Doctors at the international rehabilitation clinic THE BALANCE are observing a growing number of patients for whom AI chatbots have stopped being a tool and started replacing human relationships, independent decision-making, and emotional self-regulation. 9 out of 10 of the clinic’s patients under the age of 30 now show signs of digital dependence or AI addiction. In most cases, this is not what brought them into treatment. It emerges only once treatment is underway.
“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, Clinical Director, Psychiatrist and Psychotherapist at THE BALANCE.
Some patients now consult a chatbot mid-session, as they put it, to calm themselves down.
Unlike a substance, an AI application does not have to be bought, hidden, or obtained illegally. It is available at any hour, rarely contradicts the user, and carries no apparent risk of rejection, which is exactly what makes it so easy to lean on for anyone who is lonely, socially anxious, or struggling with closeness.
Digital detox and controlled AI use now form part of treatment at THE BALANCE, the Mallorca-based clinic that integrates these approaches into its multidisciplinary programmes for patients presenting with a range of mental health and addiction issues. Complete abstinence is not realistic for most people, and Dr Boss does not recommend it.
7 ways to avoid becoming dependent on AI
Dr Boss, who trained in medicine and psychotherapy in Vienna and has held senior roles in addiction and eating disorder treatment across Europe, shares the following steps.
Notice what you are actually asking it for
There is a difference between using AI to find something out and using it to feel better, and most people cannot tell you which one they were doing an hour ago. For a week, pay attention to your reason for opening it. If a meaningful share of your use is emotional rather than practical, that is worth knowing about early, while it is still easy to change.
Keep the decisions that matter with people
Ask it to help you think, then take the actual decision to someone who knows you and has to live with the outcome alongside you. “I consider it extremely dangerous when people lose confidence in their own judgement and can only reach a sense of emotional security through a digital system,” Dr Boss said. Where you live, whether to leave a relationship, or whether to accept a job, these are not questions to settle with a machine that has no stake in your life.
Take one difficult thing to a human being every week
The conversation you are avoiding is usually the one that would help most, and AI makes avoiding it painless. Choose one thing you would rather type into a chatbot and say it out loud to a friend, a partner, or a professional instead. The discomfort of being properly heard by another person is the point, and it is also the thing that builds tolerance for real relationships back up.
Watch for the reassurance loop
Asking the same question repeatedly in slightly different words is one of the clearest signs that the use has become compulsive. You are no longer looking for an answer because you already have several. You are looking for the feeling that comes with being told it is fine. When you notice yourself doing it, close the app and do something physical instead, because the loop will not close on its own.
Give yourself hours in the day when it is not available
Controlled use works better than willpower applied minute by minute. Protect the first hour after waking and the last hour before sleep, and keep the phone charging outside the bedroom overnight. Patients consistently report the same results when they put the device down for defined periods. They sleep better, they feel calmer, and they can concentrate for longer.
Be honest about secrecy
If you find yourself minimising how much you use it, or you would rather not have someone read back through your recent conversations, that reaction is telling you something. Secrecy and defensiveness show up in every form of dependence we treat, and they tend to arrive well before the person is willing to describe the behaviour as a problem.
Ask someone close to you what they have noticed
People are poor judges of their own use and very good judges of everybody else’s. Ask a partner, a friend, or a colleague how often you mention what the chatbot said, or how often you reach for your phone mid-conversation. It is an uncomfortable question, and the answer is usually more accurate than your own estimate.
Technology cannot replace human connection
Dr Boss stresses the fundamental limits of technology. “People need people. 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. The challenge of the coming years is using AI in a meaningful way without outsourcing human capabilities to it,” she said.
The clinic’s observations align with wider clinical concerns about the ease with which always-available, non-judgemental AI systems can fill emotional gaps. For younger adults already navigating loneliness or anxiety, the risk of gradual replacement of human contact appears particularly acute. Controlled boundaries, rather than total avoidance, offer a practical path forward while preserving the genuine benefits of the technology.