It should come as no surprise to you that Batswana are spending more and more time on the Internet, you are reading this story online, after all. However, surfing the web can become an addiction for some people. Signs 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 here are some general warning signs that your Internet use may have become a problem.
1. Spending More Time On The Net Than With People.
Doesn’t matter if they are your family, your friends or random people you stalk at the mall, the first symptom of the problem is spending more time with the hunk of metal on your desk than with the people in your life.
2. You Can’t Abide By Your Own Boundaries.
Part of personal development is about setting and abiding by boundaries, which happens to be where most people fail when it comes to addiction. If you tell yourself you’ll only spend an hour online before hanging with your family and end up online until after they’ve gone to bed, you’re in trouble. This self-deception is a clear sign of internet addiction.
3. Lying To Others About Your Internet Usage.
This one is about lying to others, particularly members of your family who you may have made deals with regarding your computer usage. Lying about your usage so you can stay on that “little bit longer” is a big, glaring warning sign.
4. Feeling Unable To Live Without The Internet.
If you feel you can’t go without the internet for more than a few hours, you have an internet addiction. Ask yourself if you could do the work offline and then give it to someone else to execute online, such as writing an article on paper for an assistant or friend to type up and post. Can’t bear the thought of that one degree of separation for even a week? Not a good thing!
5. Misguided Spending On Your Computer.
Did your hard drive just die and, despite the fact you couldn’t afford rent or your part-time fees this week, you went out and bought a replacement? When the anxiety of having no functional computer demands money required for other expenses, it indicates a dependency.
6. You’re Neglecting Yourself And Your Work.
You don’t have to spend more than half your day online to be suffering the symptoms of an Internet addiction, it’s the way your Internet use negatively affects your life that determines whether or not you have a problem. If you find that your Internet use is causing you to neglect your health, your chores and your work, it may be time to seek help.
7. You’re Using The Internet To Alter Your Mood.
Those who are depressed are three times more likely to become hooked on the Internet, those who suffer from anxiety disorders are twice as likely, and those who suffer from an addiction to alcohol and drugs are twice as likely. The more you use the Internet, the less time you spent in contact with real people, which could lead to loneliness and isolation.
8. You Think Of The Internet When You’re Not Online.
As with addictions to drugs or alcohol, Internet addicts are constantly searching for their next fix. If you’re preoccupied with your next purchase on eBay or tactics in an online game, you may have a problem.
9. Losing Track Of Time Online.
Do you frequently find yourself on the Internet longer than you intended? Does a few minutes turn in to a few hours? Do you get irritated or cranky if your online time is interrupted? Then there is a high possibility that you are addicted.
10. Multitasking.
Using multiple forms of media at the same time, such as browsing the internet while listening to music. This is linked to symptoms of anxiety and depression. Separate your devices; appreciate and focus on one thing at a time.
