Internet Addiction

Internet addiction can involve chatting, shopping, looking up information, gaming, gambling, or looking at pornographic material. What makes it an addiction is the amount of time you spend doing it and how it disrupts your life.

Signs

-You have no control on the amount of time you spend online. You just don't seem to be able to limit yourself. Hours often slip by while you're online.

-Lying. You won't admit the amount of time you actually spend on the computer. Or you don't tell the truth about what you're doing on the Internet. You hide it from others.

-Unhealthy behavior. Would your family or spouse be hurt by knowing what you're doing online? Do you make it a point to keep it from them?

-Mistaking what's important. The computer becomes the most important thing in your life. You can resist the urge to be online, it becomes compulsive.

-Disturbs daily habits. You begin not sleeping or neglecting personal hygiene. If you'd rather chat online than spend time with your family, you have a problem.

What to do

-Begin to limit your online activities. Keep yourself busy with other things like reading or exercising. Try to take your mind off of the Internet and don't allow yourself to make up excuses to use the computer.

-Turn it off. When you're done with the computer, shut it off. If you have to wait for the computer to boot up every time you want to use it, there will be less temptation to use it.

-Use a timing program to help limit your time online. There are many of these available for download online. It will help you track how long you're online and sites you've been to. Just set a time limit for each time you get on the computer.

-For people, totally cutting out the Internet may be an option. But if your work or school requires Internet use, you may need to use a step-by-step recovery program.

-Seek out a support group. There are others who suffer from Internet addiction and having someone you can talk openly with could make all the difference.

With the Internet and computers being so wide spread, Internet addiction is becoming a more and more common thing. There are many trained mental health professionals that can help to break the addiction.

Internet addiction is like any other addiction and there's nothing wrong with admitting there's a problem and seeking help to deal with it.

Don't be afraid to admit the problem is something that you can't handle alone.