Texting Lights Up Same Area Of Brain As Drugs. Sexting Combines That W/Sexual Gratification

[KittyWampus]

I could easily see where sexting could become addicting as someone craves the payoff from sending and receiving that message.

"Apparently so. Receiving a text message has been shown to light up the same area of the brain stimulated by highly addictive drugs such as heroin or cocaine. Similarly, some users have described feeling withdrawal and depression when denied access to texting; compulsive texters admit to feeling bad, anxious or sad when they do notget a message. Furthermore, teenagers are losing sleep thinking about their mobile devices. Researchers at the JFK Medical Center in Atlantis, Fla., recently found that one in five teenagers interruptshis or her sleep to text message, whilesome inexplicably even text while sleeping."

http://www.yaledailynews.com/news/2010/sep/08/the-new-drug-on-the-block-texting/


...............................

Teenagers are becoming addicted to texting, according to a new study. In fact experts are saying being hooked on texting can be like being addicted to drugs.

"I think that it's just like a drug, once you get hooked on to it, you can't let go. It's like whenever I open my eyes the first thing I look at is my phone," said Hermine Vardanian, a texter. "It clearly fits the criteria of an addiction," said Dr. Gary Small, a Psychiatrist.

Neuroimaging studies show the same brain areas are stimulated with both texting and using heroin. "In a very primitive part of the brain, the dopamine system gets triggered. That's the general reward system in our brain," said Dr. Small.

Some texting addiction warning signs include losing track of time because of excessive texting, neglecting eating and sleeping, having a constant need for more, and suffering negative repercussions, like ignoring others or lying because of texting.

snip
http://teenagetextingaddiction.wordpress.com/

[valerief]

1. I'll bet buying a new pair of shoes can do the same thing. nt

[Ilsa]

2. I was going to ask where consuming chocolate stood in this emotions registry. nt

[KittyWampus]

3. In fact-

Happy Feet

First of all, there's some serious mood-boosting going on when you try on any kind of apparel. "The neurotransmitter dopamine is released, providing a feel-good high, similar to taking a drug," says Martin Lindstrom, a branding expert for Fortune 100 companies and author of Buyology: Truth and Lies About Why We Buy. "The dopamine increases until you swipe your debit card."

Usually, the high then flatlines, and guilt starts creeping in...except, that is, when the item you're purchasing is a pair of shoes. "Shoppers rationalize shoes as a practical buy — something they can wear multiple times a week — so they hold on to that pleasurable feeling longer," says Lindstrom.

But it's not just dopamine at work. Shoes' mood-altering traits also come from another brain reaction, says Lindstrom. Buying new footwear stimulates an area of the brain's prefrontal cortex termed the collecting spot. "Shoes are a collector's item, whether women realize they perceive them that way or not," says Suzanne Ferriss, PhD, editor of Footnotes: On Shoes. Just think of how they're often stored artfully on shoe trees and shelves. "They're like sculptures," says Ferriss. As a result, collecting each type provides a mini-adrenaline rush similar to the satisfaction a stamp collector gets when he acquires a rare find.


http://www.meltingmama.net/wls/2011/05/im-going-to-get-what-i-want-shoes.html

[pscot]

4. America is mentally ill

Our jobs have been given awy to someone else, the bankers have robbed us blind and government swat teams have a license to kick down our doors while we huddle in corner performing mental masturbation with our electronic toys. this country is circling the drain.

[The Doctor.]

5. This goes for many things.

Calling it an 'addiction' is a little off.

The same thing can be said for blogging, driving, listening to music, using a DVR, having a microwave... it's all pretty similar in that they are all functionally intertwined in our lives.

On the reward side, blogging, web-surfing, and texting are similar because every small effort can see an unexpected result. It's not unlike gambling that way.

Calling it an 'addiction' is like calling web-surfing, exercise, watching tv, talking on the phone, any number of things that become an intrinsic and even useful part of our lives 'addictions'.

[KittyWampus]

8. Well, let's take buying shoes. If you NEED a pair, you need them. If it's COMPULSIVE...

it's addictive.

And all those activities you mention can become compulsive, where the individual either loses or has diminished control of their behavior.

It's almost as if you are saying because there are so many forms of addictive or compulsive behavior, it's not addictive.

[The Doctor.]

10. Nice try, but not even close.

Why are you 'addicted' to driving or posting on the internet?

Seriously... think about this one.

[Egnever]

6. Woo Woo!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdABlGoar9g

[MelissaB]

7. Yeah, it's like Cityville on FB.

First and only game on FB I'll ever play. Addicting as hell.

[alcibiades_mystery]

9. ...