I recently went on vacation and the house I stayed at had very unreliable Internet and phone service. For 6 days, I was basically unable to receive any e-mail, phone calls, text messages, or go online to browse…and to my surprise, I loved being disconnected! Not only was it really refreshing to be able to recharge, but I was shocked to realize how easy it is to step away from the world for a while–something that I normally find completely impossible to do.
Why? As a writer, my work requires me to be on a computer for hours at a time. But I have to admit even when I'm not on the job, I still can't go very long without tweeting, writing an email or Googling something on my iPhone. That's why I actually wasn't at all surprised to learn that the updated version of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders has included Internet addiction on their official list of illnesses–which means, yes, it's a real thing!
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Just like any other addiction, Internet addiction involves an obsession with the "substance" (the internet), withdrawal when it's unavailable, and a loss of other interests, along with several other symptoms. But while researchers might have concluded that this is a real mental health disorder, they aren't as sure about the most effective way to treat it, other than to try and help individuals manage their Internet use.
Personally, I think balance is key when it comes to all things technology. These days, it's easy to stay connected or "logged on" 24/7…but it's also really unhealthy. Everyone has to draw a line somewhere, whether it's vowing to turn your phone off after a certain time or to not check your work emails once you get home. For parents, it's especially important for them to establish rules for their children. It's a real problem if they don't–after all, kids should not be collapsing because they've played video games for 4 days!
It's definitely not easy to cut back on your online time–especially for people like me, who like to stay updated on everything all the time–but as I learned during my basically forced vacation isolation, taking a break is not only okay, it's necessary.
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