Speaking of Meditation and Computer and Internet Addiction
By Andy Alt / Mental Dimensions
Jul 25, 2008
Deep Brain Stimulation For Depression
When I read that headline, I assumed meditation might be mentioned. But no, again, apparently only foreign objects can treat depression. Something about a drill, a brain, and some electrodes.
Try meditation. It can’t hurt. It has no drug interactions. I’ve been trying it; if it helps me, I’ll probably note it somewhere on this site. Thus far, it’s been extremely helpful in dealing with some pain issues I’ve been experiencing for the last four years. The results from the meditation regarding the pain are very promising so far.
Surprise to me, writing like a madman has brought about tendinitis and nerve problems. Coupled with the writing, I’ve had a bit of a problem with computer and Internet addiction. Not something I’m proud of really, but why not mention it here, it seems like a good a place as any. The end result: too much computer time since I was 18 has caused problems for me. Not only have I been a writer, but also enjoy working with software and system administration, so basically, more typing.
Anyone who might be curious as to why addiction to the computer and Internet takes place, I say it’s the high level of mental stimulation. Speaking for myself, there is really no other form of mental stimulation I can think of that matches what I feel and experience while using the computer. Also, I have far too much time on my hands.
Now that I’ve admitted I have a problem, I guess I can solve it. An alcoholic never takes another drink. That’s a socially acceptable solution for alcoholism. A friend of mine recently told me that I shouldn’t cancel my Internet, I should practice more self-control. I have however, canceled my Internet 3 times in the past two years, and have been much more productive without it. I’ve also read some books and magazines, but that activity I include as being productive. One of the times I canceled my Internet access I did without it for about eight or nine months. Currently I employ advanced dial-up technology and connect at 5 kilobytes per second. Astounding as that speed may be, it creates my incentive to stay offline and do other things which are dictated by reality.
And because I’m currently in pain, I’m going to skip the trivial part of the writing process known as editing and proof-reading. If it seems I disappear for a while, expect me to show up again, like a Jack in the Box. Also, when someone leaves a comment, I may reply soon, later, or never.
Getting back to meditation for a moment, here are a couple headlines I found amusing, being adjacent to one another and from the same news outlet.
1) Meditation slows AIDS progression: study
2) Drugs add 13 years to life of HIV patients – Reuters
Somewhere in the world right now there is a conflict of interest and a purple face. (And note carefully that the first headline includes the word meditation, not medication.)
Thank you to zania for making me write this post, although she never told me to, or even read it before now.
I have been increasingly troubled by my internet addiction. At first it didn’t seem so much as an addiction as an enjoyable pastime then slowly but surely I began to see even the most menial task on the Net as having way too much importance in my life. While spending more than 10 hours a day on the Internet I began to realise that actually I could only get less than half the things done that I used to. Productivity and work are all suffering not to mention my relationship with my wife.
Trouble is I know I need some sort of help but am at a loss for what to do? I tried looking at professional psychiatric help for addictions but I don’t know if I am using a sledgehammer to crack a nut. And it takes way too much time and costs way above my means. I have also tried scouring the net and managed to pick up a lot of reading material such as Dr Young work on the subject which has been quite helpful and detailed. I also came across a neat piece of software which automatically stops you from surfing too long on specific sites which has been rather good at stopping me being addicted for too long you can find this product at http://www.internetandaddiction.com well worth a try. But the fact remains that this problem has not been taken seriously enough by the people who really matter i.e. the ISP and Major Internet players for obvious reasons you might think but isn’t it about time they did ??
Would love to know how others cope with the same issues and what people think of Dr Kimberly Young suggestions and the software mentioned above.
Thanks for elaborating and sharing your personal experience. I find that even when I shut down my computer, I still think about doing stuff on it, and it distracts me, and keeps me from doing the more mundane things in life, such as balancing my checkbook, doing dishes, cleaning off my table-file (My kitchen table becomes a file for documents, letters and receipts).
I plan to call my former ISP and ask them if they can set their computer to automatically shut my Internet off on odd days of the month, or for two out of three days alternating. I doubt they will accommodate my request, because generally corporations don’t seem to be very innovative and they seem to treat their customers like their employees, as automatons or mindless drones.
Did you try the software resource I mentioned? Even if your ISP does not fulfill your request you could do the same thing via this software. It seesm to be working for me. The only drawback I have noticed is that you have to set the time yourself at the start of the day or week.
No, I haven’t looked at it yet. I’ve canceled my Internet for the time being. I’ll remember to check it out next time I need something like that. Thank you for mentioning it.
I’ve checked out the site and the software. It’s for Windows users; I use Slackware or Debian Linux and don’t have computers with Windows laying about. I left a comment about another method on a different post.