Is it bad to be addicted to a series?
The effects of TV addiction include reduced quality of sleep, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), negative body image, and an increased risk for physical illnesses.
When you're engaged in an activity you enjoy, your brain produces dopamine — a chemical that promotes feelings of pleasure, excitement and happiness. The release of dopamine helps us feel good, and it results in a "high" similar to that induced by drugs and other substances with addictive qualities.
Over time, binge-watching may harm your health in ways you may not expect. Among the concerns researchers have raised are decreased physical activity, sleep problems and fatigue, blood clots, heart problems, poor diet, social isolation, behavioral addiction, and cognitive decline.
If you're not careful, Internet and Netflix addiction can negatively impact your mental and physical health. Studies show that a binge is a serious, whether it's on food, alcohol, or entertainment—all each binge has negative consequences; it's only a matter of degree.
Watching TV isn't necessarily a bad thing.
It gets a bad rap, but there's nothing inherently wrong with watching TV. “TV shows provide a welcome relief from the worries of real life. Try planning to watch a show with your family – just make sure it's age appropriate for all.
The only problem is that our brains have not yet evolved to understand the concept of TV. That attachment part of our brain can't tell that the character we are seeing on the screen isn't a real person. Our minds form attachment in the same way as it would to a romantic partner or a real-life friend.
Try abstaining from TV for one week or however long you're comfortable. Fill the time that you would usually use to watch your favorite shows with some of the non-television activities you listed. You can try taking a walk, making dinner with a friend, going to the gym, or picking up an entirely new hobby!
Engaging in a TV or streaming marathon – or, “binge-watching” – is perfectly fine for your brain, provided you're maintaining some level of overall self-awareness.
The average person has 13 TV shows and 16 movies on their watch list to get through — averaging a total of 104 hours — enough content to last for a globe-trotting flight around the world twice over.
When we watch an exciting show, our brains release dopamine, the "feel-good" neurotransmitter [1]. It's the same chemical that surges when we achieve something rewarding. Binge-watching triggers a constant dopamine release, making it hard to stop.
Is it unhealthy to binge-watch?
Moreover, potential health risks resulting from binge-watching include developing behavioral addictions, sleep problems, sedentary behaviors, and psychological distress (e.g., depression, anxiety, loneliness, and stress).
How does TV affect your mental health? One study by researchers from the University of Texas at Austin found a high correlation between binge-watching, depression, and loneliness. Other studies have found negative effects including increased fatigue, mood disturbances, and insomnia.
Binge-watching overlaps with marathon viewing which places more emphasis on stamina and less on self-indulgence. In a survey conducted by Netflix in February 2014, 73% of people define binge-watching as "watching between 2–6 episodes of the same TV show in one sitting".
The poll finds that half of American TV viewers rewatch shows they've seen before at least once a week, though most say they prefer new shows over ones they've already seen. The reasons most often cited for rewatching shows are their humor, the comfort they bring, and the relatability of their characters.
It's generally recommended to limit screen time, including watching Netflix, to no more than 2 hours per day for adults. For children, the limit may be even less. It's important to balance screen time with physical activity, social interaction, and other activities that promote overall well-being.
What's a healthy amount of screen time for adults? Experts say adults should limit screen time outside of work to less than two hours per day. Any time beyond that which you would typically spend on screens should instead be spent participating in physical activity.
Most of us do it without even thinking of the effects it has on us. A lot of mental health professionals believe that watching the same TV shows provides us with comfort. When we watch something new, it gets immersed in our brains, therefore, wanting us to watch it more and more every time.
Wean yourself off of TV and find something more constructive to do with your time. A good way to realize this is to constantly remind yourself that the shows you love aren't real life, they are just people pretending to be characters and who are following a script.
It's the brain's signal that communicates to the body —This feels good. You should keep doing this!” So, as it turns out, it isn't the show we're craving; instead, it's the feeling of pleasure we get from watching episode after episode.
Obsessive love disorder is not a medically recognized disorder but refers to a fixation on another person as if they are a possession or object. A person may experience symptoms such as delusional jealousy, in which a person's obsessions cause them to develop delusional beliefs about infidelity or other issues.
How do you know if you are obsessed with a TV show?
You may be "obsessed" with a TV show if you find yourself thinking about it often, eagerly anticipating new episodes, discussing it with friends or online, rewatching episodes multiple times, and feeling a strong emotional connection to the characters and storylines.
Obsession can greatly affect your mental health. You can become so focused on something that you close your mind off to many others things that allow balance into your life. You keep pushing even when it is making you unwell. Our bodies are great indicators of when something is good or bad for us.
Expert Advice. "I see a lot of my clients who struggle with anxiety or depression resort to binge-watching as a coping mechanism. Binge-watching is one of the most unhealthy coping mechanisms to deal with your negative thoughts and emotions.
For example, someone who likes to spend a lot of time sitting or lying down while watching television is sometimes called a couch potato.
Too much screen time leads to several health and wellness issues. Obesity, for example, is the result of eating too many calories and not getting enough exercise. Children who sit in front of electronic screens for long periods and snack will gain weight. Obesity may lead to many illnesses over time, including asthma.
