In addition to cybersex, other Internet activities can be addictive. They include social networking, gaming, surfing, shopping, investment trading and other forms of gambling.

  • Sarah, a 65 year old grandmother, is addicted to surfing. She told me “I can’t really remember what all I look at, but suddenly, several hours have passed. My husband is mad at me because I spend so much time on the computer.”
  • Kim, a 17 year old girl is addicted to social networking on MySpace and Facebook. She spends 20-30 hours a week online. Much of that time is late at night. She says, “I just can’t sleep until I check my sites and chat with my friends for a while.”
  • Steven, a 15 year old boy, spends 5-6 hours a day playing his favorite MMORPG, Guild Wars. If his parents try to limit his play, he rages at them and threatens to run away or pounds on the walls until they give in.
  • Greg, a 34 year old financial advisor, enjoys pursuing high risk investment trading online. He is experimenting with “unique investment strategies,” but has lost over $10,000 and has borrowed on credit cards to finance his “investments.”

Spending more than 10 hours a week on the computer (outside specific work use) is considered the danger zone. At this level of use healthy activities such as family time, exercise, sleep, face to face socializing, or work, may be neglected.

  • Is your family complaining that you spend “too much time on the computer?” Are you borrowing money or using credit cards to finance online gambling, investing, or shopping?
  • Are you tired at work because you are staying up late at night to pursue online activities? Have you promised to quit the online activities and find yourself making excuses to go back to them?

Ask your partner or trusted friend to help you make a plan to stop your online activities. If you still keeping making excuses or finding ways to “cheat” on your plan, seek a support group, a 12-Step group focused on your problem, or seek professional help. You are “using” to avoid your emotions or other issues in your life.



    
Contact
connie@omahatherapy.com
for information about STARPRO, speaking engagements,
or her book:
Sex Addiction Overview