Internet Addiction
Are you addicted?
Do you feel absorbed with the internet?
Do you feel unsatisfied unless you increase your time online?
Are you unable to control your internet use?
Do you become anxious and depressed when you reduce the amount of time that you spend online?
Do you stay online longer than you intended?
Has your internet use put your job or your relationships at risk?
Have you lied about how much time you spend online?
Do you use the internet to escape your feelings and to avoid emotional pain?
If you answered yes to most of these questions, you may have an internet addiction. Whether you are a native to internet use and have been using it all of your life, or are an internet immigrant like me, we can all agree that internet use makes so many things in our lives easier.
But as most of you know, it has its drawbacks, too. Studies show that the most successful internet users are able to set limits on their internet use. They live a balanced life.
The internet is indeed an amazing tool. We just need to make sure that other areas in our life do not suffer as a result of being overly connected and therefore disconnected.
What are your thoughts? Do you believe that internet addiction is real? Is it a mental health disorder?
Related articles
- Internet Addiction = Mental Illness (saintorasinner.wordpress.com)
- Web of Intrigue (psychologytoday.com)
Excellent query friend. It is most certainly addictive and provides, like all addictions, an escape from our reality. I would label myself an internet addict over a decade ago. The transition from working to motherhood, was less than smooth for me. I was out of my element and quite frankly, a little bored and searching for self worth. I sought purpose, first in selling on ebay and later in creating creations for my daughter. I shopped, researched, and just generally camped out on websites. My time, though somewhat productive, was in reality a diversion. As long as I was selling or researching ebay, or shopping for unique items to craft original creations, I justified that my habitual time on the internet was acceptable. The time spent was actually, time not spent with my young children, was time that I wasn’t cleaning my house (which is actually just fine), and time that I spent alone, not socializing with others. Thankfully, I did emerge insightful and now spend very little time on the internet. I am also much happier as I am actively participating in life, not just researching it on my computer.
SB,
Thank you so much for your comments. I know that a lot of people can relate to what you say here. I really like what you have to say in your last sentence. “I am actively participating in life, not researching on my computer.” I wonder how many other people think that they are living life, when they are actually watching it on a screen- not living it at all? I always enjoy your insightful comments. Let Life In -Kristin
Just my opinion but I believe ALL addictions are mental health disorder with the word “addiction” being the clue to the problem. No problem, no addiction either. Human minds are a funny, malleable matter. It seems we can be addicted to something and fool ourselves into believing whatever else we want to make that activity/choice okay with ourselves. Many who are addicted, I’m sure, have no awareness of it, just see it as what they do, how they communicate. For me, it saddens me. I know we are connecting on here but there is something to be said for the days of warm, real, human connection that leaves me a cold and wanting being after too much internet time. Not to mention I see a decline in manners overall (where are you Emily Post, lol) and an increase in tendency to rage/rant have angry outbursts that transfer to innocents in the real world who have no clue why it’s happening. As with any addiction (and my ex husband was/is severely addicted to internet porn), there is irritability, sleep deprivation to self in order to have more time online, sleep deprivation to others whey their sleep is disturbed by odd hour noises of their activity/choices. He was always angry. Angry if I wanted any REAL time. Angry if I asked him to get off the internet. Angry if I needed anything at all or help with anything at all. Oh dear, I’ve written a blog post here, haven’t I, lol. Sorry, just sharing what I know personally in answer to your question.
Aurora,
Thank you so much for sharing this with us. Most people with addictions do become angry when they cannot get their “fix” right when they want it. Spending time with you took your ex-husband away from his addiction, and he responded with anger. I hope that you are in a better place now. Again, thank you for sharing this. You are not alone. Many others can benefit from your story. Kristin
Thanks, Kristin, that’s why I share. So many in the same boat and don’t even know it, think they are alone but this happens with computer games, anything that takes us away from our people. Glad you understand, thank you.
Thank you!
🙂
Well maybe I’m include – internet addiction ….. but I always try to get some positive from the net and learn to balance my time between family time and pleasure time 😀
Balance is key!
Nice post! I’ve just written a blog post with my opinions on the topic 🙂 ! I believe whole heatedly that internet addiction is real!
Hi Adam. Thank you for leaving a comment. I will check out your post! 🙂