AI platforms such as ChatGPT can write emails, organise daily routines, answer all kinds of questions, and, for a growing number of people, serve as personal advisers or even perceived therapists. What may sound convenient is increasingly developing into a potentially problematic pattern of dependence, according to observations by the international THE BALANCE Rehab Clinic. Particularly among young adults, the treatment team is seeing cases in which artificial intelligence is no longer used merely as a tool, but increasingly replaces human relationships, independent decision-making, and emotional self-regulation.
“We are seeing a serious and highly concerning trend. The problem is that most of those affected do not come to us because of their AI use. They come because of other mental health issues or addictions, and it is only during treatment that it becomes apparent how significant a role ChatGPT and other digital applications have come to play in their lives,” says Dr Sarah Boss, Chief Clinical Officer, Psychiatrist, and Psychotherapist at THE BALANCE. Some patients now even consult their chatbot for advice during a therapy session in order, as they put it, “to calm themselves down.”
When AI becomes a constant emotional companion
According to Dr Boss, some patients discuss almost every personal issue with AI, from anxieties and relationships to fundamental life decisions, such as where they should live in the future. “I consider it extremely dangerous when people increasingly lose confidence in their own ability to make decisions and can only achieve a sense of emotional security through a digital system,” says Boss.
For those affected, the development is often barely noticeable. Unlike traditional substances, a digital application does not have to be purchased, hidden, or obtained illegally. It is permanently available on a smartphone, at home, at work, and even in the middle of a therapy session. Boss sees one of the key reasons for the strong attachment to AI systems in their social accessibility: a chatbot is available at any time, rarely contradicts the user, and seemingly carries no risk of rejection or misunderstanding.
“Anyone who already suffers from social anxiety, feels lonely, or struggles with intimacy can find what appears to be a safe space there. But that is precisely where the risk lies: the more AI replaces genuine human interaction, the more difficult it can become to return to real relationships.”
THE BALANCE observes this development particularly among its own patients: 9 out of 10 patients under the age of 30 show signs of digital dependence or even AI addiction.
Regaining control through digital detox
THE BALANCE does not view AI use in isolation. It is often part of a highly digitalised lifestyle, in which digital devices demand increasing amounts of attention while real-life relationships suffer as a result. Possible consequences include sleep problems, inner restlessness, irritability, difficulty concentrating, and a constant fear of missing out.
Digital detox and controlled AI use are becoming increasingly important parts of treatment at THE BALANCE. “With problematic digital use, we repeatedly see how much people benefit from putting their smartphone aside, at least for certain periods of time: they sleep better, become calmer, are able to concentrate for longer, and are more present in the moment.” For this reason, digital detox already plays an important role at the beginning of many treatment programmes.
Unlike alcohol or cocaine, however, complete long-term abstinence from digital technologies is hardly realistic. “People need to learn how to use technology in a controlled way again, rather than being controlled by it,” explains Boss.
For the clinic, growing dependence on digital systems is increasingly becoming a mental health issue. “People need people,” says Boss. “We regulate ourselves through relationships, we learn through other people, and we develop trust, closeness, and identity through genuine human interaction. No technology can fully replace these biological and emotional needs.” For Boss, this is precisely one of the central challenges of the coming years: using AI in a meaningful way without outsourcing human capabilities to it.
Further information about the company and its treatment options can be found at thebalance.clinic.