RP134 Are You Addicted to the Internet

RP134 Are You Addicted to the Internet?

Internet addiction is a relatively new and controversial disorder. Though it is still not recognized as a specific disorder by all doctors, many people see the signs of Internet overuse in their lives and are trying to fight it.

Most compulsory Internet users are hooked on a few specific activities: online buying or gambling, online relationships (including social networking), computer games, and compulsory data searching. These are activities that many of us often perform. Some people, however, find them hard to stop. Their online activities may become more important than their real-life activities. They may allow relationships to die because they only spend time with Internet friends. They may be unable to stop playing computer games and ignore chores or family time. People often turn to the Internet for stress relief or to get away from their problems for a few minutes. However, some people may become too dependent on escaping into the Internet. The Internet becomes a destructive force in their lives.

To check for possible Internet addiction or compulsion, doctors will ask you a few key questions. They ask about whether spending time online is affecting your school or work performance. They ask if family or friends complain about your Internet use and if you form more new relationships online than offline. They ask if you worry that life without the Internet would be useless and boring, if you often stay online longer than you intended, or if you lie about how long you've been in front of the computer.

We use the Internet so much that when it becomes an unhealthy addiction, it can be hard to spot. Think carefully about how you use the Internet. Even useful tools can be dangerous.