Addiction

Hello, my name is Sharon, and I am a Facebookaholic.

Okay, so I'm not as bad as a lot of people. I do, however, spend many hours a week (and sometimes a day!) on Facebook. Sometimes I use it for good, like staying connected with people. Sometimes I use it for ill, like procrastinating on doing my organic chemistry homework...to the point where it is midnight and I am exhausted and end up not doing it...then regretting it the next morning when I barely understand what my professor is talking about. Then I end up boycotting Facebook by the end of the semester and cramming all my homework into an all nighter...well, you get the picture.

What is it about computers, or music, or books (another serious addiction!), that make us forget our obligations and responsibilities? I consider myself a good person. I'm not addicted to the usual substances that get abused. I don't swear (much). Is addiction the same as obsession? I don't think so. I would say I'm addicted to facebook, but when I'm not on it, I don't think about it all the time (i.e. "omg I HAVE to find a computer so I can harvest my wheat on Farmville!"). But when I AM on the computer, I find myself snapping at my kids and ignoring my husband. And procrastinating on my homework.

So what is the solution? I don't know. It is a nice outlet, but at what point does it become unhealthy? I guess it's different for everyone. For me, I'm on the verge. So for all my Farmville and Frontierville friends, take no offense when I don't respond to your impassioned pleas for dog food and wood shavings for your barber shop. I'm just back to what I'm supposed to be doing with my time. SN2 reactions here I come!