Admittedly the Internet has made life a lot easier. It’s made information more accessible and communication has never been more instant with different people from all over the world. The downside to this has been how much time is now spent on the computer, we can’t even escape the screens at work, which can lead to addiction symptoms that can get worse if not treated properly.
Excessive use of the computer is something that has not been widely researched yet. However, a study conducted by the Department of Adult Psychiatry in the Poland Medical University showed that Internet addiction was popular and common amongst young people and children.
According to the study, there are different kinds of addiction and they can manifest in different ways at varying degrees and areas of Internet use. Certain people are predisposed to having an addiction, such as those who suffer from depression and anxiety or those who are overly shy and are unable to relate easily to their peers.
Some emotional signs that you’re suffering are feeling guilty for not being in front of a screen (“I should be working on this”), anxiety, depression, unable to keep schedules, no sense of time, isolation, euphoric feelings when in front of a computer, avoiding doing work, defensiveness and agitation. Physical signs are slightly different and include backache, headaches, weight gain or loss, disturbances in sleep, carpal tunnel syndrome and blurred or strained vision.
Unfinished tasks, forgotten responsibilities and weight gain are some of the short-term side effects from being online. The long-term effects are more visible in the physical symptoms people experience, such as backache, neck pain and vision problems from staring at the screen.
According to Oberlin College of Computer Science, addicts may develop technostress. This is where a person internalizes how a computer works, for example accelerated time and perfect results, and also causes social withdrawal where people prefer to interact online than in person.
If you or someone you know suffers from computer addiction, call 1-888-997-3147 and they will help you get back on the road to an addiction-free life.
