| You may ask yourself "What are the symptoms | | | | computer addict. They will often lose all track of |
| of Computer Addiction?" The answer is: "They | | | | time and will stay up all night to be at the |
| can vary according to the extent of the | | | | computer with little or no sleep. They rarely go |
| addiction". For instance, some people may be only | | | | outside for fresh air and sunshine which will |
| addicted mildly to the internet and computer, | | | | obviously affect their health. Another tragic |
| therefore, they display little nor no symptoms | | | | computer addiction symptom is when the |
| other than the constant desire to be using the | | | | sufferer abandons their commitments to work, |
| internet or computer. | | | | school, college, study and family to favor |
| On the other hand, those suffering from severe | | | | computer time. The abandoning of commitments |
| computer addiction may display a variety of | | | | will have a long-term effect on the life of the |
| symptoms, some of which can be hazardous to | | | | sufferer. Loss of their job, poor grades and failure |
| health. There are some symptoms of acute | | | | of courses. |
| computer-related addiction outlined below with a | | | | *Not eating balanced meals and lack of personal |
| brief description of each. | | | | hygiene. |
| *Mood swings and irritability when not at the | | | | A person suffering from computer addiction, will |
| computer. | | | | very often miss meals. This is because it takes |
| One of the first, and the most pressing signs of | | | | time to prepare a proper meal, time which would |
| computer addiction is when the person shows | | | | rather be spent at the computer. A computer |
| anger, irritability and mood swings when not at | | | | addict will often favor snacks, fast food and soda. |
| the computer. Very often, all lifes' situations | | | | Another thing to bear in mind is the fact that a |
| become insignificant and they feel they must get | | | | severe computer addict will not spend time for |
| back to the computer. The person seems to be | | | | their ablutions. Again, these fundamental actions |
| completely preoccupied and focused on nothing | | | | take time and some important conversation or a |
| else other than getting back online or back to the | | | | bad guy on the game who needs to be watched |
| computer. If the person displays this sort of | | | | and could be missed if the addict were completing |
| symptom, then it is a sure sign that this person is | | | | his or her ablutions. |
| completely addicted to the computer. | | | | *Lack of concentration and motivation for |
| *Showing signs of a lack of interest in offline | | | | anything other than the computer. |
| activities. | | | | The lack of motivation for any sort of activity |
| This is a huge indication that computer addiction | | | | outside of the computer environment. Computer |
| has taken hold. A computer addict may totally | | | | addiction will cause lack of concentration, which |
| ignore their offline friends in favor of forming | | | | could be very dangerous for those operating |
| online relationships. It could even reach the extent | | | | machinery or driving. This could have an obvious |
| that they sever relationships with their family as | | | | tragic effect on theirs - and others - health. |
| well. This is one of the most tragic symptoms, | | | | Sadly, these computer addictions are obviously |
| and when this happens, the computer addict | | | | very dangerous and should serve as a dire |
| needs to seek professional help as they are | | | | warning to the family and friends of addicts that |
| showing severe computer addiction symptoms. | | | | the person needs to seek professional help before |
| *Loss of sleep and the abandoning of | | | | they crawl deeper into a virtual reality world with |
| commitments to spend time at the computer. | | | | disastrous consequences. All these symptoms are |
| This has a drastic effect on the health of a | | | | due to computer addiction. |