Addiction to the Internet/video games?

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I seem to be addicted to the Internet, specifically... that is, just aimlessly browsing random websites to no end, and I can't even stop to play video games sometimes, even when I want to do so. I don't get any fulfillment out of this, but still keep going on as if I'm glued... and for the last few years I think it's actually causing some depression.

How do you think addiction works? I know some people are addicted to video games, on the other hand... and I did go through a period myself, in my young teens, when I played them a lot - I never felt it was addiction at all back then, it was fulfilling and not aimless like my present-day browsing. Addiction is when it becomes a compulsion, right?

How do I go back to fulfilling activities again, like video games (as it was my case, once)?

addiction of any kind may be a clear sign of an addictive or compulsive personality disorder.
Internet/video game addiction may lead to a drug/alcohol addiction or a gambling addiction.
An addiction can often be replaced with another addiction/compulsive pattern of behaviour.

I'm in the same boat mate.

I guess the internet has it's appealing moments but it is certainly depressing.

Let me guess: Even if you are bored from internet/games, you keep going because this is like a mission for you. And if you need to do something else, you feel as if you are wasting your time.

If I am right at my guess: You have to put a strict limit to your computer usage. From my experience, in AS you can deal with an obsession by putting another. Set yourself a limit about using computer, lets say 2 hours a day. Excess time can be used by playing an instrument, reading a book etc. I think you can find fulfillment in other activities.

I got told that aspies are information gatherers. It's not so much that you're addicted to the internet, i think it's the endless light information that's more the problem.

We just like to be to be in that moment of processing/ taking new information in and what i think you might be struggling with is basically the information equivalent of eating take away food rather than a proper meal. You just need to find something more substantial to spend your time on. Sure browse the internet a little, enjoy yourself, just try and find something a little more constructive to take it's place if you're feeling you're wasting too much time and not getting enough back.

Last edited by UnBored on 24 Jul 2012, 11:06 am, edited 1 time in total.

I can't play video games... way too addicting.

I'm like that. I feel disconnected if I don't have my time on the internet each day. It's hard to stop at night, and I can easily be up till 2:00 AM if I'm not careful. I can sometimes get to bed around 12:30, but on average, I'm up till about 1:15.

Yup it's exactly this for me. Man I have such a huge backlog of games and movies and such because of the damn internet, plus I don't get more constructive stuff done either like reading or learning music theory. I really regret not getting a summer job cause I know I'm gonna continue like this until school starts again.

I don't really see why spending time on those other things would be any better or more constructive than playing a video game. Why not play lots of video games if that is what you enjoy?

I've always loved video games and internet browsing but ever since I quit using drugs and alcohol over 4 months ago, all I do in my spare time is browse the web and play video games. I hardly ever play guitar anymore and that's sad.

Video games rot your brain at twice the rate as television.

Nonsense and offensively so.

I humbly apologize to anyone who watches television.

I disagree. At least video games are interactive. They can be educational as well.

Education is when you learn about the real world, not fictional ones.

you sir have no idea what you are talking about and it shows, you would be better served dropping the subject but oh well.

so learning to program in a world where the entire real world is dependant on that skill is useless or fictional?

learning logic or problem solving skills cant possibly have any use in the real world either right

not to mention that tv is just as often about a fictional world, except you wont be doing anything in it, except staring blankly upon it, if you are so inclined the concepts can be fascinating, just as they can in a book, a board game, a movie, a piece of music a computer game or for that matter any other piece of fiction, no matter format.

in the end that is excactly what it is different forms of fiction and that tells more about them than their individual format ever could.