I'm not saying I'm an addict.... But...

[Meinuk]

Since my IHD Stats are:  Total time logged in: 9 days, 15 hours and 49 minutes.

Yikes!  But in the scheme of things, I'm glad that I spent those 9 days with all of you!  (now about that porn...)


Internet addiction is a 'clinical disorder'
By Andy Bloxham
Last updated: 2:44 PM BST 20/06/2008
Obsessive internet use is a public health problem which is so serious it should be officially recognised as a clinical disorder, according to a leading psychiatrist.

Sufferers spend unhealthy amounts of time playing online games, viewing pornography or emailing.

They suffer four symptoms: They forget to eat and sleep; they need more advanced technology or more hours online as they develop 'resistance' to the pleasure given by their current system; if they are deprived of their computer, they experience genuine withdrawal symptoms; And in common with other addictions, the victims also begin to have more arguments, to suffer fatigue, to get lower marks in tests and to feel isolated from society.

Gadget addiction: The symptoms

Early research into the subject found highly educated, socially awkward men were the most likely sufferers but more recent work suggests it is now more of a problem for middle-aged women who are spending hours at home on their computers.

Psychiatrist Dr Jerald Block said some sufferers were so addicted to the internet that they required medication or even hospital treatment to curb the time they spent on the web.

He said: "The relationship is with the computer. It becomes a significant other to them. They exhaust emotions that they could experience in the real world on the computer through any number of mechanisms: emailing, gaming, porn."

He added: "It's much more acceptable for kids to talk about game use, whereas adults keep it a secret. Rather than having sex, or arguing with their wife or husband, or feeding their children, these adults are playing games."

Dr Block, of the Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, in the USA, first made the claims in an editorial for the American Journal of Psychiatry.

British psychiatrists have previously reported that between five and 10 per cent of online users are internet addicts.

Story from Telegraph News:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/2152972/Internet-addiction-is-a-%27clinical-disorder%27.html

[twirl]

I did a thread on this and I am so addicted to IHD
my husband would be happier if I were addicted to porn, but it is not going to happen
I was addicted to recipes, then to lesson plans sites, and now IHD----------- is my addiction getting better or worse
I think I am now with a better group of people
Sluff included

[okarol]

  My name is okarol and I am a webaddict.


But I never miss a meal or bedtime and my technology is archaic - so I may be considered a lightweight.

[paris]

We may all need a 12 step program!  I enjoy my addiction, so don't anyone try an intervention!!

[Sluff]

My name is Sluff, I am an IHD addict, I do not allow my addiction to interfere with my job. That is all I can say about that.

[Romona]

I am also an addict. Please send me some where nice and peaceful for IHDhab. 

[flip]

You should be okay as long as you don't inhale.

[pelagia]

Now I understand what's happening to me 

[kitkatz]

My name is Kitkatz and I am an IHD.com addict. Total time logged in: 32 days, 10 hours and 44 minutes

[keith]

we are all addicted to IHD..... and my name is KEITH and I to am addicted to IHD.... and I humble myself and  to IHD... everyone here is A FAMILY and don't ever 4GET IT  now u must excuse me i have to go  2  .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................    sorry bout dat  as i was saying we are FAMILY





EDITED:Fixed smiley tag error-kitkatz,moderator

[jbeany]

Total time - 19 days, 23 hours, and 54, 55, 56. . .  - no wonder my house isn't clean!

[Sluff]

Total time logged in: 48 days, 22 hours and 28 minutes.

[Bill Peckham]

I can quit anytime - really, it's not a problem.

http://www.utne.com/blogs/blog.aspx?blogid=36
Could You Go a Whole Day Without Email?

