How to Know If You Are Addicted to the Internet
The Internet is a great source of information and entertainment for many people, so much so that it is sometimes difficult to imagine anything that one cannot do online these days. Unfortunately, the Internet is too much of a good thing for some people. Some people find themselves spending increasing amounts of time online and begin to wonder if they may be addicted to the Internet in the same way that an alcoholic is addicted to alcohol. Knowing the warning signs of an Internet addiction is the first step to determining whether you may have an addiction to the Internet.
- Difficulty:
- Moderate
Instructions
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Set realistic goals for yourself regarding your Internet usage. For example, you may tell yourself, "Today I will only allow myself three hours online. After my three hours is up, I will turn my computer off and tend to my other responsibilities no matter what," or "I will only use the Internet for homework and quick email checks today." If you find yourself consistently failing to meet these goals, you likely have an Internet addiction. Failing to live up to goals you set for yourself demonstrates an inability to control your Internet-related behavior -- a key sign of an Internet addiction.
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Monitor thoughts and emotions when you are away from your computer. If you find that you are often restless, anxious or withdrawn when you are not online, you may have an Internet addiction. You may find that you no longer like activities you once found enjoyable because they require you to be away from your computer for long stretches of time. You may also find yourself thinking about how badly you would like to be online or feeling resentful towards your family and friends for keeping you away from the Internet.
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Compare your behavior before you became a frequent Internet user to your current behavior. Behavioral signs that you may have an Internet addiction include an increase in the frequency with which you lie to others, significant changes in sleeping patterns, neglecting friends and family members more than you have in the past and declining work or school performance.
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Take a credible Internet addiction test and see if your test results indicate a possible Internet addiction. Some websites that offer such tests include HealthyPlace, NetAddiction and Internet-Addiction-Guide (see Resources).
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Seek the opinion of a trained therapist who specializes in addictions. Track your thoughts, feelings and behaviors to get an idea of whether you exhibit the warning signs of an Internet addiction, but a trained professional is the only person equipped to officially diagnose and treat you.
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