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Are we addicted to technology? Are we addicted to technology?
(about 11 hours later)
Just five minutes after meeting sleep and energy expert Dr Nerina Ramlakhan in her central London clinic, she delivers some bad news.Just five minutes after meeting sleep and energy expert Dr Nerina Ramlakhan in her central London clinic, she delivers some bad news.
"You've got the classic pattern of someone who's in a fatigue cycle," she says."You've got the classic pattern of someone who's in a fatigue cycle," she says.
"You're running on survival energy. Your sympathetic nervous system is in overdrive. I would guess you feel pretty shattered mid-afternoon which would mean you are running on adrenalin, noradrenalin, cortisol.""You're running on survival energy. Your sympathetic nervous system is in overdrive. I would guess you feel pretty shattered mid-afternoon which would mean you are running on adrenalin, noradrenalin, cortisol."
I'm turning into a dopamine junkie - the brain chemical associated with pleasure that is released when we are stimulated, whether that is by food, sex, excitement... or screen time.I'm turning into a dopamine junkie - the brain chemical associated with pleasure that is released when we are stimulated, whether that is by food, sex, excitement... or screen time.
It sounds convincing. Or am I being blinded by pseudo-science?It sounds convincing. Or am I being blinded by pseudo-science?
Dr Ramlakhan works at the privately run Nightingale Hospital, and is a member of its technology addiction treatment team.Dr Ramlakhan works at the privately run Nightingale Hospital, and is a member of its technology addiction treatment team.
Surely tiredness is a by-product of a busy modern life - children, work, hobbies etc - rather than that relaxing time spent watching Netflix in bed?Surely tiredness is a by-product of a busy modern life - children, work, hobbies etc - rather than that relaxing time spent watching Netflix in bed?
"The thing many of my patients have in common is the fact that they are in front of screens all the time. Even when they try to sleep at night. It has become so pervasive," she says."The thing many of my patients have in common is the fact that they are in front of screens all the time. Even when they try to sleep at night. It has become so pervasive," she says.
"They go to bed but can't sleep, or fall asleep exhausted and wake up tired. People started telling me they couldn't switch their brains off.""They go to bed but can't sleep, or fall asleep exhausted and wake up tired. People started telling me they couldn't switch their brains off."
One patient was suspended from work after sending an inappropriate email to a client in the early hours of the morning, she adds.One patient was suspended from work after sending an inappropriate email to a client in the early hours of the morning, she adds.
"When we unpicked the story we realised he was spending more time at work and finding it more difficult to switch off.""When we unpicked the story we realised he was spending more time at work and finding it more difficult to switch off."
He is now on the road to recovery - and hopes to return to his job.He is now on the road to recovery - and hopes to return to his job.
Another recent patient was a 17-year-old who had suffered a seizure.Another recent patient was a 17-year-old who had suffered a seizure.
It turned out he was up all night playing computer games.It turned out he was up all night playing computer games.
Multi-tasking madnessMulti-tasking madness
Tech-related burnout is also common in people with certain personality traits, Dr Ramlakhan continues.Tech-related burnout is also common in people with certain personality traits, Dr Ramlakhan continues.
"Are you a perfectionist? Are you a control freak? Do you grind your teeth at night?"Are you a perfectionist? Are you a control freak? Do you grind your teeth at night?
"That's an A-type personality - they are driven, competitive, aggressive, run on imperatives - have to, must do, should do," she says."That's an A-type personality - they are driven, competitive, aggressive, run on imperatives - have to, must do, should do," she says.
"They are likely to find themselves unable to switch off, they can't relax, if they do they crash into exhaustion."They are likely to find themselves unable to switch off, they can't relax, if they do they crash into exhaustion.
"Even if they are watching TV they have multi screens. It's a level of hyperactivity driven by a fear of not being in control.""Even if they are watching TV they have multi screens. It's a level of hyperactivity driven by a fear of not being in control."
I suggest that perhaps they just want to multi-task.I suggest that perhaps they just want to multi-task.
"It's the accessibility, the sensory experience of swiping that screen, the instant gratification… there is something quite pleasurable about that," she counters."It's the accessibility, the sensory experience of swiping that screen, the instant gratification… there is something quite pleasurable about that," she counters.
"Our generation hasn't got the hang of how to respond to it so we respond very reactively."Our generation hasn't got the hang of how to respond to it so we respond very reactively.
"For a lot of people it's the lack of offline time which causes hyper-arousal of the brain. People walk about in a state of distractibility.""For a lot of people it's the lack of offline time which causes hyper-arousal of the brain. People walk about in a state of distractibility."
Author and psychologist Catherine Steiner-Adair also thinks multi-tasking - or multi-screening - is a dangerous game, especially for children.Author and psychologist Catherine Steiner-Adair also thinks multi-tasking - or multi-screening - is a dangerous game, especially for children.
Dr Nerina Ramlakhan's prescriptionDr Nerina Ramlakhan's prescription
"We see a decrease in memory, a decline in grades, they're not developing the part of their brain that's a muscle that needs to be developed for singular focus," she told the BBC."We see a decrease in memory, a decline in grades, they're not developing the part of their brain that's a muscle that needs to be developed for singular focus," she told the BBC.
