While time spent online can be hugely productive, compulsive Internet use can interfere with daily life, work, and relationships. When you feel more comfortable with your online friends than your real ones, or you can’t stop yourself from playing games, gambling, or compulsively checking your smartphone, tablet, or other mobile device—even when it has negative consequences in your life—then you may be using the Internet too much. Learn about the signs and symptoms of Internet addiction and how to balance your life online and off. Show
Internet addiction, otherwise known as computer addiction, online addiction, or Internet Addiction Disorder (IAD), covers a variety of impulse-control problems, including:
The most common of these Internet addictions are cybersex, online gambling, and cyber-relationship addiction. Healthy vs. Unhealthy Internet UseThe Internet provides a constant, ever-changing source of information and entertainment. It can be accessed from most smartphones as well as tablet, laptops, and desktop computers. E-mail, blogs, social networks, instant messaging, and message boards allow for both public and anonymous communication about any topic. But how much is too much Internet usage? Each person’s Internet use is different. You might need to use the Internet extensively for your work, for example, or you might rely heavily on social networking sites to keep in touch with faraway family and friends. Spending a lot of time online only becomes a problem when it absorbs too much of our time, causing you to neglect your relationships, our work, school, or other important things in our life. If you keep repeating compulsive Internet behavior despite the negative consequences in you offline life, then it’s time to strike a new balance. How do people become addicted to the Internet?To relieve unpleasant and overwhelming feelingsMany people turn to the Internet in order to manage unpleasant feelings such as stress, loneliness, sadness, and anxiety. When you have a bad day and are looking for a way to escape your problems or to quickly relieve stress or self-soothe, the Internet can be an easily accessible outlet. Losing yourself online can temporarily make feelings such as loneliness, stress, anxiety, sadness, and boredom evaporate into thin air. As much comfort as the Internet can provide, though, it’s important to remember that there are healthier (and more effective ways to keep difficult feelings in check. These may include exercising, meditating, and practicing simple relaxation techniques. For many people, an important aspect of overcoming Internet and computer addiction is to find alternated ways to handle these difficult feelings. Even when your Internet use is back to healthy levels. The painful and unpleasant feelings that may have prompted you to engage in unhealthy Internet use in the past will remain. So, it’s worth spending some time thinking about the different ways you intend to deal with stressful situations and the daily irritations that would normally have you logging on. Risk factors for Internet addictions and computer addictionYou are at greater risk of Internet addiction if:
Signs and symptoms of Internet addiction or computer addictionSigns 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. But there are some general warning signs that your Internet use may have become a problem:
Physical symptoms of Internet addictionInternet or computer addiction can also cause physical discomfort, such as:
Internet addiction: Cybersex and pornographyWhile online pornography and cybersex addictions are type of sexual addiction, special challenges on the Internet include its relative anonymity and ease of access. It’s easy to send 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 behavior can be most often defined by words such as driver, 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. Internet addiction: Online gamblingWhile 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. Internet addiction: Cyber-relationshipsWhen 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. Our fantasies are given free reign and the idea of being with your online love can exceed all realistic expectations. Because 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% 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. Self-help tips for breaking your Internet addictionThere are a number of steps you can take to get your Internet use under control. While you can initiate many of these yourself, it’s important you get some outside support as well. It can be all too easy to slip back into old patterns of uasage, especially if you use the Internet heavily for school or other important activities. Here are just a few steps that might help you:
Modify your Internet use step by step:
Adapted from HelpGuide.Org Tips for dealing with Internet addiction:
Source of TIPS: University of California, San Francisco Which of the following is a common cause of workplace stress?The most common causes of work related stress are work pressure, poor organisation and lack of support from managers. While some people thrive under pressure and do their best work with a looming deadline, others find these kinds of challenges very stressful.
Which of the following is a leading cause of work stress for employees quizlet?Interrole conflict is caused by opposing expectations related to a single role. Dramatic changes at work and lack of control are some of the major causes of work stress. Role ambiguity and role conflict are two major categories of role stress at work.
Which of the following most accurately defines stress in humans?Which of the following accurately defines stress? A state of tension which is often felt physically and emotionally.
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