[phoenix7]

it steals away your time, takes you fromt eh reality that is hard to a place where dreams can come true ...where you can be anythign you want to be or do anythuing you want to do...

the next thing to go is your friends....i remember getting rid of somone off the phonecos i wanted to log onto Second life ....ive lost them as a friend now - guess i did that once too often...

Ive lost contact wiht my family, my friends, my interests, my life , i know its avoidance of my problems ......

i guess all i want to say is be careful - play for a set time then turn it off if you have to ......

theres an old saying ...

if you dont decide what to do wiht your life - then you'll wake up one day to find youve already done it.....

i think that is like internet addiciton.....it takes you away from RL .. dont let it be too late for you ok

P7

[lynn P.]

Thanks for mentioning this ((Phoenix7)). I have to watch myself because I really enjoy being online and find it very relaxing. I thinks it also became a way to escape some problems I was having when I 1st started. One thing I've slacked off on exercising and instead go on the computer. I really want to get back to my routine.

[Perna]

I had too much trouble with second life, didn't have enough money :-) Looked for an apartment and couldn't afford it. But I do have several activities and own websites that keep me busy and this chair/computer combination is very comfortable!

[phoenix7]

i guess its like al the things in life - ok in moderation and as long as we dont let it take control of our lives...

[LittleForgetMeNot]

internet addictions can be tricky. a few months after depression came the computer became my best friend. it used to be so bad that when someone kicked me off the computer after a few hours.. I would scream and yell and cry and throw tantrums. I was 12 then. Being separated from the computer seemed extremely traumatic to me. I have my own computer now and spend just about 99% of my time on this thing. it ruins my sleeping patterns, i barely go outside, i dont eat much either. this computer will kill me and i'm only 15 ^^;

[simpleistruei]

While I am very thankful for being in graduate school, it can make life very trying and tiresome. You do research in total isolation and never get to see family, friends, or do many activities. I am running from my life and into the arms of t.v. addiction, internet addiction, food, or whatever can distract me from the isolation and boredom.

[Travelinglady]

If you don't mind my saying so, I can even see how this site can be addicting. My therapist has been concerned about my possibly spending too much time even here!

[phoenix7]

yep PC or any place can be addicting - and probably and thing too if you have the need for escape or an addicitve personality perhaps.......

littleforgetmenot... theres stil time - look out the window theres a whole world waiting for you ........ are yuo getting any help?

simpleistruei - if that relax's you great - but dont lose your friend andfamily connections - if youre computer breaks down (EEEEEKKKKKK!!!!!!) they are stikl there - but they need to be nurtured andyou need some fresh air and relaxation in the sun

PAYNE1 - when i first got PTSD this site kept me sane but i was here - every minute i could be - supporting or being supported in turn - in time when my needs were less i could back off a bit - although that was hard because i stil wanted to help - i amtrying to - as wiht all computer stuff - trying to limit my access to each site and get out in the sun while i still remember what it is - but its hard when you want to hide there

Everyone - its our choice - but its also our lives - and if you dont take care of your life.......well your 2nd life avatar wont be able to help you then will it...sighs...... believe me it wont.... i know....

[Travelinglady]

Yeah, I do find trying to help other people to be fulfilling, and since I am on disability, I can't do a lot of that in the real world.....So, PC has given me the ability to help to fill that void.

[LittleForgetMeNot]

I'm not getting any currently, I'm in the middle of getting a psychiatric assessment, the appointment is set for the 15th of December. About a month to go :x

[phoenix7]

Originally Posted by LittleForgetMeNot

I'm not getting any currently, I'm in the middle of getting a psychiatric assessment, the appointment is set for the 15th of December. About a month to go :x

sorry you have to wait so long - hoping time wil fly by - take care

[wifewhocares]

Yes, definitely the computer is compelling and the internet can be addicting. I too was addicted to chat rooms many years ago and got myself into a lot of trouble. Suffice it to say it wasn't pretty, but I've learned from my mistake. You need to balance the "real world" with the internet's fantasy world, where you can lose your identity entirely and take on an online presence to replace the lonely, empty feeling we all get at times. My suggestion is simply find a hobby that you enjoy and once a week don't even turn on the computer. It'll still be there the next time you log on...

[The Doggy]

I just have to comment to say:

While having an addiction is bad, disruptive and weakening, this "life" thing is really overrated and badly defined.

A lot of people underestimate the usefulness of simple computers. Using this magical machine, I can:

1-Listen to music (I don't have an ipod or anything after all).

2-Chat with my very few friends (very important, they are much more fun than the supremely disgusting people around me in "real life", I despise even looking at them.).

3-Play games, a wide variety of them. More complex and interesting than "real-lifers" often imagine. Many people keep thinking this is the only thing I do on a computer, no matter how many times I correct them.

4-Amuse myself in other ways, such as with videos or searching for funny pictures. This might seem useless, but I get bored very easily and not many things entertain me. I would go mad if I couldn't just laugh at something every two months.

5-READ
This is what consumes most of my time (although I am always doing at least 3 things at once, so I might be wrong), I am a very curious person and am always looking up stuff or thinking about looking up stuff.

I'd rather have this computer than a "life". What is "having a life" anyway?
Lets see...

-A social life with people you know from outside the internet?-

I would not like that at all. Through the last years of school, I was always surrounded by fools who always did things like getting drunk (out of school) have promiscuous, reckless sex (also out of school) or throw stuff at the fan...and those are just a few examples.

Why would I hang out with people I despise and who would most likely lead me to bad places?

-Wasting your time with others or doing sports or just pointlessly being outside-

I already covered how I dislike most people around me. And I find sports VERY boring.

It confuses and slightly irritates me how all the drunken sots scream for their football teams at the TV or find fun in something as mundane as running and kicking.

My whole country is paralyzed when certain teams play because practically everyone is watching it, its disgusting.

What good is being outside? Birds? Nature? What's so fun about that?

-Getting laid-

Pfffffffff...why is it that these people find getting laid to be both the solution to all humor problems and the ultimate goal of life?

That style of thinking could have many terrible consequences...

I'd rather be on my computer for 16 hours a day than any of those things.

[Twisti]

Originally Posted by PAYNE1

Yeah, I do find trying to help other people to be fulfilling, and since I am on disability, I can't do a lot of that in the real world.....So, PC has given me the ability to help to fill that void.

I can totally relate..i have many phy health issues that keep me from getting out in the real world beyond grocery shopping and doc appts and sometimes i cant even do those things without having to fill up on narc pain killers.