[ Internet Addiction Disorder ]

“Excessive use of the Internet can lead to IAD, which then can lead to anxiety and depression”,Jena Sauber, staff writer for the Kansas State Collegian

In a matter of seconds I can log on to my computer, check the weather, the local news, see who won the basketball game, and find the best recipe for Pumpkin bars. After doing so I think to myself “wow, I never would have been able to do all this without the Internet. And, how the heck did I ever live without Google search?”  However, this easy access to the Internet may not always be the best, and can lead to disorders such as IAD.

IAD stands for Internet Addiction Disorder. “Excessive use of the Internet can lead to IAD, which then can lead to anxiety and depression”,Jena Sauber, staff writer for the Kansas State Collegian, explains.  “According to the study, levels of depression and anxiety were positively correlated with the number of hours per week spent online.” 

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I often hear, “bah, there is no such thing as internet addiction, I can stop if I want to.”  Can you really stop if you want to?  Can you put down your phone while having dinner with friends or family and not pick it up a single time, to make sure you haven’t missed out on Facebook notifications, text messages, tweets or emails?”  Can you make it through a meeting, class, or even waiting in line at the bank without getting bored after a few seconds and going straight to your smartphone? When you wake up in the morning, do you take your phone with you to the bathroom?”  I can sadly say, I fail all of the above.

Dori Hartley of the Huffington Post, as well as the author of Angels and Echoes, explains in her article Social Networking: The Endgame of Natural Communication, how she was forced to go Zen.  Her Internet and phone services got messed up and she was unable to use either one.  She was forced to use her brain again for entertainment.  She explains that she sat on her patio, taking deep breaths, and read a book.  “And it occurred to me: Life goes on, whether I’m updating or not. And I go on, whether someone else is…or no,” said Hartley.  “In the two weeks that I didn’t participate, I found something else: my life.  And I don’t even have to click a button to make it real.”

Curious whether you may have IAD or not?  Check out this website, and take the quiz.  Whether you believe the results or not is up to you, but you may find it interesting.

Internet Addicts from Justin Jorgensen on Vimeo.

[ Escaping Technology ]

“Using the internet late in the night, browsing for long hours, using social networking sites and using mobile phones has led to social isolation and loss of social skills among teens. It can lead to a host of other behavioral problems such as insomnia, depression, anxiety and obesity,” - Kannaki Deka of bangaloremirror.com

Each morning my phone alarm goes off and the first thing I do is roll over, grab it, and check to see if I have any emails or text messages, and then it’s on to Facebook. After I get out of bed, I turn on the television and the computer.  Throughout the rest of my day I will continue to check my phone, spend way too much time on Facebook, Pinterest, and my email.  The term "tech addiction" seems to be on the rise and has more devastating effects than one would think.

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 I am more than willing to admit that I have a tech addiction.  Without my phone, wireless internet and some sort of computer, I go nuts.  I used to go camping because I enjoyed outdoor activities. Now, I feel like I am falling months behind and missing out for the few days I am technology free. 

Danielle Braff, of the Chicago Tribune (Jan 2012) writes that “at a time when 66 percent of people sleep next to their Smartphone’s, and 20 percent would go shoeless for a week (43 percent of iPhone users) rather than temporarily release their phones, experts are worried about how addicted Americans are to their phones.”  I don’t think I would quite go as far as giving up my shoes in exchange for the use of my Smartphone, especially in our harsh North Dakota winters.

It seems that with all of these different forms of technology, there is too much to do and not enough time to spend doing important things such as sleeping. “Using the internet late in the night, browsing for long hours, using social networking sites and using mobile phones has led to social isolation and loss of social skills among teens. It can lead to a host of other behavioral problems such as insomnia, depression, anxiety and obesity,” said Kannaki Deka of bangaloremirror.com.(Jan 2012) 

The truth is, technology is not going anywhere.  It is here to stay. Jennifer Soong of WebMD.com explains that these constant interruptions from all the different types of technology take a toll on our bodies and our mental states.  If it is nearly impossible to live without it, what can we do to live with it and maintain a healthy lifestyle?  WebMD.com explains that it is possible to disconnect and offers some steps on their website to try and help with a healthy lifestyle.(Jan 2012)