You can get hooked on `soft addictions' in so many ways
Julie Deardorff, Chicago Tribune
Issue date: 4/2/07 Section: Life
The affliction strikes men and women of all ages and races. A poll conducted for the Wright Institute, found that 91 percent of us have a soft addiction that keeps us from feeling satisfied. "And the other 9 percent of people are in denial," Wright said.
Procrastination, watching too much television and overworking are the top three. But a new study shows college undergraduates might be addicted to tanning under UV lights. The Internet, meanwhile, is being blamed for a host of compulsive behaviors.
In one recent high profile case, James Pacenza of New York, who was fired for visiting an adult chat room at work, is suing IBM for wrongful termination. Pacenza claims he has an addiction, a disorder that deserves treatment and sympathy rather than dismissal.
Technology can cause addictive behavior "partly because each potential response required for a cell phone message or an e-mail doesn't always seem so large, so why not mow some of them down now?" said Jeff Davidson, author of "Breathing Space: Living & Working at a Comfortable Pace in a Sped-Up Society" (BookSurge, $14.95). "The megalomaniac payoff of believing we can stay on top of it all can, intermittently, feel quite satisfying."
Though there is still controversy over whether compulsive Internet use and video-game playing merit a medical diagnosis, treatment centers have opened up around the world, including Korea, China and the Netherlands. The Priory Clinic in London is treating "texting addicts," or those who might spend up to seven hours a day writing and receiving text messages on their cell phones.
One of eight Americans exhibited at least one possible sign of problematic Internet use, a Stanford study showed. Psychological symptoms include an inability to stop using it, craving more time online, neglect of family and friends and feeling depressed and irritable when not at the computer. Physical signs can be carpal tunnel syndrome, sleep deprivation, backaches, eye strain and increased agitation.
Procrastination, watching too much television and overworking are the top three. But a new study shows college undergraduates might be addicted to tanning under UV lights. The Internet, meanwhile, is being blamed for a host of compulsive behaviors.
In one recent high profile case, James Pacenza of New York, who was fired for visiting an adult chat room at work, is suing IBM for wrongful termination. Pacenza claims he has an addiction, a disorder that deserves treatment and sympathy rather than dismissal.
Technology can cause addictive behavior "partly because each potential response required for a cell phone message or an e-mail doesn't always seem so large, so why not mow some of them down now?" said Jeff Davidson, author of "Breathing Space: Living & Working at a Comfortable Pace in a Sped-Up Society" (BookSurge, $14.95). "The megalomaniac payoff of believing we can stay on top of it all can, intermittently, feel quite satisfying."
Though there is still controversy over whether compulsive Internet use and video-game playing merit a medical diagnosis, treatment centers have opened up around the world, including Korea, China and the Netherlands. The Priory Clinic in London is treating "texting addicts," or those who might spend up to seven hours a day writing and receiving text messages on their cell phones.
One of eight Americans exhibited at least one possible sign of problematic Internet use, a Stanford study showed. Psychological symptoms include an inability to stop using it, craving more time online, neglect of family and friends and feeling depressed and irritable when not at the computer. Physical signs can be carpal tunnel syndrome, sleep deprivation, backaches, eye strain and increased agitation.
Article last update: 3/30/07 at 6:43 AM CST
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