Many psychologists are now saying that it is possible to develop an addiction to internet usage (and I assume computer games falls within this remit too). Can excessive internet use be bad for you? I suppose if it impacts on your personal relationships and/or work life it can be. Any thoughts?
Yup, it can be addictive. A while ago I was kind of "addicted" to reading horror stories on the Internet daily, usually in the night as I had the most free time then. That gave me really bad nightmares which haunt me to this day. And given the fact that I have always had sleeping problems, this made it even worse. I found it really hard to stop reading those stories, as I was really enjoying them, but the consequences were far worse. They also made me a bit paranoid. Anything can be addictive, and you have to prevent it by spotting the signs early.
It's entirely possible to become addicted to the internet, as you can become addicted to anything. With something like the internet, where you have infinate information at the tips of your fingers. Many of us are addicted and don't even realize it. I know every time I hear about something new I want to Google it... And when I can't it really bothers me, much more than it should.
I think it is possible if we are thinking about the site we visited or an article and if it involves watching a video or reading a book it can take time and also we can easily spend time on the internet and not realize it sometimes, so we need to balance the time we spend on it so we can do other things as well in our life on a daily basis. It is something which can be an addiction and also this is one of those addictions that people may not realize and also they can sometimes ignore their family and friends, which can upset them as the person is not spending time with them like before. I reckon that we need to be careful and also use it for a short time otherwise the important things can be forgotten and we can spend more time on the internet which can consume more time and also we can waste it very easily if not careful.
Yes, anything that is excessive is bad for you and that includes the internet. When your routine gets hampered already and you don't even want to have a social life because all you want to do is to surf the net, then you already have a problem.
Addicted to the Internet is a real addiction. You life becomes surrounded around being on the Internet. I have seen cases where people don't even want to leave home. They want to stay at home and be online all the time playing games, watching movies, etc. You may try to find something that you enjoy that doesn't involve being online, like playing a sport, etc.
I find myself sending WAAAYYY too much time on the internet. If i am not working that day sometimes a whole day will fly because of the internet,
Addiction is addiction. Whether you are addicted to porn, internet, heroine or any other staff. Video games also fall under the addiction bracket. In your case. You are addicted to the internet and that might cause a threat to you and the people around you(ones you relate with mostly).
Of course you can become addicted to the internet. You can become addicted to absolutely anything, and if you find that you NEED to use something, then chances are this is the thing that you are addicted to, so you should be very careful indeed with regards to how you move forward with it. If you feel as though you do have an addiction, then you should get help, because it is absolutely possible to get hold of your life again, but you do need to get professional help with it.
I would consider myself addicted to the internet, but mildly. I will gladly put it aside if something better is going on. The trouble is, that there is usually nothing out here bettter going on. So, consequently, I find myself online a lot! I don't like being away from the devices on a road trip though. The phone has to suffice.
I think it can be if it's used the wrong way. You have to have a even balance between the net and real life. A lot of information you find on the internet can enhance your life but, if you make it your life it can take away from it. The bottom line is it's really all about how you use it.
Exactly! Addiction is when you find other things less important than the thing you are addicted to. So if you are addicted to the internet then chances are that you will ignore other important staff since they will seem less important to you. That is what you mind will always be thinking.
There have been reports already of those who got addicted to online games. Sitting for too long and not eating can cause illnesses and even death which already happened due to blood clots. Right too that addiction can destroy lives and relationships.
The Internet is whatever you want it to be. A useful tool, but you have to dictate what you want to get out of the Internet, otherwise you will become a slave to it. Often times I find myself browsing website without even being conscious of why I am doing it. This is usually to kill boredom, but we probably all have better things we could be doing with our time than looking at funny pictures.
Yeah you are right about the blood clots that is a real danger, especially those who might be prone to those kind of things or who are older. Sitting too long is not good for anyone. I usually take frequent breaks when I am online so I am not just consistently sitting. I am too antsy to sit for too long anyway.
If you are addicted to the Internet then consider doing something positive. Don't waste time just playing games and watching movies. There are a lot of paying jobs that you can do and get paid. You can join freelance sites and get paid by performing different tasks at your own time.
dear @6up, just to let you know that when a person is addicted then he/she does not consider his/her addiction as a waste of time. He just finds it the best thing to do at the moment.
You really amaze me @bleblanc10. You know that you are getting yet you can't do anything for your situation. Let me give you a simple advice. You can't just wake up one day and decide that you want have quite your addiction. It takes time. Try reducing the number of times you visit the internet and you will notice that you do not really need it.
This is a very interesting question and I'm glad somebody asked it. Yes, as with every other addiction, I believe that addiction to the Internet is real and dangerous. Internet helps us in many ways, but sometimes we need to draw the line and say 'enough is enough', otherwise it will begin to control us. Internet is here to provide us with precious information and help us live better, but it shouldn't become the main focus of our lives. Life is supposed to be experienced in the real world.