Texting hell.

I'm not sure when, why or how this became a thing with me. Once upon a time, I didn't have any issue with reading a message and not responding... didnt matter who it was from, I would answer when or if I felt like it.. Now, for whatever reason, if I get a message, I have to respond, it makes me very uneasy NOT to... I dont care how busy I am, I will find a way to do it.. it's like a compulsion I cant control, an addiction that's gotten ahold of me. I need help!!!! What's wrong with me???

It's designed for that for profit. Decide to change default settings and notifications. All the text pings is like a casino game. Just stop. Decide who owns you, you or your phone? Don't have it with you 24/7, turn the text notifications off. This way when and if you choose to look at your phone and use it, respond etc. it won't be set to controlling you.

it's like a compulsion I cant control, an addiction that's gotten a hold of me.

What's also horrible is when your work decides its a good idea to use slack or WhatsApp group messages. Then they make one for your team/department/mid/senior managers/department managers/etc...

I think I have 6 groups total. I get nearly 1000 messages a day from the apps. So I have the notifications off. Then I get in trouble for not responding to messages or reading them at all.

Society is the freaking problem. At work is now now now. Sometimes over the years you carry that over. I am fighting really hard not to read work messages unless I am ready. I check often but I don't read then as they come up because I could be doing something. It is getting really hard though.

It's designed to be addictive. Literally and very much intentionally. What you are experiencing is the Pavlov dog effect - ding, reward....except it no longer feels like a reward. As Wiseman suggested, turn off notifications and make a point of leaving your phone where you aren't looking at it constantly. Realize that it won't be easy because you will have to wean yourself off the addiction.

@1tym - there was an actual study done on productivity and concentration and, no surprise at all here, but the group that had to leave their phones outside the testing room did best by miles. Those who had their phones in their bags, but near by did surprisingly poorly, and those with their phones on their desk...horribly. On the other hand more and more companies are actually becoming very aware of this and actually banning phones in the workplaces as in employees have to leave them in lockers. Sounds like your company will be learning this the long hard way.

It's designed to be addictive. Literally and very much intentionally. What you are experiencing is the Pavlov dog effect - ding, reward....except it no longer feels like a reward. As Wiseman suggested, turn off notifications and make a point of leaving your phone where you aren't looking at it constantly. Realize that it won't be easy because you will have to wean yourself off the addiction.

 

@1tym - there was an actual study done on productivity and concentration and, no surprise at all here, but the group that had to leave their phones outside the testing room did best by miles. Those who had their phones in their bags, but near by did surprisingly poorly, and those with their phones on their desk...horribly. On the other hand more and more companies are actually becoming very aware of this and actually banning phones in the workplaces as in employees have to leave them in lockers. Sounds like your company will be learning this the long hard way.

What makes it worst is that they provide us with company phones. If my boss calls me I am required to answer it. This is the reason why I get in trouble for not answering messages. Their excuse is because its company phone I am required too. I am stubborn, I don't even want to check messages anymore. The other day I had to go to court for a speeding ticket. Naturally I didn't check my phone for 3 hours. I had around 250 messages and made me sick. Literally made me sick with anxiety.