What is internet addiction? What are the effects of internet addiction? Internet addiction can also cause: Insomnia not sleeping well Not showering or keeping up with personal hygiene Not eating regularly Headaches and backaches Dry eyes from looking at a screen for a long time Carpal tunnel syndrome numbness or tingling in your hand and arm How can I beat my internet addiction?
If you think you have an Internet addiction, talk with your doctor or your parents. They can help you come up with ways to beat your Internet addiction.
Pay attention to when you use the Internet or mobile apps. Turn off or silence notifications for email, games and social media. Use a free app to track your Internet usage. This app lets you track and take control of how much you use the Internet or mobile apps. It also has timers that let you set how much time you spend online and tools to help you break free from Internet addiction.
You can also share your accomplishments with others from the app. This app lets you track your Internet and app usage. Depending on the extremity of your use, some of these may be:. And the list goes on. In fact, researchers have found out that Internet addiction and drug addiction have very similar effects on the brain:. Because Internet addiction is largely behavioral, there will be certain traits that one exhibits as an addict.
You now want to stop. These tactics will help you get started, but the real work begins after you read this. One of the ways to prevent forming a habit is to engage less in an activity. So naturally, the easiest way to prevent Internet addiction is to not engage in it in the first place. One way is to create social accountability. Tell your parents, your friends, or your roommates that you will not be on a social media site or even the Internet in general from this hour to this hour.
You need to have off hours where you use the Internet very little or not at all. That way, your brain will be able to recharge. Freedom is a great choice for anyone who seriously wants to increase their productivity and peace of mind. Every person should have a wake up and bedtime routine.
It should be something that powerfully rouses you from the depths of sleep and something that puts the day into context and winds it down. Many people pick up their phones first thing in the morning and then — BOOM. Off to the races. Even worse off, they finish off their day with a phone in hand or looking at some sort of screen. In a routine to begin or start the day, you focus on yourself and aligning yourself or recharging yourself.
You can do this through a yoga session, meditation, working out, reading a physical book, goal-setting, or journaling. At its worst, it is like a merciless judge who only seeks to condemn. In order to hopscotch past the rigorous process of disciplining the mind, many people turn to distraction.
Today, this distraction is in the form of mindless Internet addiction. If you train your mind to embrace the present moment no matter what it brings, there will be no tension because you are accepting what is.
As I said before, the best way to not develop a habit is to lessen engagement or not engage in the first place. You can go biking, swimming, meet people in a Meetup, read physical books, go to a park, talk to someone, etc. Finding an engaging hobby and becoming better at it just might be the thing that breaks your Internet addiction. Find something that speaks to you and throw yourself into it. This is a mode and state of being where you limit or completely eliminate sources that stimulate an unnatural dopamine response.
Of course, this is a lot of things that involve the Internet in some way such as social media, gaming, or mindless Internet browsing. This is how people in the past lived and how they were motivated to do things in the real world. People today might find it unnecessary or even torturous and just will not do it. For example, your alarm clock rings — you either get up out of bed or hit the snooze button.
Since the brain is a large network of interconnected nodes, neurons, synapses, and axons, that makes the brain similar to a chain. One thought triggers another thought, which triggers another thought. This creates a series of related actions. This is largely subconscious, once it reaches the point of habit. With this rationale, if you can eliminate other bad habits, and change their triggers and cues — you can weaken the hold Internet addiction has on you.
Your Internet addiction most likely has a foundation stone that brings up other related habits. Find out what that is and start removing it. If you take out one link, the chain breaks. As the world becomes smaller and more connected, many people turn towards the Internet to connect, play, and discover information. The Internet is novel because it stimulates almost all of our desires in endless ways, meaning that addiction is an inevitability for many people.
Internet addiction exists on a spectrum of behavior, with mild to severe effects. However, even a mild Internet addiction can produce disproportionate lifestyle effects such as lack of productivity leading to job loss or sporadic engagement with erotic imagery leading to a sexual addiction.
In order to beat, overcome, or prevent an Internet addiction you need a custom combination of time away from the Internet, blocks of time where you do not use the Internet at all, and removing similar bad habits that coincide with Internet use.
