How often do you text?

I read this story and all I could think was, "There was no Internet and no cell phones when I was in high school!" I am seriously getting old. But on a more important note, I do think texting addition can become a problem. Sometimes I do let it get out of hand and I end up texting for two hours here and there when it could have been a 5 minute conversation! Although there are some negatives for teens who text, there may also be a positive. If texting is giving kids a "high" they would normally get from drugs or alcohol, maybe they will do fewer drugs. It's probably just wishful thinking. Do you text? How often?

From CNN:
Just watching a teenager text can make your thumbs hurt. The average high schooler seems to be practically glued to their cell phone at all times. But doctors say the texting behavior is actually addictive, complete with withdrawal symptoms! On your mark, get set, go! How fast can your average 15 year old text a single line? lets just say, faster than someone not in high school. "Mine's not even English!" For tenth graders Sara Matzkin, Sarah Marshall and april Polubiec, texting may be as important as talking.

How many texts do you send and receive every day? "Probably around 200." "Definitely a lot. Couple Hundred." "It varies." Varies, studies show, to the tune of well over 3,000 texts a month for the average teenager. The question now: are teens texting too much? "It's right by my bed when I go to sleep. And it's right by my bed when I wake up. So it's like the first thing I go to."

Eighty percent of all kids own a cell phone, and the rate of texting has skyrocketd 600% in three years. Why is it so important for you to know when somebody's trying to reach you? "You feel like you're missing something. If someone like texts me and I miss it, I feel like, "oh, I missed out on the moment."

Do you sometimes feel your moods changing depending on how often you're receiving the texts or the speed? "Yeah." Like what? Give me some examples. "Well, if someone responds right away, you're like, "Yay! They responded." If someone responds two to three hours later you're like, "what's going on?" Sound addictive? Well, could be. Doctors say texting and the instant gratification of getting a text back floods the brain's pleasure center with the mood enhancing dopamine. Neuro-imaging studies have shown that those kids who are texting have that area of the brain light up the same as an addict using heroin.

And they will actually describe, when I don't have it I feel bad. I feel anxious or I feel sad. So it's like the new nicotine? "That's a good description, yeah. And for many, it may well be."

Brain doctor Michael Seyffert treats teens with sleeping disorders at this New Jersey Sleep Clinic and has discovered that one out of five of them are interrupting their sleep to text, triggering problems. With a lack of sleep, they are having a problem performing. They're going from A or honor roll students to barely passing. That's the worst case. These teens on the other hand get good grades and take part in after-school activities, though texting does sometimes get them in trouble.

When was the last time you had your phones taken away? "Yesterday." "Today." Today? So basically within the last 24 hours you each had your phone taken away from you? "Yes, yes."

Their school, like many, struggling to contain a growing distraction for students. Most administrators will tell you that, if it's not their single greatest problem, in terms of discipline and school management, it's at least in the top three.

Despite the potential downsides, these parents say texting has become a necessary evil. "They don't answer the phone. It's the only way to get a hold of them!" They will answer a text. "They don't do email, at all. They won't email." "Forget about email. It's gone, it's over." The only way to get a hold of them is to text. "I had to actually get text messaging in order to communicate with my kids."

Sometimes they'll only communicate that way. And while the behavior can be addictive, teens like Sarah Marshall say, they're confident they can quit cold turkey. "Maybe I'd have some withdrawal symptons. Like I'd get anxious and wonder what's going on. But once I realized nothing bad is happening, it's fine without my phone."

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

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Teenager Texting Troubles

A teenager is having surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome because she texts so much!That is insane! I have a feeling we will start hearing about more stories like this one! I was thinking about my 6-year-old playing the WII. Can you imagine playing the WII, texting and being on the computer? That is a recipe for disaster! Will you limit how often your kids can text?

FROM ABC: It's a sign of the times. Many teens are doing a lot more texting than talking on their cell phone. In fact, one suburban 16-year-old texts so much she has been diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome.

"It's not even good texts. It's like 'hey,hey, what's up?'&'Not much.' Just ridiculous texting I'm learning not to do anymore," said Annie Levitz, texter with carpal tunnel. At her worst, Annie Levitz was sending 100 text messages a day - 4,000 in a single month. Then, the pain started."I started loosing feeling in my hands. They'd go numb.I'd go to pick up dishes and things and they'd just fall out of my hand," said Annie.

Doctors diagnosed Annie, a junior at Stevenson High School, with carpal tunnel syndrome. So severe, braces and cortisone injections aren't enough.She'll have to undergo surgery.Annie's mom says simply taking her daughter's phone away isn't an option."Sure, I've about it but if you have teens you know that doesn't work. It's their whole social life plus it's how you get in touch with them," said Carrie Levitz, mother.

Experts say just 3 percent of adults have carpel tunnel. Teens getting it is almost unheard of. But doctors say texting is becoming a textbook way to get it. "If you get tendonitis in the shoulder or wrist doctor tells you don't do that activity that's causing you the problem," said Dr. Sofia Aksentijevich,rheumatologist. The kid with carpal tunnel is all the talk at school, but if Annie's friends are any indication, the lesson may have the longevity of a text message."They're teenagers so most will be like 'I'm fine,' but it's gonna happen,"said Shelby Brand, friend. "I know it's a problem so I may watch it, but I still text a lot," said Michelle Friman, friend.

As for Annie, she says she's cut the number of texts she sends a month in half. "Two thousand," said Annie. "I know, it's not good enough but I'm trying!"

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

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Teens and texting

Do your kids text? A new survey shows texting is a great way for you to connect with your teenager. Psychologists say texting is opening up lines of communication and has a positive impact on teenagers and parents. Of course, this survey was performed by a cell phone company(Samsung Mobile), but still, it's an interesting concept. The survey revealed that text messaging has broadened the lines of communication for many parents and teens, with over half of those reporting it has actually improved their relationship.

Here are the facts from the survey:

• On average, teens send 455 text messages each month and receive 467 – that’s approximately 15 text messages sent and 16 messages received each day. Almost six in ten (57%) moms and dads who text, say their teens have helped them become better texters.


• Nearly seven in ten (68%) American parents communicate with their kids by text message. Nearly six in ten (56%) teens report that they communicate more often with their parents since they began texting.


• Over half (53%) of texting teens think their relationship with their parents has improved because of text messaging. More than half (51%) of parents who text with their teens agree that they communicate more often with their kids now than they did before they began text messaging.

What do you think about this concept? Is texting helping the parent/teen relationship or is it leading to less verbal communication?

-NewsAnchorMom Jen