Texting
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Texting
Texting, also known as text messaging, refers to an activity that is an exchange of brief, written text messages between a fixed-line phone or mobile device and either land-line or other mobile device. Originally, texting referred only to written messages, but today’s texters (those who text) exchange messages containing image, videos and sound content.
Texting as Addictive Behavior
Texting can become an obsessive activity, however, with users of the technology compulsively sending, checking and receiving texts despite negative consequences. Such negative consequences can include neglect of everyday activities, tolerance, withdrawal from normal activities, social isolation, and injuries and fatalities that occur as the result of a distracted driver texting behind the wheel.
To the extent that individuals engaging in compulsive texting continue to do so despite mounting and serious consequences, they may be considered as having an unhealthy, addictive process disorder. Increasing instances of Internet addiction are now being linked with texting, especially since mobile phones today are more likely to have email and Web capabilities in addition to their texting.
This is not unlike any other type of compulsive process behavior, including compulsive spending, compulsive eating, workaholism and compulsive sexual behavior.
Sexting – Another Form of Texting
With the increasing popularity of texting – a Pew Research study found that 72 percent of U.S. adult cell phone users send and receive messages – the largest user population is young people aged 18 to 27. An alarming number of young teens have experimented with sending sexually explicit images to accompany texting messages, a practice known as sexting.
One survey found one in five teenage girls and 11 percent of teenage girls aged 13 to 16 years old said they have electronically sent, or posted online, nude photos of themselves. Sexually explicit messages, even minus images, were sent by 39 percent of teens, while 50 percent of those surveyed said they had received such sexually explicit messages.
Besides being an alarming activity that should concern parents and educators, sending nude photos of any person under the age of 18 is against the law in every state.
Four Symptoms of Obsessive Texting
Experts say that anyone who texts constantly and sends between 3,000 and 5,000 texts per month probably has a problem with compulsive texting. What happens is that the user cannot walk away from the texting device, feeling an obsessive need to constantly send and receive texts.
But there are four distinct symptoms that psychiatrists use to diagnosing texting as a mental illness:
• Excessive use – to the point where day-to-day activities are neglected
• Withdrawal – feeling depressed when texting is not accessible
• Tolerance – feeling the need to do more and more texting
• Negative repercussion – when texting compulsively leads to social isolation
Treatment for Texting Addiction
Although unheard of just a few years ago, there are increasing numbers of individuals who have sought help to overcome their texting addiction. Psychological counseling is often required to help the individual uncover underlying problems which may be masked by their compulsive texting behavior.
Learning how to cope with stress, problems at home, work or school, relationship problems or mental health difficulties may also be part of the overall treatment program to help those with texting addiction learn to adopt healthier behaviors.
--Suzannekane 17:28, 8 July 2011 (MDT)