That will give you the best shot to use the Internet responsibly and make it your servant rather than your master. Do you have an Internet addiction? What are you doing to beat it? Let me know in the comments. Your article is simply splendid. It has disclosed to me a new insight to the problems I have had with internet. The language is succint and highly understandable , this is as a matter of fact one of the best articles I had ever come across.
I believe it also explains your forays to help people on a large scale. Thank you very much, Sim. I am grateful. When I get back from work or being out all day, I put my son to bed, the house gets dark and there are limited things to do. Download Article Explore this Article methods. Tips and Warnings. Related Articles. Article Summary. Method 1. All rights reserved. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.
Give yourself a strict time limit for daily play. For example, you might limit yourself to no more than half an hour of play each day. Help yourself keep track of your playing time by setting a timer on your phone or another device. Keep gaming devices out of your bedroom.
If you have a game console, computer, or other gaming device in your room, you may be tempted to stay up all night playing instead of getting the sleep you need. Playing games right before bed can reduce the quality of your sleep.
National Institutes of Health Go to source In addition to keeping your room screen-free, avoid playing games during the last couple of hours before you go to bed. If you find yourself struggling to sleep, try not to worry.
Do something calming and comforting to help you unwind, like meditating for a few minutes or taking a warm shower. Try apps or extensions to block your access to games.
If you play games on your phone or on your computer, you can install apps or browser extensions that limit your play time. Some apps can limit your access to specific games, while others will lock you out of your device altogether during a set time.
PC programs like Game Boss can set time limits on games or block your access to gaming websites. For phone games, try apps like Offtime or BreakFree to set time limits, track your game usage, or block your access to gaming apps.
Ask friends and family to help stay on top of your gaming limits. Ask the people in your life to respect your decision by not tempting you to play video games.
Try not to feel embarrassed about asking for help. Can you remind me to stop if you catch me playing longer than half an hour? Method 2. Distract yourself with other fun activities during the day. Take the opportunity to rediscover activities you used to enjoy, or try something exciting and new! Treat gaming as a reward for completing other tasks. If your gaming is interfering with homework, chores, or other work you need to get done, make a vow to put those important jobs first.
Sometimes a gaming addiction can develop when you use gaming as an escape from things that are stressing you out. For instance, you could: Meditate Do yoga Exercise Draw, write, or play music to express your feelings. Schedule time each day for self-care. A severe gaming addiction can interfere with your ability to care for your own basic needs. In turn, not taking good enough care of yourself can make you feel tired and unwell, which might tempt you to turn to your game for comfort.
As you work on overcoming your gaming addiction, set aside specific times each day to: [10] X Trustworthy Source Recovery. Method 3. Ask your doctor for advice on managing your addiction. They may be able to give you advice on how to quit or refer you to someone who can help. Can you give me some advice? They can help you make an appointment to get the help you need. Try cognitive behavioral therapy CBT to overcome addictive behaviors.
Cognitive behavioral therapy may be helpful for overcoming severe video game addictions. CBT focuses on helping you recognize and change harmful behaviors and thought patterns that might be making your addiction worse. If your gaming habits are having a negative impact on your relationships, you might also benefit from family or marriage counseling. Join a support group for gaming addicts if you feel isolated.
Group therapy can be a great way to meet other people who are dealing with similar struggles. Other members of the group can give you advice and support and help you feel less alone. Ask your doctor about using medications to reduce cravings. Some studies show that bupropion Wellbutrin , an antidepressant medication, may help you stop a video game addiction.
National Institutes of Health Go to source Medications can sometimes interact with each other in harmful ways. Ask your doctor about the possible risks and side effects of using bupropion.
Look into rehab for a severe addiction. These programs may combine counseling with other forms of therapy to help treat your addiction. Treat any conditions that might be contributing to your addiction. Video game addiction often goes along with other mental health issues, such as depression or anxiety. They can help you treat those conditions, which should make it easier to shake your video game addiction. Your doctor or therapist may recommend a combination of counseling and medication to treat these conditions.
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