Dear all,

I would like some help more than an answer... I'm a medical student
who's addicted to making money when I don't really need it.  I don't
know how I first became like this, but since I've been on eBaY I think
it's really changed the way I think.  I became relentless and spent
more time a day on auction sites - the problem is that the money I
make goes back into a vicious cycle, spent on so called 'useless'
things like camcorders, etc.

Every day I wake up, I think about checking my email.  THen every few
hours while I'm trying to study I find myself ending up at the
computer for a few more hours.

The thing is my parents are supporting me through university and I
would not consider myself poor.  Because of what I did, and I am glad
to finally admit to it, I think it is responsible for my failing 2
exams.

I also tend to do so many things.  I am now running a very important
club at university, and do alot of other activities.  I also have a
girlfriend for over a year now, and I sometimes don't know if the
relationship helps me more or less as I do spend alot of emotional
effort on it.  I also tend to get jealous alot, and perhaps this is
because we almost broke up half a year ago because of a problem with
another guy.   My parents always tell me to focus on one thing but I
seem to do so many things at the same time that I can't concentrate. 
When I sit down at a computer, I feel glued to the chair, even now,
and it's becoming a problem as I have resit exams in 3 weeks.

Sometimes I just feel like such an evil person.  I don't know what to
do.
Any advice or help would really be appreciated.  I would of course be
more than happy to pay for the price even though there probably isn't
exactly a research 'answer' to this question.

Also as a side question, is there any way to contact people commenting
on or answering your questions directly?

This is such a good idea. Thank you googs.

regards
Johnny

Hi Johnny!!
A good answer would be a big help for you.
According to the description of your problem you are in some type of
Computer Addiction.
This is a behavorial disorder related to an inappropriate and exessive
computer use, associated with rule infractions, student failures and
academic drop-outs, etc.

I will reproduce a list of Symptoms related to this problem taken from
the article found in the "AskMen.com online Magazine" website titled:
"Dealing With Computer And Internet Addiction" 
By Vatche Bartekian
Stress Management Specialist

"The 10 Symptoms You Need To Watch Out For:

According to Dr. James Fearing of the National Counselling Centre in
Minneapolis, these are the basic 10 symptoms individuals need to look
out for:

1. No Limitations
A demonstrated "loss of control" when trying to stop or limit the
amount of time on the computer. (Breaking promises to self or others.
Promising to quit or cut down and not being able to do so.)

2. Lying
Being dishonest or minimizing the extent of the time you stay on the
computer, or covering up or being dishonest about what activities you
participate in when on the computer.

3. Harmful Results
Negative consequences experienced by the computer user or his/her
friends or family as a direct result of time or activities spent on
the computer.

4. Improper Behavior
Participation in high risk or normally unacceptable behaviors when
using the computer. Compromising your morals and values based on the
opportunity to remain anonymous and protected on the computer (a good
test for this is to ask yourself if your spouse, partner or family
would approve of what you were doing on the computer).

5. Misplaced Priorities
An overdeveloped sense of importance for the computer in one's life.
Defending your right to use the computer as much as desired,
regardless of the fact that people in your life are feeling left out
and neglected (denial of the problem and justification; not being able
to hear or feel what the other people are saying regarding your
computer behavior).

6. Rapture
Mixed feelings of euphoria (a "rush"), combined with feelings of guilt
brought on by either the inordinate amount of time spent on the
computer or the abnormal behavior acted out while using the computer.

7. Despair
A feeling of depression or anxiety when something or someone shortens
your time or interrupts your plans to use the computer.

8. Fixation
Preoccupation with the computer and related activities when you are
not using the computer (thinking about the computer and its activities
when doing something else; i.e. having a family dinner, working on a
project, etc.).

9. Escapism
Finding yourself using the computer at times when you are feeling
uncomfortable, irritated or sad about something happening in your
life. (i.e. If you are feeling uncomfortable in your relationship, you
will self-medicate and "hide out" on the computer.) Using time on the
computer to become externally focused outside yourself as a way to
evade what's happening in your life, and avoid feeling the appropriate
emotions inside yourself. (Self-medicating.)

10. Excessive Spending 
Experiencing financial concerns or problems in your life as a result
of money being spent on computer hardware, computer online charges, or
any other costs associated with computers. (Spending money on computer
related items that should have been allocated to other normal living
expenses.)

If you recognize at least one of these symptoms, you may have a
problem with computer addiction. If you recognize more than two, you
are demonstrating a pattern of behavior that would suggest that you
are addicted to your computer and/or the activities on it."

