Why you can't stop checking your phone: Expert warns this anxiety habit may be fueling a harmful reassurance-seeking cycle

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A quick glance at the phone while waiting for the lift. Another look during a meeting. One more refresh before going to bed. Then the same thing happens minutes later, even when there are no new messages, no breaking news and nothing that truly needs attention.Many people laugh it off as a modern habit. But psychologists are beginning to notice something deeper.For a growing number of young adults and working professionals, repeatedly checking the phone is no longer just about staying connected. It has quietly become a way to calm anxious thoughts. The problem is that the relief lasts only for a few seconds. Soon, the urge returns, creating a cycle that is difficult to break.According to the American Psychological Association's Stress in America reports, many adults say they feel overwhelmed by the constant flow of information and digital notifications, highlighting how technology can become a source of ongoing psychological strain rather than relief.