Hello Joshuakaufman,
Have you have recently had a crisis or traumatic event happen?
Excessive web surfing, TV viewing, and game playing can be a form of
escapism. We?re tying to keep ourselves from thinking about
unpleasant thing, by occupying our mind with distractions such as the
TV, internet and games. It can be a hard pattern to break. If you?ve
had a traumatic of stressful event, consider talking to a counselor or
therapist.
?What most people online who think they are addicted are probably
suffering from is the desire to not want to deal with other problems
in their lives. Those problems may be a mental disorder (depression,
anxiety, etc.), a serious health problem or disability, or a
relationship problem. It is no different than turning on the TV so you
won't have to talk to your spouse, or going "out with the boys" for a
few drinks so you don't have to spend time at home. Nothing is
different except the modality.
What some very few people who spend time online without any other
problems present may suffer from is compulsive over-use. Compulsive
behaviors, however, are already covered by existing diagnostic
categories and treatment would be similar. It's not the technology
(whether it be the Internet, a book, the telephone, or the television)
that is important or addicting -- it's the behavior. And behaviors are
easily treatable by traditional cognitive-behavior techniques in
psychotherapy.?
?If you have a life problem, or are grappling with a disorder such as
depression, seek professional treatment for it. Once you admit and
address the problem, other pieces of your life will fall back into
place.
Psychologists have studied compulsive behaviors and their treatments
for years now, and nearly any well-trained mental health professional
will be able to help you learn to slowly curve the time spent online,
and address the problems or concerns in your life that may have
contributed to your online overuse, or were caused by it. No need for
a specialist or an online support group.?
http://psychcentral.com/netaddiction/
?"It seems misleading to characterize behaviors as 'addictions' on the
basis that people say they do too much of them," says Sara Kiesler,
PhD, a researcher at Carnegie Mellon University and co-author of one
of the only controlled studies on Internet usage, published in the
September 1998 American Psychologist. "No research has yet established
that there is a disorder of Internet addiction that is separable from
problems such as loneliness or problem gambling, or that a pa ssion
for using the Internet is long-lasting."
?In addition, the "addicted" people were far more likely to admit
feelings of losing control in their dealings on the Net than
"nonaddicts." Greenfield believes that the loss of control is just one
indication of the potency of the psychoactive nature of the Internet.
Other signs include time distortion, accelerated intimacy and
decreased inhibition. For instance, 83 percent of those who fit the
addiction criteria reported a loss of boundaries when they used the
Net, compared to 37 percent who didn't meet the criteria.?
http://www.apa.org/monitor/apr00/addiction.html
?Another fascinating thing is that most gaming addicts wear their
addiction proudly. We call ourselves ?hardcore gamers?. As my fellow
staff member so eloquently pointed out, being a gamer is much more
than just a hobby these days, it?s a way of life. Much like any
addiction, gaming has its own lifestyle. It?s one that few outside of
the gaming world can ever understand. Not even expert psychologists
can truly know what it?s like to be a gaming addict unless they are or
have been one. We spend countless hours absorbed into something that
most people just don?t get.
That?s not to say that being addicted to games is necessarily a bad
thing. There are much worse things to be addicted to. But like any
addiction, an addiction to games can have severe consequences. Such is
the case in the recent news about a young man who killed himself. It?s
obvious that EverQuest was not the sole reason for his suicide but
it?s still a perception that will be picked up by the mass media.
Gaming addictions can also wreck havoc upon personal relationships.
Speaking from personal experience, I nearly broke up with my
girlfriend a few years ago over the fact that I played games too much.
I am not the only one who has had video game addictions nearly ruin
their relationships. A friend of mine had to take her husband?s
PlayStation and sell it while he was working one weekend because he
wouldn?t stop playing it. He was neglecting her and his newborn son.?
http://www.gamerslogik.com/column.php?ColID=17
Cut back by giving yourself a time limit. For example, tell
yourself that you will stop all electronic activity as 10pm. You
could try a gradual approach; If your goal is to quit at 10pm and you
currently surf or play till midnight now, cut back 10 minutes a
night, till you reach your goal.
Create a new bedtime ritual, doing things you like - Spend a few
minutes with your dog or cat (if you have one!), find a good book, do
a crossword puzzle, start a journal and make nightly entries, make a
warm drink such as decaffeinated or herbal tea, Postum, or milk. Get
several fluffy pillows, make your bed as comfortable as you can. Get
cozy in bed, and read and sip your drink. It may take several days to
a week or more to become a routine, but it will.
Sleeping
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Try a white noise machine, or soft music at low volume. Have the room
as dark as possible.
Get some exercise. Since you will be gaining time from not
surfing/playing as much, take a brisk walk or jog .
Caffeine and gaming/web surfing are often partners. Don?t consume
caffeinated drinks (coffee, tea, soda pop with caffeine; Mountain Dew,
Dr. Pepper, and colas), or chocolate after 2pm. The effects of
caffeine can last for hours.
If you can?t sleep right away, read or listen to music. Don?t turn on
the TV or Play Station!! If you are a religious person, pray!
If you wake up at night, have a snack of turkey!
?? Don't smoke. Nicotine is a stimulant and can make it difficult to
fall asleep and stay asleep. Many over-the-counter and prescription
drugs disrupt sleep.
? Expose yourself to bright light/sunlight soon after awakening. This
will help to regulate your body's natural biological clock. Likewise,
try to keep your bedroom dark while you are sleeping so that the light
will not interfere with your rest.
? Exercise early in the day. Twenty to thirty minutes of exercise
every day can help you sleep, but be sure to exercise in the morning
or afternoon. Exercise stimulates the body and aerobic activity before
bedtime may make falling asleep more difficult.
? Check your iron level. Iron deficient women tend to have more
problems sleeping so if your blood is iron poor, a supplement might
help your health and your ability to sleep.?
?? Relax for a while before going to bed. Spending quiet time can
make falling asleep easier. This may include meditation, relaxation
and/or breathing exercises, or taking a warm bath. Try listening to
recorded relaxation or guided imagery programs.
? Don?t eat a large, heavy meal before bed. This can cause
indigestion and interfere with your normal sleep cycle. Drinking too
much fluid before bed can cause you to get up to urinate. Try to eat
your dinner at least two hours before bedtime.?
http://www.helpguide.org/life/sleep_tips.htm
?? f you have problems with noise in your environment you can use a
white noise generator. A old fan will work or you can buy noise
machies from many sources.
? Know that the "night cap" has a price. Alcohol may help you to get
to sleep but it will cause you to wake up throughout the night. You
may not notice it. (It is worse if you have sleep apnea because the
alcohol makes the apnea worse.) Sometimes people snore only if they
have had some alcohol or may snore worse if they already snore.)?
http://www.sleepnet.com/tips.html
There you go! Please read each site posted for further information.
Good luck! You can do it! Remember, you don?t need to completely stop
your activities, just cut back so you get adequate sleep and have time
to have a life!
Sincerely, Crabcakes
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Internet addiction
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