Is it possible to be addicted to texting

Take, for example, the risks associated with texting while driving. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that texting while driving is a triple threat, because it causes you to take:. The dangers of using a cell phone while driving are widely known, yet people ignore the risk in pursuit of the small jolt of connectedness a phone provides.

Research has shown that people who overuse cell phones may experience:. If your phone habits are interfering with your health, relationships, and responsibilities, it might be time to make some changes. The good news is that there are steps you can take to change the way you interact with your phone to help limit the negative impacts on your life.

Researchers believe that people who compulsively use cell phones may be trying to avoid issues in their lives that feel too difficult or complicated to resolve. Resolving the underlying issue could be the key to reducing your anxiety. This therapeutic approach helps illuminate the links between your thoughts, behaviors, and emotions. It can be a very effective type of therapy to help you change certain behavior patterns.

At least one small study suggests that CBT may be effective in balancing changes in brain chemistry associated with cell phone addiction.

If you think this type of therapy may help you, talk with your primary care doctor about where or how you can find a therapist. Consider reaching out to a therapist or your doctor, checking out a self-help guide, or following a digital detox program. Problematic cell phone use shares a lot of characteristics with behavioral addictions like compulsive gambling.

People who develop a dependent pattern of phone use typically experience a loss of control. They often find that their cell phone habits are causing real damage in their lives. Cognitive behavioral therapy and digital detox programs can both be very effective at reclaiming a sense of control over your phone use. Your desire to seek gets fulfilled each time you send a text message, and you get caught in a dopamine loop.

And getting that reward -- receiving a response, that is -- for seeking makes you want to seek more. Sometimes, even if you get the reward, the dopamine loop forces you to keep seeking. Ever wonder why fights over text always seem so long and drawn out? It's probably because the desire to keep seeking that passion controls your ability to stop the conversation.

Unpredictability also stimulates the dopamine in our brains. When something happens that we didn't expect, we get a boost of dopamine. Most of us know we will receive text messages throughout the day, but you don't exactly know when or who it'll be from, right?

It's unpredictable. It's exciting. It increases our dopamine, and we become addicted. This is the same relationship we have with the "typing awareness indicator" -- or, in other words, the bubble with the three dots that pops up when someone is in the process of typing to you. Pretend like your cell phone is a home phone. Probably one of the major reasons you are addicted to texting is because you can take your phone with you anywhere.

Try pretending like your cell phone is a landline phone. Place it in one spot in your house and always leave it there and only use it there, instead of taking it with you everywhere you go.

Method 2. Find a good texting balance. You can still respond to texts and have social interactions with your friends, just try to limit yourself. Use your phone as a resource to make plans and keep in touch, but not as an activity that consumes your life.

Explain to your friends that you are trying to quit texting. Tell your friends, family, and boyfriend or girlfriend to only text you if it is important. Ask them to only text you if something important comes up or they want to make plans to see you. Tell your friends not to text you just to talk too much while you are trying to fix your texting addiction. Explain to your friends you are going to be slower at replying because you are trying to use your phone less.

Please only text me if it is important or you are trying to make plans with me, not just to talk. This will really help me get over my texting problem!

I will also reply slower than usual". Make phone calls. Just because you are trying to text less does not mean you have to miss out on socializing with your friends. Instead of texting your friends to make plans or to catch up, call them.

This will allow you to still be in the loop, but not feed into your texting addiction. A quick phone call can contain as much information as 30 minutes of texting and can help you to not addictively stare at your screen all day.

Have face-to-face interactions. Force yourself to set your phone aside and focus on the world and people around you. Instead of texting through dinner, put your phone down and ask your parents about their day.

Talk to your friends and family in person more often. Instead of texting your friends all day, text them once asking if they want to hang out. Then you can talk to them all day in person instead of over the phone. Or we feel pressured by life. Communication is a respite. We connect you with top rated London talk therapists who can help.

Or use our booking platform to find UK-wide affordable therapy and online counselling. Still have a question about being addicted to texting? Or want to share your advice with other readers? Use the comment box below. Andrea Blundell is the lead writer of this site. Like many writers, she has a tendency to over communicate that she is working on. Yes, she needs to text less. Find her on Linkedin and Twitter.