To see the full article (it has 3 pages) you have the following link:
http://www.askmen.com/fashion/body_and_mind/16_better_living.html








At the "Psychiatric Times" website there is an article titled: 
"Computer Addiction: What Is It?" 
by Maressa Hecht Orzack, Ph.D.
Psychiatric Times  August 1998  Vol. XV  Issue 8
http://www.psychiatrictimes.com/p980852.html

Dr Maressa Hecht Orzack, Ph.D. has designed a behavior list, this list
helps to identified the Computer Addiction in one person.
You can see the list at:
http://www.psychiatrictimes.com/p980852.gif

At the "Computer Addiction Services Maressa Hecht Orzack, Ph.D." page
I found  contact data of Dr Orzac:

McLean Hospital
115 Mill Street
Belmont, MA 02478
617-855-2908 
  
10 Langley Road
Suite 200
Newton Centre, MA 02459
617-332-6755 

Email: Orzack@ComputerAddiction.com
http://www.computeraddiction.com/



Another great source on this problem is:  
"The Psychology of Cyberspace" website
By John Suler, Ph.D.
Department of Psychology
Rider University - suler@mindspring.com
 
http://www.rider.edu/users/suler/psycyber/psycyber.html


And a usefull article inside this site is:
"Computer and Cyberspace Addiction" by John Suler
http://www.rider.edu/users/suler/psycyber/cybaddict.html


You can discuss about your problem with people related with it at: 
"Behavior OnLine - General Discussion Forum"
http://www.behavior.net/cgi-bin/ls2.cgi?config=bolgeneral&uid=nC1M8.user&new=0


I hope this will help you. Please if you need clarifications or more
info ask me for it posting a Clarification request.

Best Regards and good luck.

livioflores-ga

---

Clarification of Answer by livioflores-ga on 03 Jul 2002 23:58 PDT

I forgot to write the search strategy.

Search on Google with the keywords:
computer addiction
://www.google.com/search?q=computer+addiction&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&start=0&sa=N

Thank you again for ask to Google Answers and Good Luck.

livioflores-ga

---

Request for Answer Clarification by bargainhuntingdoc-ga on 06 Jul 2002 00:43 PDT

Hello LivioFlores!

Thank you so much for your answer.  For the amount of research you put
in and the material there is I have to say this is a brilliant answer
and I will indeed be giving a good rating.

However, I think it's less of identifying 'what it is' - I agree more
with one of the comments that maybe it is something underlying more
than 'computer addiction' even though perhaps i would say that i do
like to do many things

all the links sent do provide alot of information on computer
addiction, but i don't know if that's my problem.  even if it is, i
think my question would be phrased simply as 'How do I sort out
whatever problem I've got?' - I know it's not really a question that
can be 'researched' into but perhaps I need a wise person's
inspiration - since you answered the question I was hoping perhaps you
can give me more of your thoughts than a factual research answer.

I will of course be paying for it anyway. No problem. :)

Thank you for the help.  thanks to all of you!

regards
j

---

Clarification of Answer by livioflores-ga on 06 Jul 2002 21:55 PDT

Hi Johnny:
Thanks for your comments.
First that all, the answer that I gave you, to a certain way it was an
inspiration, because I associated the description of your behavior
with the conclutions of a conversation that I had with a psychologist
who is my friend two months ago. It is not a product of a research,
this association guide me to research for an answer to you.

I think that I am not a wise person, only a clever one :).
However I can give you my thoughts related with your problem.
According with the description, your behavior fit in the profile of a
computer addiction problem. This is only my opinion, I am not a
professional, so I could be wrong. But I can defend my opinion.
Like in other types of addictions you like to do or can do a lot of
other things, but you finished the list of other things that you do
with a suggestive phrase: "When I sit down at a computer, I feel glued
to the chair...". Think about the amount of people with a drugs
addiction that like to do other things, sportsmen for example.
When you talk about the addiction to make money you tell us that you
make money working with your computer and you spend it in computer
related things. I hear you now saying "but I spent the money in a lot
of other things", but when you talk about your problem your first
thought goes to the computer, this is the way that takes the
subconscious mind.
Remember this is only the friendly opinion of somebody who knows the
subject very little.
I dare to give you some advices, who I hope you do not consider
impertinent.
- Check the 10 points test that I give you in my answer and trust in
the results.
- Discuss with your friends and/or your parents about the problem and
the diferent opinions given to you by the researchers.
- Take a time to stay alone, and take a look inside yourself.
- When you feel that you go to the computer without a valid reason try
to stay away from the computer, and observe and write down all your
feelings.
- I say "may be you have a computer addiction" and you say "I don't
know if that's my problem", so you must consult to a professional
(psychologist) about your problem, he can guide you to the solution;
like you consult a physician when you have the symptoms of a disease.

