THE TYRANNY OF NOTIFICATION: A COGNITIVE-BEHAVIORAL ANALYSIS OF TECHNOSTRESS AND DIGITAL HYPERVIGILANCE IN CONTEMPORARY TIMES

Abstract

This article examines the phenomena of digital hypervigilance and technostress through the lenses of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and neuroscience. The ubiquity of mobile devices and the consolidation of the attention economy have shaped new behavioral patterns characterized by a state of constant alertness, mediated by dysregulated dopamine and cortisol cycles. The primary objective of this study is to discuss how Beck’s cognitive model applies to the dysfunctional use of technology, identifying intermediate beliefs regarding perpetual availability and cognitive distortions such as catastrophizing. Through a narrative review of recent literature, the study proposes intervention strategies based on cognitive restructuring, exposure and response prevention (ERP) training, and digital mindfulness as tools for reclaiming attentional agency. The findings indicate that attentional fragmentation and cognitive residue severely impact productivity and contemporary mental health. It is concluded that behavioral modification, conscious interface design, and the establishment of rigid exposure limits (digital hygiene) are fundamental for the remission of psychosomatic symptoms and the restoration of psychic homeostasis in saturated and hyperstimulated environments.