Computer+Addiction


 * THE SYMPTOMS OF COMPUTER ADDICTION**



All kidding aside, Internet Addiction can be pretty scary. Explore the webpage linked below. Find other sites that talk about computer or internet addiction. Share them with us here. Put some of the interesting information you find on this page.

=Symptoms of Computer Addiction:=

-Obsessively checking e-mail. -Playing online games for 12 hours or more at a time. -Placing more value on chat-room friends than real friends. -Neglecting family, work and even personal health and hygiene. -The need to update things such as Facebook, tumblr, and Twitter

These are all symptoms of a new form of addiction that has surfaced only in recent years: computer addiction. Creating a single definition for computer addiction is difficult because the term actually covers a wide spectrum of addictions. Few people are literally addicted to a computer as a physical object. They become addicted to activities performed on a computer, like instant messaging, viewing internet pornography, playing video games, checking e-mail and reading news articles. These activities are collectively referred to as Computer Mediated Communication (CMC). Computer addiction focused on Internet use is often called Internet Addiction Disorder (IAD).

"We need to make sure that when our kids search the web, they don't drown" -Katie Couric, CBS News [|Notebook: Internet Addiction, 0:54]

media type="youtube" key="3N3lVltkPWk" height="315" width="420" [|Internet Addiction, the New Disorder?]


 * Losing track of time online. Do you frequently find yourself on the Internet longer than you intended? Does a few minutes turn in to a few hours? Do you get irritated or cranky if your online time is interrupted. These are all signs of computer addiction. Another sign of computer addiction is if you are finding yourself more comfortable with computers than your own friends. If you think that you maybe addicted to a computer then you should stop the addiction in its tracks. Also, chores maybe piling up, social life maybe suffering, or using the Internet as a safe zone or too keep you from stressing out.**


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 * Do any of these stories sound familiar to you?**

At Home:


 * A mother has difficulty getting her child to do chores when computer games occupy all after school time.
 * A husband finds his wife increasingly neglects family duties, is irritable at family gatherings, and the phone bill has risen astronomically to an on-line service number.
 * Someone connects to the Internet at 9:00 PM and suddenly discovers it is dawn and he has not left the computer.

At School:


 * A child's grades fall and the teacher notes that he/she is falling asleep in class.
 * A college freshman gets a mid-term warning because he is not keeping up with course work. Instead, he is spending every evening on the Internet communicating with all his family and former high school classmates, and rarely joins in social activities on campus.

At Work:

http://www.computeraddiction.com/
 * An employee starts to fall behind at work and a rising number of sick days raises questions about usefulness to his/her employer.
 * A corporate department head stays late each night to meet deadlines.
 * In-house monitoring of computer use reveals he frequently accesses inappropriate sites, including gambling and pornography.


 * What are the warning signs of Internet addiction?**

-Preoccupation with the Internet. (Thoughts about previous on-line activity or anticipation of the next on-line session.) -Use of the Internet in increasing amounts of time in order to achieve satisfaction. -Repeated, unsuccessful efforts to control, cut back or stop Internet use. -Feelings of restlessness, moodiness, depression, or irritability when attempting to cut down use of the Internet. -On-line longer than originally intended. -Jeopardized or risked loss of significant relationships, job, educational or career opportunities because of Internet use. -Lies to family members, therapists, or others to conceal the extent of involvement with the Internet. -Use of the Internet is a way to escape from problems or to relieve a dysphoric mood. (e.g. Feelings of hopelessness, guilt, anxiety, depression.)

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=Are you addicted to the computer?=

A survey to see if you are addicted to the computer - [|Computer Addiction]

Being addicted to the computer also can cause physical discomfort. Are you suffering from the following physical problems? Computer Addiction Study
 * Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (pain, numbness, and burning in your hands that can radiate up the wrists, elbows, and shoulders)
 * Dry eyes or strained vision
 * Back aches and neck aches
 * Severe headaches
 * Sleep disturbances

=Different Kinds of Computer Addictions:=


 * **Cyber-Relationship Addiction** – addiction to social networking, chat rooms and messaging to the point where virtual, online friends become more important than real-life relationships with family and friends.
 * **Net Compulsions** – such as compulsive online gaming, gambling, stock trading, or compulsive use of online auction sites such as eBay, often resulting in financial and job-related problems.
 * **Information Overload** – compulsive web surfing or database searching, leading to lower work productivity and less social interaction with family and friends.
 * **Computer Addiction** – obsessive playing of off-line computer games, such as Solitaire or Minesweeper, or obsessive computer programming.

The most common of these Internet addictions are online gambling, and cyber-relationship addiction. []

=How common is computer/internet addiction?=

9 - 15 million people in the United States use the internet every day. Every three months the rate of use increases by 25%. 41% of self-selected online gamers play video games to escape and 7% are classified as being at risk of developing a psychological and behavioral dependence on online computer games. These two facts are reasons showing how dangerous and how fast- growing the "disease" of computer addiction

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 * You are at greater risk of Internet addiction if:**


 * -You suffer from anxiety: You may use the Internet to distract yourself from your worries and fears. An anxiety disorder like obsessive-compulsive disorder may also contribute to excessive email checking and compulsive Internet use.**
 * -You are depressed: The Internet can be an escape from feelings of depression, but too much time online can make things worse. Internet addiction further contributes to stress, isolation and loneliness.**
 * -You have any other addictions: Many Internet addicts suffer from other addictions, such as drugs, alcohol, gambling, and sex.**
 * -You lack social support: Internet addicts often use social networking sites, instant messaging, or online gaming as a safe way of establishing new relationships and more confidently relating to others.**
 * -You’re an unhappy teenager: you might be wondering where you fit in and the Internet might feel more comfortable than real life friends.**
 * -You are less mobile or socially active than you are used to: For example, you may be coping with a new disability that limits your ability to drive. Parenting very young children can make it hard to leave the house or connect with old friends.**
 * -You are stressed: While some people use the Internet to relieve stress, it can have a counterproductive effect. The longer you spend online, the higher your stress levels will be.**


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 * A person who is addicted to computers usually has many symptoms that prove that they are addicted. Here are some of the symptoms:**


 * "You have mixed feelings of well-being and guilt while at the computer."
 * "You make unsuccessful efforts to quit or limit your computer use."
 * "You lose track of time while on the computer."
 * "You neglect friends, family and/or responsibilities in order to be online."
 * "You find yourself lying to your boss and family about the amount of time spent on the computer and what you do while on it."
 * "You feel anxious, depressed, or irritable when your computer time is shortened or interrupted."
 * "You use the computer repeatedly as an outlet when sad, upset, or for sexual gratification."
 * "You develop problems in school or on the job as a result of the time spent and the type of activities accessed on the computer.When you are not on the computer, you think about it frequently and anticipate when you will use it again."

http://www.utdallas.edu/counseling/computeraddiction/