
CRAIG A. DURFEY FOUNDER OF P.R.D.D.C.
GARDEN GROVE, CA 92842
CELL
SOCIALEMOTIONALPAWS.COM
FACEBOOK: CRAIG DURFEY
U.S. HOUSE OF CONGRESS H2404 - HONORING CRAIG DURFEY FOR HIS FIGHT AGAINST AUTISM
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To who it may concern
Just as too much screen time can directly impact your hormones, it can affect
your brain as well. According to Psychology Today, studies show that screen
addiction can lead to gray matter atrophy and damage to the area known as the
insula, which is responsible for our ability to cultivate empathy and compassion.
Furthermore, the white matter in the brain also becomes compromised
underneath the glare of the screen. This can lead to loss of communication
throughout different parts of the brain or cause "short circuits."
The bottom line is that screens should not take up as much time as they do for
many of us. Simple ways to help offset the damaging effects include limiting your
exposure to the blue light. Consider getting a pair of blue -light blocking glasses
to use while you work at your computer and turn on the night-time mode on your
phone, which filters blue light from your screen. This is particularly important at
night; for example, a study found that people who spent four hours hovered over
their a -books before bed produced 55 percent less melatonin than those who read
print books (via WebMD).
But, the best solution is to cut down screen time and get outside, away from all
technology as much as possible. Take breaks every hour to help your system
reset and stretch to alleviate neck and back strain.
If you ask anyone these days to name one thing they can't live without, their cell
phone would probably top the list. If you're anything like me, the sheer act of
reaching around a giant purse without immediately grabbing ahold of your
precious smartphone is the easiest way to go straight into panic mode. That's
because, thanks to good of technology, most of us have become completely
3
addicted to our phones, relying on them for everything from ordering take-out to
staying in touch of with our BFFs.
If you ask anyone these days to name one thing they can't live without, their cell
phone would probably top the list. If you're anything like me, the sheer act of
reaching around a giant purse without immediately grabbing ahold of your
precious smartphone is the easiest way to go straight into panic mode. That's
because, thanks to good of technology, most of us have become completely
addicted to our phones, relying on them for everything from ordering take-out to
staying in touch of with our BFFs.
Between our TVs and computers, many of us spend hours upon hours every day
staring at screens. Throw a smartphone into the mix and it won't be long before
your eyes have simply had too much. In fact, I'll be the first to admit that I've
tired out my own eyes plenty of times just scrolling through my Instagram feed.
"Extended use of digital devices and exposure to screens can cause digital eye
strain," Dr. Howard Purcell, an optometrist, Fellow of the American Academy of
Optometry, and the Senior Vice President of Customer Development at at Essilor,
told me. "Symptoms can include blurry vision, trouble focusing on one thing, red,
tired, or dry eyes, as well as headaches."
This is because our devices emit low levels of harmful blue light, which Dr.
Purcell says that studies suggest can change the way our pupils react to light,
causing light sensitivity and strain around and behind the eyes. "Think of the eyes
like any muscle. You have six muscles that move each eye, and one muscle that
focuses it," he said. "Overuse can certainly cause your eye to fatigue."
If you're going to be concentrating on any screen for a long time, Dr. Purcell
suggests trying the 20/20/20 rule. "The goal is to take a break every 20 minutes,
for 20 seconds, and look at something that's at least 20 feet away."
4
Whether we're catching up with friends via group text or laughing along to an
adorable cat video on YouTube, using our cell phones usually results in us being
hunched over, which can wreak havoc on our neck and shoulders.
"Using your phone too much results in what doctors call 'overuse injuries'," Dr.
Jennifer Stagg, naturopathic physician and author of Unzip Your Genes, told me.
One of the main problems she sees in her practice, she says, is neck strain.
"From leaning forward or holding your head in awkward positions for extended
periods of time," she said.
Cell phone -related neck strain is so common, doctors have even given it it's own
name—text neck. "Research shows that for every inch you drop your head
forward, you double the load on those muscles," said Dr. Robert Bolash in an
article for Cleveland Clinic, where he is a pain specialist. "Looking down at your
smartphone, with your chin to your chest, can put about 60 pounds of force on
your neck."
