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Signs and Symptoms of Internet Addiction or Computer Addiction
Signs and symptoms of internet addiction vary from person to person. For example, there are no set hours per day or number of messages sent that indicate internet addiction. However, here are some general warning signs that your internet use may have become a problem:
- 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?
- Having Trouble Completing Tasks at Work or Home: Do you find laundry piling up and little food in the house for dinner because you've been busy online? Perhaps you find yourself working late more often because you can't complete your work on time – then staying even longer when everyone else has gone home so you can use the internet freely.
- Isolation from Family and Friends: Is your social life suffering because of all the time you spend online? Are you neglecting your family and friends? Do you feel like no one in your 'real' life – even your spouse – understands you like your online friends?
- Feeling Guilty or Defensive about Your Internet Use: Are you sick of your spouse nagging you to get off the computer or put your smartphone down and spend time together? Do you hide your internet use or lie to your boss and family about the amount of time you spend on the computer or mobile devices, and what you do while you're online?
- Feeling a Sense of Euphoria while Involved in Internet Activities: Do you use the internet as an outlet when stressed, sad, or for sexual gratification or excitement? Have you tried to limit your internet time but failed?
Physical Symptoms of Internet Addiction
Internet or computer addiction can also cause physical discomfort, such as
- carpal tunnel syndrome (pain and numbness in hands and wrists);
- dry eyes or strained vision;
- back aches and neck ache;
- severe headaches;
- sleep disturbances; and
- pronounced weight gain or weight loss.
Internet Addiction: Cybersex and Pornography
While online pornography and cybersex addictions are types of sexual addiction, special challenges on the internet include its relative anonymity and ease of access. It's easy to spend hours on the internet in the privacy of your own home, and engage in fantasies impossible in real life.
Compulsively spending hours on the internet viewing pornography or engaging in other cybersex activities can adversely affect real-life relationships, career and emotional health.
What's the difference between healthy and unhealthy sexuality?*
For most adults, healthy sexuality is an integrated life experience. Sex with partners, with self or as a part of exploring new relationships is usually a pleasurable act of choice. For sexual addicts, however, sexual behaviour can be most often defined by words such as driven, compulsive and hidden. Unlike healthy sex that is integrated into relationships, sexual addicts use sex as a means to cope; to handle boredom, anxiety and other powerful feelings; or as a way to feel important, wanted or powerful.
*Source: Sexual Recovery Institute
Internet Addiction: Online Gambling
While gambling has been a well-documented problem for years, the availability of internet gambling has made gambling far more accessible. It has also made it harder for recovering addicts to avoid relapse. Online or virtual casinos are open all day, every day for anyone with internet access. People who don't live within close proximity of a traditional casino or betting track, for example, or even those who are too young to gain access, now find it much easier to gamble online.
Other Net Compulsions
Net compulsions such as compulsive stock trading or online auction shopping can be just as financially and socially damaging as online gambling. eBay addicts, for example, may wake up at strange hours in order to be online for the last remaining minutes of an auction. They may purchase things they don't need and can't afford in order to experience the excitement of placing the winning bid.
Compulsive online gamers can isolate themselves for many hours at a time participating in virtual reality or online fantasy games, neglecting other aspects of their lives such as work and family.
Internet Addiction: Cyber-relationships
When used responsibly, the internet can be a great place to interact socially, meet new people and even start romantic relationships. However, online relationships can often be more intense than those in real life. Your fantasies are given free reign and the idea of being with your online love can exceed all realistic expectations. Since few real-life relationships can compete with these wild, fantasy relationships, the internet addict will prefer to spend more and more time with their online friends.
Another problem is that about 50 per cent of people online lie about their age, weight, job, marital status or gender. When online friends meet and the real-life person fails to match the online persona, it can create profound emotional disappointment.
Reference:
Saisan, J., Smith, M., Robinson, L. & Segal, J. (Updated 2015, April). Internet and computer addiction: Signs, symptoms, and help for balancing your time online and off. Retrieved 18 June 2015 from www.helpguide.org