6/20/2008 3:16:13 PM

Jake Mohan

In light US Cellular’s new policy of email-free Fridays, (http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=91724075) reported by NPR, the tech/productivity blog Lifehacker (http://lifehacker.com/396630/could-you-go-email+free-once-a-week) asked its readers if they could forego email for one day each week. Since the site’s readers are undoubtedly among the most connected people on the planet, most of the answers in the comments section fall somewhere between “Only with great difficulty,” to “No. I am addicted.” These individual accounts square nicely with societal trends: the past decade has seen Internet addiction emerge as an acknowledged problem, with the establishment of (http://www.netaddiction.com/whatis.htm) recovery programs and (http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/03/12/business/addicts.php) treatment centers.

I’m pretty sure I’m not an addict (then again, denial is one symptom of addiction … ) but I do know that going email-free for a whole day would be a struggle. Email and other online communication has a way of flooding my waking hours until I’m unable to sit still with a book or magazine—or even another live human being—for more than a few minutes before wondering if I have any new messages.

Testimonials from self-described email addicts are available on the tech website (http://www.clickz.com/showPage.html?page=839041) ClickZ, including some suggestions for breaking the habit. Not surprisingly, the first step is getting the hell away from your computer and, if you have an email-enabled cellphone or PDA, leaving it behind while you go somewhere else—ideally, into the great outdoors. That's easier said than done, and only the half the battle: the other half is managing to enjoy this email-free time without obsessing over the news, assignments, requests, and social communication piling up in your absence.

[Meinuk]

 Email and other online communication has a way of flooding my waking hours until I’m unable to sit still with a book or magazine—or even another live human being—for more than a few minutes before wondering if I have any new messages.

Well, I'll just say that the first thing I do in the morning is check my aol "in" folder.  But, there have been times in real world situations where I have simply forgotten that my PDA was in my purse. Somehow, I think that an online support group defeats the purpose.  I'll just have to reconcile myself to my addiction.

Finding a happy balance, that is what it is all about for me.

Sluff and Kitkatz - all I can say is WOW.  And thank you - your numbers translate into months of dedication.

[KR Cincy]

Wow...I thought I was here a lot, yet I've only accumulated 7 days, 22 hours and some odd minutes....a veritable virgin in comparison!

But I have gone a day here and there without email and it's tricky...I am addicted to immediate gratification...however, when the only mail awaiting me is commenting on my need for a larger unit or an opportunity to make big bucks with a dethroned Nigerian king, it's somewhat sobering to say the least.

[Chris]

Welcome to the IHD Group intervention to be held in Chicago and Las Vegas in 2008.
 

[Sluff]

My addiction reaches all the way to the cell phone. I left for about 20 minutes to give my son a ride and on the way back even though I knew that I had left the cell phone home, I was looking for it because I needed to call someone. Weird feeling.

[Chris]

I do like my gadgets, but come to think about it, I bet these psychiatrist have a problem to of somesort.
Crap I like cars too, I need an intervention STAT!

[okarol]

Hey, okarol - Total time logged in: 68 days, 12 hours and 22 minutes. 

Where do I sign up for IHD Rehab?? 

[Meinuk]

Hey, okarol - Total time logged in: 68 days, 12 hours and 22 minutes. 

Where do I sign up for IHD Rehab?? 

Karol -  Rehab is for quitters!

[okarol]

Hey, okarol - Total time logged in: 68 days, 12 hours and 22 minutes. 

Where do I sign up for IHD Rehab?? 

Karol -  Rehab is for quitters!

 

[G-Ma]

 
My name is Ann and I am an IHD addict, now where are the drinks???

[kitkatz]

My name is Kitkatz.  I am an IHD.com addict. I am trying to have a life.  I brought the drinks!

[Chris]

If you join AA and then tell others your name or that you have joined, doesn't make anonymous a mute point or an oximoronic use of the word? 

[okarol]

If you join AA and then tell others your name or that you have joined, doesn't make anonymous a mute point or an oximoronic use of the word? 

No cuz you just give your first name. And you don't tell anyone who you saw there. So it's anonymous in that sense. You protect each others anonymity!