Are You an Internet Addict?

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What is Internet Addiction Disorder?

Internet addiction disorder (IAD) is excessive computer use that interferes with daily life. It becomes a compulsion behavior that completely dominates the addict's life. Internet addicts make the Internet a priority more important than family, relationships, health and work. Just like gambling, excessive gaming, a growing sexual addiction or compulsive shopping. It is suggested that most people online who think they are addicted are probably suffering from a desire to not want to deal with other problems in their lives. These problems can be depression, anxiety, stress, unemployment, health a disability problem, or a relationship problem. Though there is no suggestion about someone trying to make a living online.

The internet becomes a particular kind of stimulation to the point where obtaining a steady supply becomes the sole and central focus of their lives. Mental health professionals are split as to whether or not internet addiction is real. There are sites online to help with addiction. What is disputed is whether people can become addicted to the Internet in itself, or rather to the stimulation and information that the web provides. Who is to say that Internet addiction is no different than being a Couch Potato. In my mind, there is more stimulation in cyberspace. Therefore more brain activity is used than sinking in a chair and staring at the tube.

Some studies suggest that 5 to 10 percent of the population have IAD. The current Internet population is nearly 50/50 in terms of proportion of men to women. Research on which of the sexes has more of an addiction is unclear. Gender has influences on the type of internet interaction that men and women seek. Men tend to seek out dominance and sexual fantasy online, while women seek out close friendships. Men are more likely to become addicted to online games, cyberporn, and online gambling, while women are more likely to become addicted to chatting, instant messaging, eBay, and online shopping. Though in the social networks that I belong to, there seems to be an equal split of men and women.

What Makes the Internet So Addictive?

Social interactions are top on the list. Socialization is what makes the Internet so addicting. Social networks are growing by the handful. We all have this need to interact with others. Whether it is e-mail, a forum, chat, or an online game, people are spending time exchanging information and support with other people like themselves. Even if you have an online business, you spend time advertising in a form of socializing to send traffic to your site.

If you feel that you need help consider consulting with a local licensed psychologist, social worker or counselor, specifically one with experience treating addictions.

Is the Internet More Interesting?
Squidoo Queen Version 2.1
RSS Addiction

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Confessions of An Internet Addict

I have been accused of having an internet addiction. The first thing I do after I wake up is turn on the computer. Of course I need to check my email and websites. (Ebook Tree Saver, Embrace the Hill just to name a couple.) What about PayPal? Did anyone buy from my Amazon or Half account? What about my many Cafepress or Zazzle shops? Let's not forget about the many social networks that I belong to. To name a few Squidoo, Tagfoot, Twitter, Big Crumbs, Zenzuu, Facebook, Digg and MySpace. What about the comments? Did anyone leave one for me?

There is no way that I can let a day go by without checking the essentials on the internet. Does that make me addicted? Of course not! I can stay away any time. Today, I made a conscious effort to stay away from the computer. After all there was the house to be cleaned, laundry to do and errands to run. (Only a woman can relate to this or a very extraordinary man. Know where can I find one?)

The day went on. I caught up with some of the things that I had let slide. Did all the errands, chores and even baked a Pineapple Upside Down cake. Something that I hadn't made in years, but done so from the constant badgering...I mean a request from a special person in my life that would really appreciate something I hadn't made for him in 25 years. Not like I don't set a time for cooking. (Although at times the dinner gets served late.) Today I even set time aside to walk the dog. And to top it all off, I escaped that look. Are familiar with this look? The one given from your family members and drives hard into your very soul...You find some sort of guilt complex. Maybe, just maybe you are wasting your life away searching for something inside the box.

All right! I confess...it hadn't been 24 hours. But from the hours of 1:30 am to 10:30 pm I was free. Free of sitting in front of the white screen, typing away, searching for life inside the box. Free of going through the thousands of messages in my email. Free of the disappointment I often feel when I haven't made the money I had hoped for online, or not receiving the right comments and messages.

Oh yeah! I am not an internet junkie! There is no problem here!

Is the Internet More Interesting?

Squidoo Queen Version 2.1

An addict needs to learn from the Squidoo Queen

RSS Addiction

Do you have an addiction to RSS, most commonly said to be an acronym for 'Really Simple Syndication'? Do you feel like you have to feed everything that you see into your blogs, your network sites, Squidoo lenses.

Below are some of my blog RSS addictions.