Digital media are, of course, part of everyday life for most adults. They inform, connect, entertain and make many things easier. At the same time, some affected individuals report that ‘always being online’ no longer feels good: concentration suffers, sleep patterns become disrupted, and responsibilities are neglected. In such cases, media addiction – that is, an addiction-like attachment to digital applications – may be behind this experience.

Many people experience situations in childhood or adolescence that profoundly undermine their sense of security – such as violence, neglect, accidents or severe loss. Not every traumatic experience leads to an illness. However, if psychological, physical or social impairments develop over a prolonged period, this is referred to as the consequences of trauma.

Pressure to perform is no longer a marginal phenomenon in the modern workplace, but a structurally embedded feature of many professional contexts. In demanding roles in particular, a tension arises between high external expectations and internal self-imposed standards.