Added: 12/22/2005 |
Basic Computers Addiction Symptoms and the CureComputer addiction is an obsessive addiction to computers. Many people consider that the term "addiction" always involves the use of chemical substances. However, similar diagnostic criteria as for substance addiction have been applied to some problem behaviors such as pathological gambling, eating disorders, sexual addiction, generic technological addiction, and video game addiction.
Seven main symptoms characteristic to addiction and pathological computer use is withdrawal, preoccupation with the substance, heavier or more frequent use than intended, behavior oriented to procure more of the substance, loss of interest in other activities, and disregard for the physical or psychological consequences caused by the use of the substance (Walters, 1996). Scientifically it has not been adopted a certain number of computers addiction symptoms yet. However, there are published some criteria and questions that can help in assessing if a person is addicted or not.
Computers addiction symptoms can be classified in physical symptoms and psychological symptoms. Psychological computers addiction symptoms include an evident "loss of control" when trying to limit the amount of time spent in front of the monitor, breaking promises to yourself and others to quit or cut down, minimizing or lying the period of time stayed on the computer. Many of computer users (especially internet users) are compromising personal values and morals and are having unacceptable behaviors when using the computer. Some authors recommend as a test to a potential addict to ask himself if his spouse of family would approve his comportment on computer (internet).
One of the most frequent symptoms for any addiction is denial of the problem and justification. Most addicts are ignoring what other people are saying about their behavior and are neglecting the negative consequences that are caused directly by their obsessive computer use. An important computers addiction symptom is experiencing mixed feelings of euphoria combined with the feeling of guilt when acting abnormal behavior or after spending an excessive amount of time on the computer.
Some individuals may also have strong feelings of anxiety and depression when someone shortens their time on the computer. Also computer addicted individuals are tempting to use the computer when they are feeling uncomfortable or sad about something, trying this way to hide from their problems, instead facing them. A computer addict is not compulsory corresponding to all these criteria, but if three or more symptoms can be found in you, you should be alerted.
An individual that spends most of his time on the computer would certainly have some physical signs, besides the psychological symptoms enumerated above. Most frequent physical computers addiction symptoms are carpal tunnel syndrome, dry eyes, migraines, back aches, eating irregularities (with the consequences resulting form this), failure to attend to personal hygiene, and sleep disturbances, change in sleep patterns (Maressa Hecht Orack).
Some authors do not agree with the term computer "addiction" considering that individuals are more likely to be addicted to the content (or the activity) rather than to computer itself. In some sources it is proposed the term "pathological computer use" (Ivan Goldberg), but it is also combated by specialists because there is not established a certain limit of "normal computer use". Anyway, obsessive computer use is a serious problem that can create a number of social and family problems, and has also a definite negative impact on overall health.
Article comments:
No comments for this article yet. Post your comment now!
