Battling Addiction

By Jeanette Joy Fisher

Psychologists disagree as to whether computer obsession is even a real addiction. Although many therapists treat “computer addiction” as a disorder, other therapists claim that computer obsession is more like pathological gambling than a true addiction, because it involves a behavioral failure to resist an impulse and not a physical dependence upon some sort of substance.

There have been few studies on the fairly recent phenomenon of computer addiction, so there are few scientific facts to quote. However, there’s plenty of anecdotal evidence that seems to suggest that computer addiction not only exists, but may actually be close to an epidemic worldwide. Most heavy computer users are aware of their own problem or know of other people who seem to display all the symptoms of an addicted personality.

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By Jeanette Joy Fisher

Children are becoming especially vulnerable to becoming computer addicts, because there are an unlimited number of video games available, twenty-four hours a day. If you’re a parent worried about your children, watch them for signs of withdrawals when they can’t play on the computer for an extended period. They’ll become irritable and studies have shown that children develop strong cravings for their games, not unlike a drug addict yearning for a fix.

Adolescents are even more vulnerable, and can spend extreme amounts of time on the computer if given free rein. Spending too much time on the computer damages social skills and can adversely affect friendships, schoolwork, and many other areas of their lives. Teens may be the most likely to become computer addicts, although there is some evidence to show that they may outgrow it to a large extent once they get older.

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