How to Cure Internet Addiction

With millions of people surfing the internet comes the issue of addiction to the web. People may be teased or harassed by friends and family as being an internet addict. Though how does one qualify such an accusation? There are a few hints or clues that will confirm if you, your friend, or loved one is hooked on the internet. Keep in mind such addictions are the result of people surfing leisure sites. I would not label someone an addict if there online time is spent doing research for school or work that will ultimately be productive.

1. People Time - There is an addiction in process if you prefer to spend time logged on to the computer rather than play with the children or spend some quality time with your spouse or significant other. Perhaps the surfing involves chat rooms, gaming, or drifting from forum to forum.

2. Pushing the Limits - The inability to limit your usage online is clearly a sign of addiction. You shout down the hall that you are almost done to your family and another hour goes by before you shut down the machine. This is bad, very bad.

3. Work Time Management - Your work day involves several sessions of visiting websites, forums, and news sites. Before you know it is close to noon and you have hardly put a dent into your task list at work. There maybe a few unanswered voice-mails on your phone left since nine o'clock in the morning.

4. Love of thy Laptop - You get done with your errands whether going shopping, dropping off the dry cleaning, or mowing the lawn. What is the first thing you do? You race to the lap top to see what happened when you were busy doing real things.

Maybe some of these symptoms sound familiar? Well I think many of us at one point or another experience one of these symptoms though maybe not to the full extent. There are ways to cure internet addiction. If these cures simply do not work and your family life or professional life has been destroyed by this addiction, I would recommend seeking professional help.

1. Pull the Plug - Maybe the best route to take is to abstain from using the computer for one day. That means no e-mail, no browsing, and no instant messaging. Do not use the computer for anything as the temptation will be too great to open up that browser. Sometimes a day or two of withdrawal will recalibrate your mind and make you realize how pathetic your addiction is. Your family and friends will thank you for it.

2. Browser Detection - Install shareware that limits your time spent browsing. There are a number of programs that monitor your use of browsing and will remind you or disarm your ability to gain access to the web after pushing the limit of your time allocation.

3. Internet Schedule - Create a timetable to schedule or plan your reduced usage of time spent online. You will want to provide your schedule or timer to another to assist you in your efforts to curb online surfing. Maybe consider password locks that will be accessible from another family member which will curtail your ability to "cheat" the schedule.