"It seems to decline the more people do split screening.""It seems to decline the more people do split screening."
Old schoolOld school
The Steiner-Waldorf School philosophy actively discourages any screen time at all for under-12s, and British health watchdog NICE guidelines suggest a limit of two hours of screen time a day for adults and children, although this is more in order to increase physical activity.The Steiner-Waldorf School philosophy actively discourages any screen time at all for under-12s, and British health watchdog NICE guidelines suggest a limit of two hours of screen time a day for adults and children, although this is more in order to increase physical activity.
"It takes us decades to adjust to new technology," says Dave Coplin, Microsoft's curiously titled chief envisioner."It takes us decades to adjust to new technology," says Dave Coplin, Microsoft's curiously titled chief envisioner.
"Technology is a wonderful thing if we use it properly - and we need to use it properly.""Technology is a wonderful thing if we use it properly - and we need to use it properly."
It is the current generation, those of us who remember life before the internet, for whom the draw to technology is irresistible, agrees Dr Ramlakhan.It is the current generation, those of us who remember life before the internet, for whom the draw to technology is irresistible, agrees Dr Ramlakhan.
She says her 11-year-old daughter is already "bored" by Facebook and suggests I ask my four-year-old son to collect up the family gadgets as he will find it far easier than me to initiate switch-off.She says her 11-year-old daughter is already "bored" by Facebook and suggests I ask my four-year-old son to collect up the family gadgets as he will find it far easier than me to initiate switch-off.
"Up-and-coming digital natives will be more discerning than us," she explains."Up-and-coming digital natives will be more discerning than us," she explains.
"We're still in the 'Ooh, isn't it wonderful?' phase of technology, we are still excited by it. Our generation hasn't got the hang of how to respond to it so we respond very reactively.""We're still in the 'Ooh, isn't it wonderful?' phase of technology, we are still excited by it. Our generation hasn't got the hang of how to respond to it so we respond very reactively."
After a few days of following Dr Ramlakhan's advice I have to admit that I do feel better. I am definitely sleeping more and despite medics disagreeing over whether drinking extra water is actually beneficial, it does seem to make me feel more alert.After a few days of following Dr Ramlakhan's advice I have to admit that I do feel better. I am definitely sleeping more and despite medics disagreeing over whether drinking extra water is actually beneficial, it does seem to make me feel more alert.
Of course, it could well be a placebo effect - I know what I'm doing is supposed to be improving my wellbeing.Of course, it could well be a placebo effect - I know what I'm doing is supposed to be improving my wellbeing.
Is the physiology sound?Is the physiology sound?
At the Wilderness festival in Oxfordshire, where the phone reception is terrible but it still costs £5 to charge your mobile, I meet Dr David Cox, a former Accident and Emergency doctor who is now chief medical officer at subscription-based meditation app Mindfulness.At the Wilderness festival in Oxfordshire, where the phone reception is terrible but it still costs £5 to charge your mobile, I meet Dr David Cox, a former Accident and Emergency doctor who is now chief medical officer at subscription-based meditation app Mindfulness.
He echoes Dr Ramlakhan's words.He echoes Dr Ramlakhan's words.
"I don't believe we can be engaging with something to this extent and for it not to be having an effect on our brains," he says."I don't believe we can be engaging with something to this extent and for it not to be having an effect on our brains," he says.
"The reason we are feeling stressed about all this stuff is that our brains aren't used to doing what we are asking them to do."The reason we are feeling stressed about all this stuff is that our brains aren't used to doing what we are asking them to do.
"Our brains are very good at adapting and they will continue to do that.""Our brains are very good at adapting and they will continue to do that."
Child's playChild's play
So how is the next generation shaping up?So how is the next generation shaping up?
A recent study by the London School of Economics suggested that in schools which banned mobile phones, children's test scores increased by more than 6%.A recent study by the London School of Economics suggested that in schools which banned mobile phones, children's test scores increased by more than 6%.
I pay a visit to my son's former pre-school, Wildflowers, in Hampshire - a forest school where there are no screens and outdoor play is non-negotiable, rain or shine.I pay a visit to my son's former pre-school, Wildflowers, in Hampshire - a forest school where there are no screens and outdoor play is non-negotiable, rain or shine.
Head teacher Helena Nilsson says children are like "bees to a honeypot" if she gets out her laptop but without the distraction they engage in much more creative play.Head teacher Helena Nilsson says children are like "bees to a honeypot" if she gets out her laptop but without the distraction they engage in much more creative play.
The little ones, however, seem less convinced about the benefits of their enforced digital detox.The little ones, however, seem less convinced about the benefits of their enforced digital detox.
"Do you think we should have a computer, tablet or TV at Wildflowers?" she asks."Do you think we should have a computer, tablet or TV at Wildflowers?" she asks.
"YES!" chorus the enthusiastic under-fives unanimously."YES!" chorus the enthusiastic under-fives unanimously.
Listen to the Business Daily report on tech addiction, from the BBC World Service