Besides neck and shoulder pain, slouching over to look at your phone can cause
other health concerns, including lowered oxygen to your brain. According to
Cleveland Clinic, sitting in a slumped position hinders your lungs' ability to
expand, thus impairing your lung capacity. Inhaling less oxygen means your heart
needs to work harder to send more oxygen -carrying blood throughout your body,
including to your brain.
If texting is your favorite means of communication, you might want to err on the
side of caution the next time your phone dings with a new notification.
Dr. Stagg told me that carpal tunnel and wrist sprains in her patients are often a
result of cell phone overuse. "From holding the phone for extended periods of
time, compressing the carpal tunnel and also causing inflammation of the tendon
attachments," she said.
5
If a sprained wrist isn't enough to put your phone on "Do Not Disturb"
mode, Kimberly Hershenson, LMSW, a New York -based therapist whose
practice includes treating individuals with social media and technology addiction,
told me that "text thumb" is another common injury seen in patients who spend
too much time on their phones.
"Pain, discomfort, or numbness in the thumb can occur from overuse due to
constant texting and typing," she told me.
Ever decide to check Facebook before bed only to find yourself still scrolling your
feed at 2 a.m.? While staying up past your bed time is probably okay every once in
a blue moon, habitually using your cell phone before bed can have several
adverse effects.
"Constantly looking at your phone not only keeps your brain up but actually
affects and suppresses your melatonin levels," Erica Hornthal, founder of Chicago
Dance Therapy and licensed dance therapist, told me.
Hershenson agreed, saying, "The glare from the phone light, as well as engaging
on your phone, keeps the brain active not allowing you to wind down and calm
the body for bed."
In addition to negatively affecting our bodies, constantly looking at our phones
can impact our mental health, too. "I coined a term called 'acquired anxiety
disorder' because of the massive amounts of people I treat in recent years who
have major anxiety issues," Kersting said. "This is from spending so much time in
the cyber world and not enough time in the real world."
How Too Much Screen Time Really Affects You
Shutterstock
BY PAIGE MCBRIDE/SEPT. 23, 2020 11:18 AM EDT
While you may be spending more time looking at a screen right now, it's
important to remember to take a step back as frequently as possible. Whether
you're working from home or back in the office, looking at a screen (be it your
phone or computer) for too long can have serious side effects on your physical
and mental well-being.
The average American adult spends more than seven hours a day staring at a
screen with nearly 58 percent of people who work at computers suffering from
Computer Vision Syndrome (via Business Insider). The ailment causes eyestrain,
blurred vision, neck pain, and more.
But perhaps the most notable consequence of too much screen time is the
disruption of your body's circadian rhythms. Since screens emit a variety of
colors including blue light, absorbing these rays can damage your body's ability
to regulate your hormones (via WebMD). An extremely important hormone,
melatonin, tells your body when it's time to wake up, rest, eat, and function
properly. When you're exposed to too much blue light from your screens, it can
adversely affect your natural cycles — leading to insomnia and other issues,
especially if you're on your phone before bed.
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Too much screen time can change your brain chemistry
Shutterstock
Just as too much screen time can directly impact your hormones, it can affect
your brain as well. According to Psychology Today, studies show that screen
addiction can lead to gray matter atrophy and damage to the area known as the
insula, which is responsible for our ability to cultivate empathy and compassion.
Furthermore, the white matter in the brain also becomes compromised
underneath the glare of the screen. This can lead to loss of communication
throughout different parts of the brain or cause "short circuits."
The bottom line is that screens should not take up as much time as they do for
many of us. Simple ways to help offset the damaging effects include limiting your
exposure to the blue light. Consider getting a pair of blue -light blocking glasses
to use while you work at your computer and turn on the night-time mode on your
phone, which filters blue light from your screen. This is particularly important at
night; for example, a study found that people who spent four hours hovered over
their a -books before bed produced 55 percent less melatonin than those who read
print books (via WebMD).
But, the best solution is to cut down screen time and get outside, away from all
technology as much as possible. Take breaks every hour to help your system
reset and stretch to alleviate neck and back strain.
What Really Happens When You Stare At Your Phone All Da
rj
BY ADRIA VALDES GREENHAUFF/JUNE 28, 2017 10:17 AM EDT/UPDATED: FEB.
