From Psychologies · Laurena Valette · · 1m
Julie's Message Anxiety
When someone doesn't reply to her message, 38-year-old Julie can't think of anything else.
In brief
When someone doesn't reply to her message, 38-year-old Julie can't think of anything else. Julie's anxiety over unresponded messages makes her unable to focus on anything else. Originally reported by Psychologies.
Julie's message anxiety
At 38, Julie feels unable to think of anything else when someone doesn't reply to her message.
“Quand quelqu'un ne répond pas à mon message, je suis incapable de penser à autre chose”
Why unresponded messages cause anxiety
The absence of response takes more space than the message itself, leading to worries about what went wrong.
Social exclusion study
Heidelberg University researchers found smartphone users experience stronger social pain when excluded.
Phone notifications create anxiety
Nicholas Kardaras compares phone notifications to intermittent rewards, making people check repeatedly.
Solutions for message anxiety
Turning off notifications or leaving the phone away helps reduce anxiety about unresponded messages.
What happens next
Julie learns that unresponded messages don't mean rejection but could be many things, including a full battery.
In short
Julie's anxiety over unresponded messages makes her unable to focus on anything else.
