People Who Constantly Forget To Text Back Usually Share 8 Specific Nervous System Traits
MAYA LAB | Shutterstock It’s pretty common for people to put off texting back because it seems like it will be easier to do later.
Of course, that procrastination usually leads to forgetting about the text altogether. Texting seems so simple, especially with how often we all do it these days, but it actually causes stress for a lot of people. People who fall into this trap have some unique traits that affect the way their nervous system functions.
If someone constantly forgets to text back, they probably have these specific nervous system traits
1. They get distracted easily
Pheelings Media from Getty Images Signature via Canva
There’s a reason that a new text message popping up on our phones is known as a notification. It’s sending the message to our brains that there’s something that needs our attention.
What everyone does with that message is different, though. Some people plan on replying as soon as they finish up whatever they’re doing, but then there are dozens of other things that grab their attention and make them forget there was a message to send in the first place.
What’s ironic is that too much screen time makes it even easier for people to become distracted, so it’s like the very thing they need to pay attention to is causing the problem.
2. They like to focus on things that seem interesting
Some people are always looking for something new that will grab their attention. Psychologists call this novelty-seeking, and it could affect the way people text back.
If someone has a high level of novelty-seeking, they’ll find a new text really interesting for a minute or two and then move on to something else, especially if the text isn’t all that exciting. Taking the time to reply feels pretty boring, so it’s the last thing they want to do.
3. They have social anxiety
It might seem extreme to draw a connection between texting and social anxiety. But texting is a way to have a conversation, so it is a social activity. Some people even feel specific anxiety about texting, and they don’t respond to avoid triggering it.
Everyone is different. Just because texting doesn’t feel like a big deal to one person doesn’t mean another will feel the same way. People react to face-to-face conversations differently, so why should we expect texting to be different?
4. They try to avoid feeling strong emotions
pixelshot via Canva
It’s normal for people to do what they can to avoid feeling uncomfortable emotions that they don’t want to acknowledge. Obviously, some texts are pretty basic and won’t stir up big emotions, but others require processing feelings that aren’t good.
People who rely completely on emotional avoidance are actually damaging their health and their relationships. That means it’s better to go ahead and text back, but some people will put it off so long that they forget about it.
5. They need everything to be perfect
When someone isn’t a perfectionist, it can be hard for them to understand how those unrealistic expectations touch every part of life. But people who feel like everything has to be perfect will go so far as to overthink how to respond to a text and type potential replies before deleting them because they aren’t good enough.
Perfectionists tend to procrastinate pretty often because they would rather do nothing than do something that doesn’t meet their standards. If they can’t send the perfect text, they won’t send one at all.
6. They have a hard time switching between tasks
Years of research have proven that people struggle with moving from one task to another. Quickly switching between tasks seems like it should increase productivity, but it actually slows people down instead.
For anyone who finds this even more challenging than the average person, pausing whatever they’re doing to text someone back will feel pretty unbearable. They’ll learn to put it off so they don’t lose their focus, but they might never come back to it either.
7. They become hyperfocused on the task at hand
If you’ve ever been so locked in on a certain task that everything else fades to the background, you know what it’s like to be hyperfocused.
It sounds strange to say that more focus could make people forget to respond to a text, but if all of their concentration is devoted to what they’re doing with none left over for anything else, there’s a chance that they won’t even realize they got a new text at all.
8. They feel overwhelmed all the time
LittleCityLifestylePhotography from Getty Images Signature via Canva
Everyone’s body reacts to stressful situations by going into fight-or-flight mode, but being chronically stressed means you can get stuck there. That’s how people end up feeling so overwhelmed that they literally can’t think straight.
When someone feels that way, texting back isn’t going to be their top priority. They probably won’t even remember that they need to do that. They’re in survival mode, and anything that isn’t totally necessary has to go on the back burner.
Mary-Faith Martinez is a writer with a bachelor’s degree in English and Journalism who covers news, psychology, lifestyle, and human interest topics.
