Am I the only one with this issue?

Hi, everyone! Just so you know, I'm on Prozac for depression, and I also have anxiety and some OCD tendencies.

Here's my issue. Basically, I feel guilty about using technology. I love the convenience, don't get me wrong - I love paying bills online, emailing, forums, enjoying my iPod, looking up information online that people used to have to trudge to the library for, etc. etc. But somehow, it feels like I'm cheating. Things are so easy. *Too* easy. And I think I feel guilty for being able to utilize technology to make my life "easier".

I guess what it comes down to is that I'm so overwhelmed by technology - totally astounded. And as useful as I find it, I can't shake the feeling that it's almost too easy.

Aside from turning Amish and living in a rural area without any tecnological accoutrements (which really would suck, I'm sure)...how can I get this to stop bothering me? Shouldn't I be pleased with how far humans have come, the advances we've made? Why can't I just enjoy it?

After writing all of this down, I realize how ridiculous it might sound. What's scary is that I spend a good portion of each and every day thinking thoughts about this. It's ridiculous. I can't shake it. I feel like such an oddball.

I realize this is getting long-winded, but here's an example. I go down to the basement to do laundry. As the washer fills up with water, I think about what a pain it must have been for people to do laundry before washing machines existed. I can't even fathom how time-consuming that was. I should be thinking, "Wow, this is great. Makes life easier!" Nope. Weird guilt.

Can anyone relate to this at all? If so, how do you cope?

Thanks for listening!

Our world has come a long way.
I can relate a little with you.
When I start thinking about that stuff
I do something that relaxes my self.
And I go through my thoughts and just let them fade away.
I hope i could be of help
-megan-

Hi Wintergreen,
Sounds to me like the technology, or the use of it isn't the issue, it's the guilt of getting/using something you don't deserve...bet you can find that feeling, or even the cause of it, in your past somewhere...you were made to feel guilty because you got something you didn't deserve, or you didn't get something because you were told you didn't deserve it.

You get told that enough, and you start to believe it, and you get into the subconsious habit of living/feeling that way.

Sunshine, it's not your fault you were born when you were, into the world of technological WOOHOO's! Just like it's not your fault that the folks that were born "way back in the olden days" didn't have what we have.

It wasn't a part of their lives so they used what they had, it is a part of your life...so you get to use what you have.

---for me anyway, the guilt and the depression were related...they were both side effects of me being separated from my sense of self, control of self, and sense of self worth....when I stopped trying to control the depression and got to the business of what got me there in the first place, the depression and the guilt and a ton of other things faded away until they were gone. It sure wasn't easy, but I can't even begin to tell you how worth it, it was. :O)...so are you!

We may have things that make our lives easier, but we're working more than ever, and cramming more things into our days. I saw a news report some time ago that stated this. While we don't have to wash our clothes on a washboard in a lake, and we don't have to go outside to an outhouse to use the bathroom in the middle of winter, we are very busy, as a society.

We also have more stress, some say. We certainly have more issues to deal with. I'm not saying life wasn't harder "back then"; I don't know. But life still isn't a smooth ride.

I know exacly what your saying. I do the same thing and thought I was the only one who thought it. The resone I always think of this is cause how can people today be so unthankful for there convenienceses? What I do to Help stop these thoughts is not use so much of the technology that your talking about. But then again we do live in a world made of technology. Go out side more often and just enjoy nature. You may feel giulty but there is nothing you can personally do about it.

i've revived the art of letter writing. i found some pretty paper in my boxed stuff and i've been writing letters to my SO and my family. it has made me feel soooooooo good. they are loving it and now this entire group has started writing letters again!!!!

i am checking tons of books out of the library and not watching any television.

i think that we can make ourselves feel better with small changes. remember, we aren't Bill Gates..but we can do small things for ourselves and our loved ones and friends. xoxoxo pat

Thank you everyone for your input - it actually has helped. I re-read my post and it just sounds so ridiculous. Thanks to all for being so understanding and taking me seriously!