Total Addict
You are undoubtedly a total, 100% addict! You without your mobile devices is akin to dropping a mentos in a diet coke bottle - Explosions you are powerless over. You cannot stand the thought of being away from your mobile device and is constantly yearning for the next time you get to use it. It is becoming apparent that your irresponsible behaviour is taking a toll on your mental and physical health. What is most worrying, however, is that it is likely that you are aware of it yet choosing to be oblivious. Let me be straightforward about this - you need help to subdue your inner desires and demons which are starting to take control over your behaviour.
Some Suggestions
In a case as severe as yours, it is in your best interest to consult a trusted adult or an expert. However, should you feel that your case does not warrant such a strong reaction(even though it seems it does, unless you took the test as a joke), you can first try to adhere to this system and see if it helps to correct your behaviour. Else, you will always have this page to fall back to.
Online Support Forums
Online support services for addictive behaviours have been widely popularised in recent years. Some of these forums are more generalised, while others geared into a specialised area designed for very specific addictions. It is to your prerogative which you would like to make use of, even though specialised ones are often more expertised and hence recommended.
One instance will be The National Institute on Media and the Family. It not only offers articles of intelligence and balanced perspective, but also manages a network system, where you can connect and share ideas or problems with others. The best thing about such online forums are that they comprise of geographically diverse individuals, hence, giving discussions a valuable and balanced perspecitve while allowing for a sharing of opinions and experiences, possibly even from someone who has once encountered a problem similar to yours.
In the same breath, you must be mindful of what you read in such forums, as there often exist "scare tactics" which may fuel existing fears and drive you even depper into addiction. Should such fear occur, consult treatment.
Addiction Treatment Clincis
When in doubt, always consult a professional. Never "wait and see how it turns out". You may be unknowingly caught in a spiral downwards and upon realisation, your addiction may have already worsened.
As more people, especially youths, are increasingly becoming victims of addiction, treatment clincs have came up with widespread treatment programmes, to help addicts curb with their addiction through varied methods mostly skewed towards helping them develop their social skills.
One example is The Smith and Jones clinic which offers a specialised programme for gaming addictions. Gamers follow an abstinence-based program whereby, for it to be successful, they must never play video games again. The reason behind is that SJC beleives allowing gammers a limited playtime is similar to trsuting an alcoholic to drink one beer. Through teaching gamers, like you, the difference between real-life and virtual excitement (go-karting, dancing, parachute jumping), advocate outdoor activities instead of video games.
Other similar clinics exist, and in order to learn more and select the one which suits you best, I would propose you consult your parent and do some research into the programmes that different facilities in your region may offer. Do not be embarrassed about your situation, as I assure you that if you allow such recklessness to continue, you will be facing consequences more dire than only embarrassment.
12 Step Program
The 'Twelve Step Program' is a system of guiding principles which originated from Alcoholics Anonymous and over the years, has been adapted to suit different needs and circumstances. The concept behind it targets the human anatomy in three aspects: physically, mentally and spiritually. Although it has been found to be a therapeutic strategy, the outcomes and success rate of the program is often varied.
However, for your reference, these are the 12 steps. Replace "alcohol terms" with -whatever mobile device- and you are set to go!
Step 1. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol—that our lives had become unmanageable.
Step 2. ame to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
Step 3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
Step 4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
Step 5. Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
Step 6. We are entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
Step 7. Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
Step 8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.
Step 9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
Step 10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
Step 11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His Will for us and the power to carry that out.
Step 12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.
As a concluding statement, I've realised that the similarities in the different treatments available is that they share the same approach in convincing it's audience that they are powerless. In this case, you are powerless. Admit it, you are powerless over your thoughts and actions and have lost control over your never ending craving for your possessing mobile devices or new ones and I genuinely wish that you have been enlightened in some ways and are willing to make an effort towards change.
To understand how we configured this test, please read the section on Symptoms of Addiction. Additionally, there are three other possible results which you can view (providing this will not affect your judgement and truthfulness should you attempt the test again,: Not Addicted, Using in Moderation and Somewhat Addicted.
Acknowledgements:
1. Jason Pratt for the image. (29th March 2009)
2. Professor Mark Griffiths for his book on Diagnosis and Management of Video Game Addiction. (29th March 2009)
3. Wikipedia for the 12 steps. (29th March 2009)