14, 2020 3:53 PM EDT
If you ask anyone these days to name one thing they can't live without, their cell
phone would probably top the list. If you're anything like me, the sheer act of
reaching around a giant purse without immediately grabbing ahold of your
precious smartphone is the easiest way to go straight into panic mode. That's
because, thanks to good of technology, most of us have become completely
addicted to our phones, relying on them for everything from ordering take-out to
staying in touch of with our BFFs.
3
"So many people are addicted to their phones because they provide us with
instant feedback and instant gratification," Tom Kersting, psychotherapist and
author of the book Disconnected: How to Reconnect Our Digitally Distracted Kids,
told me in an interview. "Want to know the weather forecast? Okay. Need to
know the name of that actor from that movie? No problem. Want to talk to your
uncle in California? Okay, no problem. Because we rely on them for just about
everything, when we don't have them we go into withdrawal."
But besides making us majorly needy, smartphone separation anxiety can
actually have a slew of other negative side effects, according to the experts
I spoke to. Here are ten things that happen when you stare at your phone all day.
Eye strain
Between our TVs and computers, many of us spend hours upon hours every day
staring at screens. Throw a smartphone into the mix and it won't be long before
your eyes have simply had too much. In fact, I'll be the first to admit that I've
tired out my own eyes plenty of times just scrolling through my Instagram feed.
"Extended use of digital devices and exposure to screens can cause digital eye
strain," Dr. Howard Purcell, an optometrist, Fellow of the American Academy of
Optometry, and the Senior Vice President of Customer Development at at Essilor,
told me. "Symptoms can include blurry vision, trouble focusing on one thing, red,
tired, or dry eyes, as well as headaches."
This is because our devices emit low levels of harmful blue light, which Dr.
Purcell says that studies suggest can change the way our pupils react to light,
causing light sensitivity and strain around and behind the eyes. "Think of the eyes
like any muscle. You have six muscles that move each eye, and one muscle that
focuses it," he said. "Overuse can certainly cause your eye to fatigue."
0
If you're going to be concentrating on any screen for a long time, Dr. Purcell
suggests trying the 20/20/20 rule. "The goal is to take a break every 20 minutes,
for 20 seconds, and look at something that's at least 20 feet away."
Shutterstock
Whether we're catching up with friends via group text or laughing along to an
adorable cat video on YouTube, using our cell phones usually results in us being
hunched over, which can wreak havoc on our neck and shoulders.
"Using your phone too much results in what doctors call 'overuse injuries'," Dr.
Jennifer Stagg, naturopathic physician and author of Unzip Your Genes, told me.
One of the main problems she sees in her practice, she says, is neck strain.
"From leaning forward or holding your head in awkward positions for extended
periods of time," she said.
Cell phone -related neck strain is so common, doctors have even given it it's own
name—text neck. "Research shows that for every inch you drop your head
forward, you double the load on those muscles," said Dr. Robert Bolash in an
article for Cleveland Clinic, where he is a pain specialist. "Looking down at your
smartphone, with your chin to your chest, can put about 60 pounds of force on
your neck."
Lower oxygen levels
Besides neck and shoulder pain, slouching over to look at your phone can cause
other health concerns, including lowered oxygen to your brain. According to
Cleveland Clinic, sitting in a slumped position hinders your lungs' ability to
10
expand, thus impairing your lung capacity. Inhaling less oxygen means your heart
needs to work harder to send more oxygen -carrying blood throughout your body,
including to your brain.
And let's just say that lower oxygen levels aren't exactly a walk in the park,
especially over time.
Wrist sprains
If texting is your favorite means of communication, you might want to err on the
side of caution the next time your phone dings with a new notification.
Dr. Stagg told me that carpal tunnel and wrist sprains in her patients are often a
result of cell phone overuse. "From holding the phone for extended periods of
time, compressing the carpal tunnel and also causing inflammation of the tendon
attachments," she said.
If a sprained wrist isn't enough to put your phone on "Do Not Disturb"
mode, Kimberly Hershenson, LMSW, a New York -based therapist whose
practice includes treating individuals with social media and technology addiction,
told me that "text thumb" is another common injury seen in patients who spend
too much time on their phones.
