Are you addicted?

Internet Addiction Disorder(IAD) refers to pathological compulsive internet usage. The following criteria were used for assessing IAD in a large initial study of this problem. If a person meets four or more of the 10 criteria, he/she can be diagnosed as suffering from IAD.

• Do you feel preoccupied with the Internet or online services and think about it while offline?
• Do you feel a need to spend more and more time online to achieve satisfaction?
• Are you unable to control your online usage?
• Do you feel restless when attempting to cut down or stop your online usage?
• Do you go online to escape problems or relieve feelings such as helplessness, guilt, anxiety or depression?
• Do you lie to conceal how often and how long you stay online?
• Do you risk losing a significant relationship, job or educational or career opportunity because of your online use?
• Do you keep returning even after spending too much money on online fees?
• Do you go through withdrawal when offline, such as increased depression, moodiness or irritability?
• Do you stay online longer than originally intended?

Get a life!
A 10-step recovery program for online addiction.

• Use a timer or alarm clock. Use software that keeps track of online time and Net usage.
• If possible, make sure your computer is not in an isolated room.
• Re-arrange furniture, set things up so it's not so eary to lose track of time while using the computer.
• Have the radio on, perhaps a TV program that regularly mentions the time of day.
• Change your habits. If you tend to get online first thing upon awakening, choose something else to do first.
• Try taking a holiday, unplug every now and then and use that time to sort out priorities and goals.
• Make sure you finish all your important chores first, and then perhaps allow yourself some online time as a reward.
• Cultivate other interests, hobbies and passions.
• Take a walk rather than sit down and log on.
• Turn off auto sign-ins, use busy signals and don't be afraid to delete and block people.

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