Does Internet addiction lead to a lifestyle change?

[Editor]

Is Internet addictive? This question has been lately puzzling me a lot. To share a personal experience, recently, I noticed a change to the way I reacted to funny situations…instead of laughing I have started saying LOL! It is very amazing indeed and I have to scold myself whenever I react in such a fashion. Then at the weekends, when my hubby dear conquers my computer, I sometimes feel very frustrated and have come to realize that I need to surf the net on a regular basis and that has almost become a lifestyle. Or am suffering from what they call as IAD or Internet Addictive Disorder.

There are many health and lifestyle problems associated with web browsing. When browsing tends to be more mouse-intensive, the so-called "addicts" may have an increased chance of sustaining soft tissue damage in fingers, wrist, arm, shoulder or neck. There is a range of conditions that were grouped together in the 1980s under the misleading name of repetitive strain injury (RSI).

I also wonder whether introverts are more susceptible to IAD as compared to extroverts. This leads to another guilt, which is associated with it all, that I am not interacting in the society the way I should. But somehow I manage to overcome the guilt and get back to my PC again. And why not? I admire Internet for its connectivity and global reach; and I find it a much better option than watching the K-serials on the telly.
There is an increasing number of bloggers on the net who find it very satisfying to pen down their thoughts and share it with others. It is like sharing your personal diary with the friends. According to the research findings, there are sixty thousand thoughts each day in an average person’s mind and if these thoughts are repetitive, then the brain finds it difficult to evolve. Thus writing down or discussing provides a positive outlet to these thoughts. I feel that healthy discussions and thrashing out things is like exercising the mind. And expressing positively definitely creates way for more positive thoughts.

So it doesn’t bother me if I am one of those who are suffering from Internet Addictive Disorder (IAD) as there are sure ways to balance it off. Besides this, the Internet for sure is a vast resource (I am a great admirer of the capabilities of the search engines and databases.) and a very beneficial one too. And till the technology progress to develop anything superior to the net I will continue to be an ardent admirer of it.

What is your gutfeel on the topic? Can you relate to me at any point...do share your thoughts...

[Aditi77_k]

yes internet is addictive and i know repeated use of mouse can also cause carpel tunnel syndrome...but at the same time the web is also a vast resource of information...do we have an option

[Mellisa]

Its addictive but for sure its fun and informative.

Also, abuse of anything is bad.

My 2 cents

[Dan]

Editor i think i too might be suffering from what you say as Internet Addictive Disorder. However i have problems with this particular situation being called a disorder. Isn't it becoming a way of life...

Internet surely is the medium which has broken all the communication barriers. I have noticed that this forum has people from across the world which would not have been possible without the Internet.

Also business has become a lot more customer focussed thanks to Internet. Now-a-days you can showcase your products and services on the net and this also leads to a larger target market.

Thus the benefits are far too many than the possible drawbacks.

[garcons]

I think i once had the so-called IAD, but no more.

There were times when i used to get frustrated if i couldnt check my mails for X reasons, but am way over all that now. If i wouldnt have net access for a week, no problemo at all, still managable

Ofcourse, at the same time, i cannot imagine life without the internet. Its such a wonderful thing which has got the world closer.