"Pain, discomfort, or numbness in the thumb can occur from overuse due to
constant texting and typing," she told me.
Impaired sleep
11
Ever decide to check Facebook before bed only to find yourself still scrolling your
feed at 2 a.m.? While staying up past your bed time is probably okay every once in
a blue moon, habitually using your cell phone before bed can have several
adverse affects.
"Constantly looking at your phone not only keeps your brain up but actually
affects and suppresses your melatonin levels," Erica Hornthal, founder of Chicago
Dance Therapy and licensed dance therapist, told me.
Hershenson agreed, saying, "The glare from the phone light, as well as engaging
on your phone, keeps the brain active not allowing you to wind down and calm
the body for bed."
Anxiety
In addition to negatively affecting our bodies, constantly looking at our phones
can impact our mental health, too. "I coined a term called 'acquired anxiety
disorder' because of the massive amounts of people I treat in recent years who
have major anxiety issues," Kersting said. "This is from spending so much time in
the cyber world and not enough time in the real world."
As we constantly pump our minds with scary news and content from the self -
glorified worlds of our peers, Kersting said, the more insecure we become.
"Remember, we are doing this for nine hours per day on average, 365 days a year.
Our minds need silence, not a constant bombardment."
In addition to making us anxious and paranoid, constantly checking our phones—
especially when that involves a lot of time on social media—can end up making
12
us feel sad and excluded. "What we don't realize that we are doing is attempting
to fill our self-esteem with likes and affirmations—constantly," Kersting
explained. "Yet, the first word in 'self-esteem' is 'self', not 'others'."
Hallucinations
Hershenson also thinks that phone addiction can have a negative impact on self-
esteem. "It allows us is to hide behind screens and present the lives we want
others to think we have," she told me. "We often see pictures about vacations,
fun activities, and photoshopped bodies."
She explained that this leads to comparisons, making it easy to start thinking,
Why are they so happy when I'm struggling? "The truth is, we don't know what is
truly going on with people's lives."
If you've ever sworn you felt your cell phone vibrate in your back pocket only to
check it and find zero missed calls and no new notifications, don't worry, you
aren't crazy. You may, however, be totally addicted to your phone. "Recent
studies with college students found that smartphones are making the majority of
them hallucinate," Kersting told me. "It is called 'phantom vibration syndrome'."
According to one study, the majority of students surveyed have experienced a
"phantom vibration" of buzzing in their pockets, even when their cell phone
wasn't vibrating.
If you're feeling phantom vibrations on the regular, you may want to give your cell
phone a little space.
Acquired ADHD
13
Being addicted to our cell phones is causing us all to become majorly distracted,
too. "Since the average person spends nine hours per day, seven days per week
staring into highly stimulating devices, their brains get messed up,"
Kersting explained.
"Countless teenagers, for example, are now being diagnosed with ADHD, even
though most of them don't even have the neurological condition. Instead,
because their brains are so used to being stimulated, the brain loses its ability to
concentrate, focus ,and be organized when it needs to be in certain situations."
Make time to disconnect
If you've recently found yourself a little too dependent on your smartphone, it may
be a sign that it's time to create some distance. "We have to train ourselves to be
in control of our phone instead of it being in control of us," Kersting said. To do
this, he suggests leaving your phone in the car when you go to dinner, work, or
the mall. "It will be very uncomfortable at first as you will feel that you are
missing a part of yourself, but eventually you'll get used to it. "Forget about what
everyone else is doing today, this is superficial nonsense. Detox from social
media for a month and you will see what I mean."
If totally disconnecting from technology sounds like too big of a challenge,
Hershenson suggests turning off all notifications so you aren't getting alerts
when new items are posted, and instead, schedule times when you check
technology. She also says it's important to recognize your triggers for turning to
technology.
"Is it when you're lonely or bored? If you are struggling with depression, stress, or
anxiety, technology may be a way to self -soothe moods." Instead, she suggests
finding healthier ways of managing your moods, such as practicing relaxation
techniques like deep breathing or meditation. You can also find alternative ways
14
of connecting to others such as going out with friends (without taking selfies)
instead of texting and hanging out on social media.
https://www.thelist.com/72539/really-happens-stare-phone-day/
15