Doctor Claims Overactive Text Messaging Is A Mental Disorder

In the latest issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry, a doctor has outlined a possible link between sending lots of text messages and a mental disorder associated with Internet addiction.

Jarald Block wrote in the Journal that those who are denied access to the Internet and mobile phones display feelings of anger, tension and/or depression. He claims that Internet addiction is actually a very common disorder that deserves to be included along with other mental disorders in literature used by health professionals. He says that sending a lot of SMS messages (text messages) could also be categorized as an Internet disorder. He says it is difficult to know exactly how widespread the disorder really is. "Attempts to measure the phenomenon are clouded by shame, denial, and minimization," he wrote. Block claims that online addiction or addiction to text messaging is merely a symptom of a larger issue -- a communication addiction. I have to agree that there can definitely be what could be considered "addiction" to the Internet and cell phones. Mainly, well... because I suffer from both. But does this activity actually warrant inclusion in medical literature?