Ajay
Posts : 137 Points : 387 Join date : 2010-03-12 Age : 34 Location : India
| Subject: Are you addicted to online chatting? Sat Jul 17, 2010 8:44 am | |
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Chat addiction has become an acute social problem in recent times.
It is becoming common as more and more people are getting engaged in chatting activities. The long hours spent in chat rooms has led to the emergence of the concept called chat addiction.
Chat addiction is becoming a chronic problem mainly among the younger generations who get attracted to the chat room activities.
Some of the negative impacts of chat room addiction are –
* Negative impact on social relationships. * Harmful affects on marriages. * Work performance is getting hampered. * School achievements are getting affected. * Bad impact on health.
There are several symptoms which help to understand whether a person is facing the chronic problem of chat addiction. The various symptoms are –
* Person may feel preoccupied with chat room activities. * The person may make consecutive unsuccessful attempts to cut down on the chat room activities. * Feeling the need to increase the amount of time spent for chatting. * Remaining online longer than intended. * Developing a habit of lying to family members, or therapist relating to the amount of time spent for chatting. * Using chatting as a means to escape problems.
The main reason behind chat addiction is that people now have 24 hours access to the internet and as internet provides a scope for increasing the social network, it appeals to many people. The chat room activities appeal to the people as it overcomes geographical boundaries and provides scope for communication.
In a survey of 17,000 teenagers, six percent meet the standards for being addicted. The teenagers said that they use the Internet and specifically chat rooms as a way to escape negative feelings. Students are most susceptible to becoming addicted because of their stresses and as a teenager all the other life problems that they can have. This can become alarming to parents as they try to raise their teenagers. Making sure you monitor your teenagers on-line no matter what they do will help prevent addictions from becoming a problem. If your teenager is addicted to chat rooms there are books to help overcome the addiction and even counseling.
To avoid the addictive behaviors that often occur with frequent online chat you may consider some or all of the following instructions.
Step 1
Determine weather you have a problem. Ask yourself the following questions: Have I ever had the feeling that I chat too much? Do I often spend longer chatting than I would like to? Have I ever wanted to cut back or stop chatting? Have I ever failed to quit chatting? Do I actively avoid or miss out on doing other fun things because I am chatting? Does chatting often interfere with my schedule or keep me up later than I'd like to be? Do I secretly chat at work? Do I become antsy or feel anxiety when I am not able to chat?
Step 2
Before changing anything, try to map your habit by keeping a log. (If you always chat on the same computer this should be easy.) Write down the date and time time spent chatting or when you have the urge to chat. Next to that, note where you are at, how you feel, and/or what is going on upon the start your chat. (Are you avoiding work or chores? Are you bored and filling time? Are you tired? Hungry? Feeling lonely?) When you have collected enough data in your log (could be a few days, a week, or more) move on to the next step.
Step 3
Look for patterns in your chat habit: Time of day or night, how you feel, where you are at, what you are doing before, what you have planned during, or after your chat. These are triggers, avoid them or ...
Step 4
Plan pleasurable alternative activities to do when know triggers will arise. Go out with friends, determine a place or activity that will allow you to meet people out in the real world. The key here is that the activity be fun and preferably one that allows you to meet new people someplace other than online. Have a back up plan for unexpected times when the urge hits. Movies to watch, phone calls to friends or your mother. Step 5
Schedule appropriate times to chat and stick to a preplanned duration of time spent chatting. No more than 2 hours of chat at a time. Work hard not to fall into the trap of chatting too long. If you meet someone on line, move the conversation to the phone or a cafe - if it is too forward for them lose them, they are probably chat addicts themselves. Step 6
Review your successes! Pat yourself on the back! Feel good about all the time you have freed for yourself. Remind yourself that you aren't wasting your time with fakers and flakes. You are now meeting people face to face - much more honest and efficient.
Last edited by Ajay on Sat Jul 17, 2010 1:40 pm; edited 5 times in total | |
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GoodPayan
Posts : 167 Points : 235 Join date : 2010-06-30 Age : 39 Location : Chennai
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Angel
Posts : 841 Points : 2034 Join date : 2010-05-08
| Subject: Re: Are you addicted to online chatting? Sat Jul 17, 2010 10:21 am | |
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NaviNesh
Posts : 249 Points : 572 Join date : 2010-05-24 Age : 35 Location : The Little World Of Cuties
| Subject: Re: Are you addicted to online chatting? Sat Jul 17, 2010 11:05 pm | |
| gud 1 ajay....thx for sharing.. | |
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