Why Are you Addicted?

I'm addicted to the Internet because I have deep pain resulting from interpersonal problems and hearing voices. I use the Internet to cope with my emotional pain and distract myself. I think all of life is coping and distraction for everyone, whether they know it or not?

Why are you addicted?

I was addicted cause I let myself be.

I'm starting to realize my time on earth is limited and wasting on some online $#%^ isn't really how I want to spend my life.

Anyway, I started an 18-day challenge where I strongly limited the internet use outside my work, and it's working pretty well. I feel happier, more in tune with my body, and just look more awake when I look myself in the mirror.

I started going to gym again and even had a pretty nice boner last morning.

My reason was avoiding life, which includes good emotions and bad emotions.

I figured I was turning to internet use when I felt negative emotions and just want to not feel them anymore and forget about them.

I was a pussy pretty much. I don't do that anymore, and I feel better.

I'm addicted because of severe social isolation resulting from my poor physical and mental health, particularly following the death of my husband in 2013. I began to turn inwards & instead of connecting with "real people", I found solace online in social media instead. I was on it 24/7. I was finding it very hard to get out & about so I guess it's understandable, but ultimately not healthy, as I became obsessed with the lives of people I'd never even met. I discovered that online friendship often has the illusion of depth & can feel very intense but in reality it's as shallow and ephemeral as a puddle.

I've been able to get out and about a bit more of late, and I'm trying to build some real life connections now, and the more I do that, the more illusory and unsatisfying social media seems. I've booted FB into touch, although for the moment I'm still on Twitter.

P.S. I should add, that I don't find socialising easy as I've got social anxiety and am an Avoidant, so I don't go to parties or anything like that! I've just joined a couple of history groups and have gone back to church, so I'm at least in the company of some like-minded people!

It would be lovely if I could one day reach the stage where I only use the Internet as a tool, and don't aimlessly wander around it, but that day is still far off, I fear! I don't think I'll be going back to Facebook though - the mere thought gives me the heebie-jeebies!

I echo the sentiment of others. I use the internet to avoid my emotions.

O.K...internet addiction==this is not a simple issue to discuss...what drives us into the internet?in my opinion the internet or an addiction to it can be positive or negative..any addiction has got side affects which we cannot control..because..well..yes..it's the addiction..if life sucks?is internet addiction the real anwser?I doubt it..to give you an example..I know somebody here in my rave circle of friends..he is on internet from morning until evening..even while working he can't sometimes leave his smartphone alone..why..is it the attention,the kick,curiousity,then follows lack of sleep,no interest in direct social issues exept internet related stuff like you tubes,porn,e mailing etc..i love internet and i am addicted to it for a couple of positive reasons==it's educative,i find out about what's going on in the world which is not always positive(ahah)i used to run a happiness thread in a psychedelic forum and ask people their opinion on life and how to obtain an inner good feeling,not always internet related..but internet gave me the reason to profile my vision on lots of stuff..be it music,friendships,relationships, sex,mental and health issues,travel,tourism..I found these things very interesting,distracting..facebook is a great social medium as well which brings people together,forums the same thing,wikipedia,google search engines bring us knowledge,we do not need to go to a library like in the old days..so that's not a life sucking issue..if life sucks we go for the questions,the why,why not and we seek an answer,a solution..do we find it on the internet..perhaps yes..but very often the more advice we consult the more confused we get,because some answers often contradict eachother in terms of religious,psychological or philosopical issues..I must try to find more inspiration about positive benificial sides of internet use..internet can also have negative issues like bullying,loosing your real self etc..P.S..I am an internet addict

I agree that in some way we are all addicted to something in our lives. The issue is when the things were addicted to are causing us more harm than good. I might be addicted to bettering my life through working hard at work, spending more time at the gym, enhancing relationships with friends and family, helping others in my community through volunteering, etc. These addictions are not something I'm looking to fix, because I think that they are benefiting myself and others around me. If I found myself addicted to abusing a substance and I was using my family and friends for money to get more of the substance I would call this an unhealthy addiction worth fixing. I am not benefiting myself and I'm negatively impacting those around me through my addiction. Again, it's easier said than done to solve this addiction, but it makes sense that certain addictions can be classified as negative and others as positive.

I don't know that I am addicted, but if I am it is for similar reasons to lonelydaydream. I don't do well socializing and it is a way for me to have some human contact with out getting too close.

TBH, I didn't even know I was addicted to the Internet. But after I read an article on Addiction Resource on Internet addiction I found out that at risk of having Internet addiction are young people, especially teenagers; those with poor self-esteem may hide their insecurities in the virtual world; those staying online for more than 40 hours in a week, or 20 hours continuously. I've just become a freelancer so I did spend a lot of time at my computer. But it must be changed if I don't want to get depressed.