Is there any phone addiction service in the uk?

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Shirelurk@reddit

Buying a not smartphone might be something you can do in between finding help. The NHS might be a bit pigeon holey with addiction and if it doesn't fit one of the named ones they might not offer to treat the addiction, but will likely offer mental health counselling

You can speak to your GP about that and ask for help with the mental health side of it, you can also look into private counselling, it can be a bit pricey though.

I'd also look into attention span exercises, because reels and shorts are designed to narrow your attention span into these 10 second slots, that will be an underlying root I think. One of my favourites is to take some rice and some lentils, mix them, then sit and finish the task of separating them back out!

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9182tlm@reddit

I am in the same boat. Phone addiction is not taken seriously at all.

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spnelson@reddit

Have you tried getting a non smartphone and selling your current one?

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WastelandOfConfusion@reddit

Force yourself to ‘Do Nothing’. Do the ‘sessions’ with increasing increments, 5 mins, then 10 mins, 20 mins, 30 mins, 45 mins, an hour, and so on. Essentially, you’ve down-regulated your Dopamine receptors by exposing them to high Dopamine release over a long period. The ‘Do Nothing’ sessions will reduce the Dopamine exposure and allow for the Dopamine receptors to ‘Up-Regulate’, making them more sensitive, which in turn will make you feel happier again in the long-term. And also, learn to do tasks where you have to take time to ‘earn’ the reward. Good luck.

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Klutzy_Security_9206@reddit

SMART Recovery is an international community of peer support groups that aims to help people recover from addictive and problematic behaviors. SMART stands for Self-Management and Recovery Training. The SMART approach is secular and research-based.

Should you not have a local group which meets in person, there’s a whole planet of UK or international online meetings you can choose join (a shared language notwithstanding).

I wish you the best of luck!

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Fwoggie2@reddit

Step 1: Get a GP appointment and explain the issues and the specific impact it's having on your mental health and go from there.

You don't say how old you are but NSPCC has online wellbeing information to help, Re-source is a digital well-being organisation too. There is also a NHS national centre for internet and gaming addictions but you'd need referrals.

Your phone also has settings to limit the time you spend on them. For apple it's under settings, screen time. For android it's settings, digital well-being.

Apps that may help include forest (don't touch your phone and trees grow, touch it and they die), one sec (introduces a brief pause to take a deep breath and consider whether you actively need to consult that app, the idea is to stop subconscious habits), freedom is the nuclear option and will block apps full stop, opal is less violent and does it for specific focus times that you define, stay free doesn't stop you doing anything but will precisely track your usage across all apps to understand exactly how much time you're spending where. Unfortunately all these can be reversed unless you get someone else to set up a password to prevent app installs and deletions.

But if it's all starting to seriously impact your mental health then your GP should be your first stop. Be brave and tell them exactly how it is impacting you for them to understand the severity level and identify the most appropriate actions or support for you.

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CarrotToff@reddit

Your GP isn't going to be able to help with a phone addiction.

Delete the apps/accounts. Get a brick phone. There are options within the OP's control.

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ross-dirext-words137@reddit

Allot of the support available depends on your circumstances. If your a student at university there is allot of support in the union.

If you working most companies have a basicly levelnof mental health support. Normally a employee assistance help line.

You can always go down your GP thought but that is the slow long waiting list rought.

If you have money, it's pretty easy to get a private consultation with a therapist. They can point you in the right direction.

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fourlegsfaster@reddit

The ironic thing is that you are using your phone to reach out for help. The Samaritans may not be exactly the service to address your problem, but they may be a start to help with referring you elsewhere.

Practical tips if you find yourself doomscrolling | How we can help | SamartiansPractical tips if you find yourself ‘doomscrolling’ online news and social media

I would also suggest that you seek out a therapist, one you see face to face and not on-line.

You most probably know all the practical tips like no devices in the bedroom, you don't need a phone for an alarm you can buy a cheap clock. Also the mantra one day at a time is useful, so 'tonight I will not have any devices in the bedroom', rather than 'I must never ever have a device in my bedroom, and now I'm miserable because I broke that rule yesterday'.

Good luck.

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