Some people, and you may be one of them, have let your internet time become sort of obsessive. In fact, it makes up for relationships missing, at least in our minds. We can read about subjects we find fascinating and talk to people online which helps us avoid people who are grating on our nerves. It is an escape and it says a lot about how dissatisfied a lot of us are with ‘real life’. Hours can be spent surfing the net, happily eating up time, and feeling no pressure.
News is at our fingertips immediately. Entertainment info is flashed on the screen for our enjoyment. Gossip and political stories are waiting for us. It’s hard to hide our need to be ‘in the know’ and those who are not internet savvy are considered out of it. But is internet addiction a problem?
People have been addicted to behaviors forever. We spend too much time watching TV, following sports, reading, exercising, going to clubs, and trying to meet new potential mates. But when we say internet addiction is a problem, we are describing people who jump on the net to avoid dealing with people and problems in life. If you are staring at a screen, TV or internet, you can block out anyone making demands upon you.
Virtual communities, e.g., chat rooms and message boards give us an opportunity to vent our opinions and feelings and see what others are thinking about the same subject. These on line visits can provide an escape from real life difficulties and allow us to ’speak our mind’ in a non threatening virtual world. There are online communities for just about every illness, disease, dream, work experience, and sexual thrill. And the neat thing about these interactions is we can run away and never participate again. There is no commitment except for the one we keep making.
The internet offers the opportunity for sly behavior, pretending to be someone we aren’t. We may see ourselves as dull, boring, and lacking but on the net we can be successful, exciting, and valuable. Sometimes you have a fantasy world on the net which gives you more pleasure than the people you live with and the job you have.
So how do you know if you are ‘internet addicted’?
1. Would you rather be on the net than talking to your spouse?
2. Do you find yourself trolling the net for potential relationships?
3. Does your family complain about the time you spend on the net?
4. Is sending and getting E mail an essential part of your daily activity?
5. Would your life be empty and boring without the internet?
6. Do you forget the time when you are happily surfing around?
7. Are you critical of people who are not internet savvy?
8. Do you feel a sense of anxiety when no internet is available?
9. Do you sneak at work to get on the net?
10. Would you rather have online sex than the real thing?
If you answered ‘yes’ to most of these questions, you are probably an internet addict. Face it, you are hooked.
You are compulsively dependent on the stimulation and pleasure you get from the internet. It is your primary source of information, comfort, and escape. You avoid doing everyday chores by running to the internet. You crave the ‘net’ and will not do without it.Teenagers and empty nesters seem to spend the most time on the net which means they are more likely to get into trouble with their net addiction. How about you? Are you completely hooked? Write in to tell us how addicted you are and how you handle it.
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