You clicked away from whatever it was you’ve been doing for hours.
Probably because you know.
You know that internet addiction is getting in your way.
Internet addiction is interfering with your real, offscreen, offline life.
It seemed harmless at first. A necessary part of modern life.
But now your dedication to the Internet is messing with your health, the way you think, and how your feel about yourself and others.
Like all addictions tend to do.
And like any addiction, the scales are tipping further and further away from “I can walk away,” to a compulsion from which no one can pull you away.
You won’t let them. You’re consumed.
Until enough is enough.
Until you realize that the impact of all those websites, widgets, clicks, and unsatisfying split-second thrills is too much and you need help.
This sluggish, apathetic, lonely techno-habit requires clarity and support to be broken.
That’s why you’re here.
Here’s some clarity about the damaging effects of Internet addiction:
“No Time” for Exercise
People who are addicted to the Internet may experience some of the following physical effects:
- Problematic personal hygiene. Sitting in one,sweaty spot for hours can create real issues regarding cleanliness and odor.
- Back pain. Hours seated and hunched over a laptop, tablet or keyboard will wreak havoc on your neck and spine.
- Weight gain. Internet addiction doesn’t encourage time away from a screen. No exercise means the pounds pile on.
- Eyestrain/ dry eyes. Your eyes were never meant to stare, focus, and refocus on pixelated images for long periods of time.
- Headaches/Migraines. Screen staring has been shown to lead to overstimulation and muscle tension, leading to head pain.
- Brain damage. Most alarming, is recent neuroscan studies that reveal excessive screen-time impairs the frontal lobe, which controls your sense of well-being, career goals, and relationship skills.
Your Mind is Always Online
People who are addicted to the Internet may experience some of the following mental effects:
- Narrowed or lost focus. The Internet robs you of the ability to focus elsewhere; other more important parts of your life fail to hold your attention for long.
- Poor impulse control/ procrastination. The matter at hand: more websites, clicked links and new emails increasingly overwhelm your mind, time, productivity, and priorities.
- Time distortion. Hours of time go by while you barely notice, wrapped up in whatever’s on the screen.
- Escapism and dissociation. The real world seems to recede when you’re online, providing a hiding place from real world problems and concerns.
- “Log off” depression or anxiety. The Internet is a way to self-medicate. When the medication is gone, the problem you meant to escape returns, and you feel worse about it than before.
You’re Trying to Click Away Your Feelings
People who are addicted to the Internet may experience some of the following emotional effects:
- Isolation/ damaged relationships. Screen-time pulls you away from people. So much time spent away from face-to-face interaction eventually erodes your ability to communicate effectively, and meaningfully, leading to broken relationships.
- Irritability. Because you’re so consumed with the net, you will likely exhibit a fair amount of irritation, or misplaced aggression, at whoever or whatever disrupts your addictive routine.
- Low self-esteem. When you feel out of control, shame and poor self-image creep in and take over. Then you look to your addiction for solace, and an unhealthy emotional cycle is born.
Internet addiction is real.
You need help with this. That’s why you clicked this site.
Follow up with the help of a trained therapist, who can help provide the support you need.
