Cont. from my Previous Post ( are you a computer addict)

here are some tips on how to prevent if you are already a Computer Addict o Internet Addiction Disorder (IAD)

if you want to get "rehabilitated" read this:

* make specific time limits. set an alarm to go off in 1 hour and end computer time when it rings.
* set aside "computer-free" parts of the day. if your computer use starts after dinner and extends into the night, get all your computer work done in the morning, dont touch your computer after dinner.
* install software to restrict your access to websites that you visit compulsively. find a friend you can trust to keep the passwords for the software so you cant circumvent it.
* make a list of things you could be accomplishing instead of wasting time on the computer, and post it prominently near your monitor.
* enlist family members in high-traffic are of the house. with others looking over shoulder all the time, you'll less likely to overuse the computer. this is especially effective for parents who fear excessive computer use in their children.

hope this post can help you to minimize your addiction in Internet..

are you a computer addict?

you feel empty when you are not surfing the net. you wake up early or stay up late working on the computer. you believe your best friends are those whom you met only online.
these are all symptoms of a new form of addiction that has emerged only in recent years-computer addiction.

cant just stop
the definition of computer addiction is quite fuzzy because the term covers a wide range of addictions. but most experts agree that when you use the computer so often that you cant already do your other activities, and if you are unable to stop using the computer despite negative consequences, you are already a computer addict.
there are those people who are literally addicted to the computer as a physical object. they become addicted to activities performed addicted to activities performed on a computer like instant messaging, playing online games, checking email, and reading blogs or posts on newsgroups. these activities are collectively referred to as computer-mediated communication (CMC). on the other hand, computer addiction focused on internet use is often called internet addiction disorder (IAD).

Symptoms
as with any addiction, there are also signs in computer addiction. Maressa Hecht Orzack, a psychologist from Harvard University in the United States, came up with a list of signs and symptoms of computer addiction:

here are the symptoms you have to watch out for:
* you use the computer for pleasure, gratification, or relief from stress.
* you feel irritable and out of control or depressed when you're not using the computer.
* you spend increasing amounts of time and money on hardware, software, magazines, and computer-related activities.
* you neglect work, school, or family obligations.
* you lie about the amount of time spent on computer activities.
* you fail to control your computer use, even if you have tried so many times already.

Negative Effects :
excessive computer use affects your social, emotional, and physical, well-being. as you spend more and more time on the computer, you spend less and less time for your family and friends, thus relationships begin to suffer.
using a mouse and a keyboard for many hours every day can lead to repetitive stress injuries. sitting at computer desks for a long time causes for a long time causes back problems. late-night computer sessions cut into sleep time, leading to sleep deprivation.
someone who spends hours at a computer is obviously not getting any exercise, so computer addiction can indirectly lead to poor overall physical condition and even obesity.

so do you consider your self as a computer addict?
for me ? YES, iam .. LOL