Internet and computer use are universal in the contemporary world. Just because you use the Internet or a computer a lot – watch a lot of videos, shop online frequently, or like to check social media does not mean you suffer from the Internet or computer addiction.
The trouble comes, as with other addictions, when these activities begin to interfere with your daily life adversely. In general, Internet or Computer Addiction Disorder is subdivided into different categories. The most identified types of the Internet or computer addiction include online gaming, social networking, blogging, shopping, and inappropriate online pornography use.
Some researchers suggest that it is not the number of hours spent online that is mostly troublesome – instead, it is how they are being used. It takes into account the riskiness of Internet use that can be just as important a factor as the amount of time spent.
What are the Signs of an Internet or Computer Addiction?
- A strong urge to getting back online
- Feeling irritable and restless when not online
- Lying about the number of hours spent online
- Recurrent headaches caused by too much screen time
- Carpal tunnel syndrome caused by excessive use of mouse and keyboard
- Feeling fatigued due to lack of sleep
- Euphoric feelings when in front of the computer screen
- Unable to stick to schedules
- Losing sense of time
- Isolation
- Defensiveness
- Avoiding doing other work
- Agitation
- Backache
