Internet addictions

[PorcelainHeart]

I have a friend with a very serious internet addiction, it's so bad they hardly sleep or anything, I try to talk to them about it and they snapped at me. I know I'm online alot but I do atleast sleep. what are you're thoughts on internet addictions?

 

[thenewageriseth]

I think they can be a little intense. I mean the internet is fine, but there are other things to do than just waste your time on the Net, unless you are doing research.

 

[PorcelainHeart]

I waste my time reading and going outside, but the internet makes life a little fun because I have people to talk to but I love other things like shopping and HP. But I see people stay online all day and night without rest or anything else.

 

[WalksWithChrist]

I had a bad 'net addiction in the "good old days" before the web existed. IRC chat rooms were new and exciting and I stayed up on many a night chatting away. I finally had to stop when I realized how much I was addicted. I became a computer techie later on and I avoided the new chat clients like Yahoo and AIM because I knew how I would get if I used them.
It's hard to talk to some people about addictions cuz they may either be in denial or just not willing to make changes.

 

[PorcelainHeart]

nothing is wrong being online alot, aslong as u don't push important stuff aside. Stuff people just enjoy the internet like reading and I see no harm in it, but when you let it change you and take over your life it's an addiction. I used to chat in chatrooms all night all day but I changed and stay away from them, I go on CF and use yahoo but that is it. Yahoo is the easiest way for me to talk because sometimes it's hard for me to do private messaging.

 

[Meriadoc]

I think there are more internet addictions than people realize... everyone knows some people who are always online almost 24/7 it seems. And I think it is dangerous because many people let their inhibitions down when talking online and have trouble communicating otherwise. Also, us guys are visually stimulated easily and looking at pics a lot online cannoy be good even if its not porn. That sais, here I am online a lot so I hope I don't have a mild addiction!

 

[beehoney]

I worry that I might have an addiction.

 

[PorcelainHeart]

I don't think I got an addiction, I know I love it alot. beehoney why u think u have an addiction?

 

[beehoney]

I don't think I got an addiction, I know I love it alot. beehoney why u think u have an addiction?

Because I'm on CF so much! I don't lose any sleep and I don't use the computer when I'm working, but I think I do spend huge chunks of my free time here.

 

[PorcelainHeart]

I do too, you can do that and not have an addiction, but when you put your work, loved ones and everything before CF you might have an addiction, I spend alot of time on computer myself, it's what I do. I also have most my friends online. . I been trying to do other things with my free time like read and go outside. I been reading alot lately, Im reading two books now and one manga.

 

[TwinCrier]

Addicts of any kind need to hit rock bottom sometimes before they seek help. Maybe missing out on an important event soon will help your friend see the light. Till then, lift them up in prayer.

 

[saerow]

I think a rock bottom type experience should be avoided if possible. It's true that some people will never learn until they're deep in the negative consequences of their actions, but I don't see any sense in waiting around for that to happen if a better method of teaching can be done.

Learning from mistakes is a good thing. Learning to avoid making the mistake before you make it is even better.

 

[beehoney]

I think a rock bottom type experience should be avoided if possible. It's true that some people will never learn until they're deep in the negative consequences of their actions, but I don't see any sense in waiting around for that to happen if a better method of teaching can be done.

Learning from mistakes is a good thing. Learning to avoid making the mistake before you make it is even better.

That's the problem with addicts, they seem to have a different perception of the situation and won't realize that they're addicted until they hit rock bottom.

 

[saerow]

I agree beehoney, and some might not even realize it then. They could be loving it at rock bottom, because they've never bothered to see it from a different perspective. I think religion might be kind of like that.

I think showing the addict how their life really is, or how their life could likely become, can help them see it from a different perception.

Maybe if rock-bottom is shown to them before they get there, then they can realize how harmful their addiction is and change.

 

[VVV]

I have a friend with a very serious internet addiction, it's so bad they hardly sleep or anything, I try to talk to them about it and they snapped at me. I know I'm online alot but I do atleast sleep. what are you're thoughts on internet addictions?

Desire must come from within, you cannot force someone to change, they must change themselves.



An important thing to remember with recovery is the 3-D's: Desire, Determination and Diligence.

Desire:

Desire is the foundation for all recovery quests. You cannot help someone without the desire in them to be helped. Desire is what gets us taking that first step in the right direction when all seems hopeless. Have you every tried to give advice or help someone in need and they respond: "I don't care." They lack the desire or at least this is what they say. Desire must come from within, you cannot force someone to change, they must change themselves.

To develop a desire to change, we must first recognize there is a problem or sickness in us. Recognition or awareness is the first step leading to desire. After we recognize we are sick or an area of our lives is out of balance, we can start accepting the fact that we need to take action in this area. When we label addicts or people as "in denial," we are saying the person is not able to recognize there is a problem in their lives that needs addressing.

Now some people recognize there is a problem in their life, but still don't develop a burning desire for change, but at least they have a somewhat true picture of things and just haven't made the crossover to developing the desire to change bad enough. Whether their block is out of fear, laziness or staying in a comfortable place, they will have to figure out what is blocking them before they can take the next step. As I said, we cannot force someone to change, they must change themselves and it must be from the inside out.

Determination:

Determination serves two purposes here. When something is "determined" it is accepted as fact. We have determined that we are powerless over our addiction and our lives are unmanageable. We have determined we must abstain from certain people, places or things that we cannot comfortably have in our lives. We are in the process of determining a new set of rules on how to live. We have also determined what injuries we have caused and what needs to be repaired through taking personal inventory.

Determination serves a second purpose and that is it keeps us on the long road to recovery. We cannot keep on this long road without being determined to change our lives day in day out. Whether it is debt recovery, clutter, restructuring our complex lives or losing weight it all takes time and determination to stay on the path of recovery. Many distractions, detours and set backs along the way, but we should always be determined to keep pointed in the direction of recovery.


Diligence:

Diligence keeps us from going backwards once we finally arrive at the recovery place we are aiming for. It takes diligence once we get to where we want to be to maintain that serene spot, otherwise we fall back on our old "natural" ways of living. Once you lose the fat, once you pay off your debts, once you lose the clutter, once you get sober and abstinent from your drug of choice it takes diligence to keep you that way. James Allen calls this watchfulness.

"Victories attained by right thought can only be maintained by watchfulness. Many give way when success is assured and rapidly fall back into failure."

As A Man Thinketh by James Allen.






V (Male)

A xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx living a life of Voluntary Simplicity and grateful recovering Debtor, Drug, Alcohol and Substance Abuser, Compulsive Overeater, Clutterer, Hoarder, Rageaholic, Speculative Gambler, Compulsive Spender, Sex and Sensation Addict.

 

[saerow]

VVV, that deserves a hearty AeeeMEN!! (even though you didn't write it)



I think other people can help in the recognition part of the process though, but in the end, you can only help someone see, not make them see.

It's an individual decision.