We probably can’t imagine living without our phones in today’s technologically sophisticated world, and life has gotten much simpler thanks to the plethora of applications and social media that allow us to stay in touch with family and friends while also allowing us to meet new people. The greatest item, on the other hand, has a disadvantage. Although the ability to contact whomever we choose in a couple of seconds has made it simpler to establish personal ties with employees, research has shown that even something as easy as texting may trigger anxiety and strife in certain people.
The current meta-analysis sought to assess the relationship between smartphone usage and stress and anxiety and found that there is a positive link between smartphone use and stress and anxiety. In addition, numerous important moderators were discovered, pointing to future study areas. Although the findings suggest a link between smartphone use and stress and anxiety, it is crucial to remember that the causative nature of this relationship cannot be established until more experimental research is conducted.
According to research, a Viber study indicated that one out of every five persons struggles to keep up with message answers, and nearly one out of every six people disregard all messages because they are overwhelmed. The research focuses on how texting has progressed from a basic yes or no to a plethora of colourful emoticons that put a person’s interpretation abilities to the test.
You are most likely a member of several chat groups, whether they are made up of co-workers, friends, or family, and it feels nice at first because it gives you a sense of belonging, but it can become tiresome if it is overdone, such as when there are frequent message notifications and many text conversations, and the pressure to respond within a certain time frame and entertain a large group of people.
According to the Guardian, people born in the early 1980s and mid-1990s, known for thousands of years, felt overwhelmed and called a “tired generation.” Because they were raised in a world without technological advances, they cannot help but feel frustrated with the information provided by social media platforms.
The need to be attentive and available, as well as the fear of being called out, cause text anxiety, which can lead to delayed answers or individuals avoiding conversations completely.
Anxiety has long been linked to technical improvements such as the ability to send text messages. Anxiety has always spiralled higher, whether it’s from a boyfriend or partner holding you on hold in messages or from responding to your boss’s text. The epidemic has significantly contributed to text messaging becoming the major means of communication, and social overload has affected many people who are either new to such overpowering feelings or already suffer from anxiety.
When you receive a text message from a friend, lover, family member, or co-worker, you feel compelled to respond, even if you are not in the right state of mind or are distracted. However, whether you want to respond right away or not is entirely up to you. There is a need to put your mental health first, and if you feel terrible for not responding quickly enough, the guilt will just contribute to your worry.
To keep the mind quiet, experts recommend shutting off notifications and keeping chats muted. You may also disconnect from your phone and other digital gadgets for a day or a few days and spend time in more natural settings. The fear of losing out is what prevents us from doing so. People are drawn to it because of their curiosity and the fear of missing out on an important update. At the end of the day, it’s all about not letting your curiosity or fear get in the way of your need to keep your mental health in check.
