When a person’s major focus is on one behaviour only, he may be suffering from behavioural addiction. This addiction includes, among other things, gambling, shopping, watching pornography, work, and using computer and the Internet.
Let’s talk about computers and the Internet. They are a necessity for today’s generation. Computers and the Internets are needed in the workplace, in school, and at home. Computers now are as popular as television.
To an office worker, a student or a professional, computer and the Internet are a necessity. The Internet provides easy access to a gold mine of information. Besides, you can communicate with friends all over the world while at home, in the office, in malls and at airports with wi-fis.
With the Internet, news, weather forecasts and sports are just a click away. You can shop, bank or pay your bills online. You can watch and share video clips, download or upload almost anything you like from YouTube.
But the Internet has its downside too. When you become so attached to the computer that you start to live in an artificial world, your physical, emotional and spiritual health is in danger.
Be responsible!
Scientific studies show that computer addiction affects the brain in pretty much the same way as drug addiction changes the brain chemistry by stimulating the reward circuit of the brain. As human beings, we are likely to repeat doing the things we find rewarding. Like eating chocolates or ice cream. So we tend to eat more than the required amount. The pleasure one experiences from this activity triggers the release of a brain chemical known as dopamine, which makes the person to want for more. This brings a cycle of pleasure and elation to repeat the behaviour, which in turn leads to the increasing desire to relish the reward. Soon the person craves to go up to a higher level of excitement with perverted thinking and uncontrolled behaviour.
Computer addiction is a serious matter. Don’t take it for granted. Many have lost a loved one or their work because of computer addiction. Take Deirdre who confessed how she had neglected her kids, her job, her home and herself. She would stay up all night almost every night online. Good thing she realized her addiction before it was too late. Her visits to a counsellor and her determination to stop the addiction have helped her overcome her addiction.
Knowing the early signs of computer and Internet addiction in a spouse, a brother or a sister, a friend, a colleague, or even yourself is of extreme importance.
But how do you know that you have too much of computer or the Internet? If you answer yes to at least seven of the questions below, it is enough for you to be diagnosed as having a pathological Internet addiction.
§ Do I lose interest in the other activities I used to engage in?
§ Would I rather miss my regular meals than miss the Internet?
§ Am I craving for more time online and feel restless when not engaged?
§ Do I feel irritable and aggressive when interrupted or when the connection is slow?
§ Do I stay in the computer longer than intended?
§ Am I neglecting family and friends and/or responsibilities in order to be online?
§ Is my Internet use interfering with my job or school responsibilities?
§ Do I use the Internet as an outlet when lonely, upset or sad?
§ Do I lie about the amount of time I spend on the Internet and what I am browsing?
§ Am I sleeping late because of Internet browsing?
So, how would you avoid computer and Internet addiction?
Here are good suggestions.
§ Parents should be role models for their children.
§ Put computer in a common place in the house like the living room so that parents can easily keep an eye on their children’s use, thus helping them avoid visiting undesirable websites.
§ Have family meals at the table at regular times.
§ Get involved in sports. Develop a healthy relationship with your team.
§ Go to bed on time to get a good night’s rest.
§ Develop a strong network of friends. This provides mental and emotional support.
§ Plan for family activities.
§ Limit computer use. List the things you need in the web, set an alarm clock to be sure you get off when it sounds. Stick to your set time.
§ Be aware of the warning signs of addiction.
§ Seek profession help.
§ Most of all, submit yourself to God. Ask Him to help you detach yourself from the excitement of computer and the Internet.
Computer and the Internet are no doubt necessities. But they could also ruin lives and relationships if not handled responsibly.
With this article, I started feeling very guilty. Because, whenever I see my laptop, the thing that goes inside my mind is "INTERNET!" like it shouts at me. (lol, I am not having any auditory hallucinations right?) My instinct, is to dive open my laptop and browse the net, even if I haven't really have any agenda with it. For me, this is already what I call "ADDICTION" it is the feeling of being so dependent on it, the feeling of at a loss when you don't have it, and the feeling wanting more out of it.
For me, all I can say, was when I tried to evaluate myself with the questions, I got a score of five. Meaning its, good. I am not much of an internet addict, although, I seem to heading towards that direction.
I realized, I have to set my priorities straight. Know when to use the internet when I really needed to, and have my set of objectives when using it.
Why is the internet so desirable for me in the first place?
It is because, aside of social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter, wherein you hear news from faraway friends and hot celebrities of today, knowing the latest gossips and issues everybody around you faces, well, it is really very intriguing. Aside from that, the internet is my only outlet with ANIME addiction. I visit forums wherein I discuss my opinions about a certain anime show, I go and read fan fictions from different authors around the world, I am able to read manga when I can't buy one (One volume is very expensive, I should know, I am also collecting them), I watch anime streamings since they don't show my favorite shows in local television (and my dad is against on putting cable in our tv), I also read doujinshis, and browse a lot of fan Art too!!! Not to mention, I also get different news about my favorite animes.
So possibly, I am able to link my internet addiction to my anime addiction.
And, what is more, the internet is the only place where my opinions can be heard. Like this blog, some people tend to read this. Its just like saying, that, i do not need to go to a local magazine to publish my articles, I do not need to go to a local newspaper just to get a story published... instead I just go here and express myself.
I think, this one of the good stuff that the internet provides me.
However, we still should be responsible for our actions. Like they always say: "Too Much" is always bad.