Finally I found another interesting article to read in the
"Psychiatric Times" website:
"Is Computer Addiction a Unique Psychiatric Disorder?"
by Howard J. Shaffer, Ph.D., C.A.S. 
Psychiatric Times  April 2002  Vol. XIX  Issue 4
http://www.psychiatrictimes.com/p020435.html


I hope that this clarification helps you at least a little. 
Thanks to you for let me feel useful to somebody.

I wish to you good luck and happines.
Best Regards
livioflores-ga

Livioflores provided you with a great starting point on "Computer
Addiction".

You might also want to consider the book "Your Money or Your Life:
Transforming Your Relationship With Money and Achieving Financial
Independence" by Joe Dominguez and Vicki Robin.
"The authors write eloquently of the mental and emotional toll taken
by a life of ceaseless getting and spending. Many readers--perhaps
most--may never follow the book's prescription in its entirety, but
few will come away without questioning their own priorities."
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0140286780
http://www.newroadmap.org/default.asp
http://www.simpleliving.net/

You might also consider some of the outside influences toward
consumption.
"Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, Adbusters is a
not-for-profit, reader-supported, 85,000-circulation magazine
concerned about the erosion of our physical and cultural environments
by commercial forces."
http://www.adbusters.org/

Hey Johnny,


         I've got a better solution to your problem and any future
problems for that matter.  Jesus Christ.

Johnny,
Congratulations on recognizing that you have issues you want to take
on and reaching out for help.  I hope you will continue to seek
additional help.

This is not professional advice, but, hopefully encouragement.

Guess what... it doesn't sound like you are happy.  When you get out
of bed in the morning, you immediately look for an activity (checking
email, fiddling with the computer) to prevent or delay you from the
activities you are "supposed" to be doing.

It doesn't sound simply like computer addiction, since you are able to
do other activities, like see your girlfriend and run a big club...
however, it does sound like avoiding activities that lead to academic
success in medical school.  So consider these questions:
1.  Why are you in medical school?
2.  When you have free time (summer vacation) what activities get you
out of bed in the morning with its intrinsic rather than external
reward (in other words, what do you like to spend your time doing that
doesn't earn you money)?
3.  What are your ambitions?
4.  At the end of your life, what will you wish you had spent more
time doing?
5.  Is there another field of study where you would actually find the
course work interesting?  More interesting than checking email?

If you can identify the activities and interests that you have a
natural inclination to spend your time doing (even when no one is
paying you) then you might have success in aligning them with your
career and ambitions.

Finally, consider this quote:
"Money is something we choose to trade our life energy for.... Our
allotment of time here on earth, the hours of precious life available
to us.  When we go to our jobs, we are trading our life energy for
money.  This truth, while simple, is profound."

It is a quote from the book noted above by ulu-ga:
"Your Money or Your Life:  Transforming Your Relationship With Money
and Achieving Financial Independence" by Joe Dominguez and Vicki Robin

Do work that is important to you, work that you have a passion for,
work you are interested in even when you are not paid.  It may pay
well, it may not... but, at least it will be more fun than checking
email.  This summer, go somewhere for a couple weeks with no computer
and no TV, and start asking yourself some questions.

Good luck Johhny.

It sounds like what is often referred to as "the disease of
addiction." The problem isn't really the specific behavior; it's the
pattern of trying to fix how you feel on the inside by reaching for
something outside yourself, whether it's making or spending money,
drinking, shopping, overeating or any other self-destructive,
obsessive/compulsive cycle.

A 12-step program could genuinely help, both with the immediate
"symptoms" or behaviors as well as the underlying "disease."  Which
12-step program?  A good place to start is with the behavior that is
most troubling to you right now.  If it's obsessing on making money,
Workaholics Anonymous may be the most appropriate.

Here is their website and contact info:
http://wa.home.attbi.com/knowing.html
Workaholics Anonymous
World Service Organization
P.O. Box 289
Menlo Park, CA 94026-0289 U.S.A.
(510) 273-9253

Depending on where you live, meetings may or may not be readily
available. If you're having trouble finding a meeting, you might try
just a plain old AA meeting. As the oldest and largest of the 12-step
programs, they have LOTS meetings just about everywhere. And here's
the real key: you'll find that the people in an AA meeting will nod in
recognition and complete empathy when you describe what's going on
with you. Drinking, working, spending are just the symptoms; whatever
name you call it by, the real underlying issue is the same.

Good luck to you.