Excessive texting may signal mental illness - web - Technology - smh.com.au - The Diigo Meta page

• 02 Apr 08
  

  Henrik Fu

  computer use emotions

• 28 Mar 08
  

  Adam Bohannon

  People who send large numbers of text messages and emails may have a mental disorder, a doctor writing in a leading psychiatric journal said.
  
  Jerald Block, writing in the latest issue of the American Journal Of Psychiatry, said "internet addiction" was a "common disorder" that deserved inclusion in a manual of mental disorders used by health professionals.

  addiction internet psychology technology texting

  • Those with the condition suffered withdrawal symptoms of anger and tension when a computer was inaccessible, and often lost their sense of time through excessive use, Dr Block said.

  • Other symptoms included feeling "the need for better computer equipment, more software, or more hours of use", and having arguments, lying, social isolation and fatigue, he said.

     

    Excessive gaming, sexual preoccupations and excessive text messages and emails were all evidence of having the disorder, he said.

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