[Ammi]

Originally Posted by Verbal

I've been thinking about this subject, and i've had a sort of epiphany. I am addicted to the Internet and have been for years.
I get up in the morning, first thing I do - turn the PC on. Come home from work, first thing I do - turn the PC on and sit on it until I go to bed. I finished work on Friday and have barely moved from my PC. I've not even been to bed, i've fallen asleep sitting here.
I do my shopping, banking and socialising via the PC.

I was just thinking, if the Internet ceased to exist right now what would I do? And I honestly have no idea, which is quite a scarey thought. I havent even been into a shop bigger than the local corner shop for years because I do it all online. If it wasnt for the internet I would probably be about 6 stone lighter.

...I think it is an 'addiction' for many people...if it ceased to exist for you only then that would be extremely difficult because you would probably feel as though the whole world was existing/living without you sort of thing..?...but if it ceased to exist completely for anyone, then I think maybe we would all adjust to that quite easily...?...

[Verbal]

Originally Posted by Ammi

...I think it is an 'addiction' for many people...if it ceased to exist for you only then that would be extremely difficult because you would probably feel as though the whole world was existing/living without you sort of thing..?...but if it ceased to exist completely for anyone, then I think maybe we would all adjust to that quite easily...?...

When in the house the first and only thing I do i sort of zone out infront of the PC.
I use the Internet as sort of an emotional crutch. If it ceased to exist then I would adjust because I would have to, and I think it would do me nothing but good.

Genuinely going to look up internet addiction now.

[Ammi]

Originally Posted by Verbal

When in the house the first and only thing I do i sort of zone out infront of the PC.
I use the Internet as sort of an emotional crutch. If it ceased to exist then I would adjust because I would have to, and I think it would do me nothing but good.

Genuinely going to look up internet addiction now.

..I think I have read stuff about internet addiction because obviously the internet is a huge part of most people's lives now..and if we didn't have it then as you say, we would adjust but it probably wouldn't be easy and especially as you're encouraged to use it to sort of conduct your everyday life..shopping/banking etc..and it's a wealth of information and so quickly..how much longer it would take to go to the library and look something up for instance....I don't know, I guess it depends on whether you yourself or anyone is conscious of it and wants to stop/cut down etc because it is just today's social networking for everyone and if we didn't have it..?...some may say that we would 'communicate more' perhaps..but in another way we would communicate less because we're constantly communicating on the internet...and that has to be a good/positive thing..?...

I don't want to live in a world where I can't see Japanese girls and octopus tentacles within 2 or 3 clicks of the mouse.

[Verbal]

Originally Posted by Ammi

..I think I have read stuff about internet addiction because obviously the internet is a huge part of most people's lives now..and if we didn't have it then as you say, we would adjust but it probably wouldn't be easy and especially as you're encouraged to use it to sort of conduct your everyday life..shopping/banking etc..and it's a wealth of information and so quickly..how much longer it would take to go to the library and look something up for instance....I don't know, I guess it depends on whether you yourself or anyone is conscious of it and wants to stop/cut down etc because it is just today's social networking for everyone and if we didn't have it..?...some may say that we would 'communicate more' perhaps..but in another way we would communicate less because we're constantly communicating on the internet...and that has to be a good/positive thing..?...

Its the lack of actual social interaction that rises as a problem of using the internet. 10 years ago I would not have thought twice about going out to town shopping or whatever, now the idea fills me with dread and sites like amazon etc totally negate the need to face up to any anxiety you may have.

[Ammi]

Originally Posted by Verbal

Its the lack of actual social interaction that rises as a problem of using the internet. 10 years ago I would not have thought twice about going out to town shopping or whatever, now the idea fills me with dread and sites like amazon etc totally negate the need to face up to any anxiety you may have.

...yeah I do understand what you mean..in a way people socialise more because of the internet because, say if you did go to the shops etc..you may not meet many people or chat but in that time it took you to go on the internet you could have 'clicked' your shopping and spent some time chatting with friends etc as well..and also on things like forums, here....you get to 'meet' people that you wouldn't necessarily meet in 'real life' and can find things in common and share opinions etc..so it has huge advantages and positives over not having it or using it...but if it's to the extent that you do have anxieties about going out somewhere when you need to, then it is a problem that you need to address...(I didn't mean you as in you btw..just as in people in general..)...

[Verbal]

Originally Posted by Ammi

...yeah I do understand what you mean..in a way people socialise more because of the internet because, say if you did go to the shops etc..you may not meet many people or chat but in that time it took you to go on the internet you could have 'clicked' your shopping and spent some time chatting with friends etc as well..and also on things like forums, here....you get to 'meet' people that you wouldn't necessarily meet in 'real life' and can find things in common and share opinions etc..so it has huge advantages and positives over not having it or using it...but if it's to the extent that you do have anxieties about going out somewhere when you need to, then it is a problem that you need to address...(I didn't mean you as in you btw..just as in people in general..)...

No you're right it is my problem, and it is largely self corrective. I've just never thought of it.

Change is afoot...

[Ammi]

Originally Posted by Verbal

No you're right it is my problem, and it is largely self corrective. I've just never thought of it.

Change is afoot...

..I think a really hard part of 'addressing' any addiction is to realise that you have one or that, that's what you feel it is..and you've obviously given it thought and decided that you yourself want to make changes in your life, so for you those will be very positive and something that will make you feel good about yourself..?...and that in itself will give you more and more confidence, as you feel proud with yourself ...and that will help you to achieve what you want to...for me personally, setting myself a 'goal' for something always helps...sort of giving myself a date/deadline and a task etc that I want to achieve by then..and also not making that 'achievement' too taxing/difficult..just a little at a time..step by step....

..I have to go offline for a little while but I'll look and see if I can find some advice sites that may help you and be worth looking at later, ok.....