Posted on: March 17, 2008

Too Wired?

For some, technology makes living in the moment an insurmountable digital hurdle

By Jake Laub
CTW Features

Does your pocket seem to vibrate even when nobody's calling your phone? Have you ever e-mailed someone in the same house? Would you rather text than talk?

Technology is supposed to aid communication, but technology addiction can mean the opposite. "When your cell phone ear piece becomes a permanent part of your wardrobe, that's a problem," says John O'Neill, director of addictions services for The Menninger Clinic in Houston. "We may be forgetting how to play, have personal connections and use coping skills in face-to-face interactions,"

Can we be addicted to technology? That's debatable, but O'Neill offers these warning signs that may mean you need to reevaluate your gadget use:

You can't leave home without it. Going on vacation means taking four different chargers for all your devices and you can't relax without checking your e-mail.

You spend more time talking on the phone or via e-mail than in person. You would rather call someone on your cell than chat with the people around you. You communicate electronically with people a few steps away.

Your gadgets are more important than what's happening in real life. "Take the example of a father and son at a baseball game," O'Neill says. "A homerun ball heads toward the stands and the father, talking on the cell phone, makes a half-hearted attempt at catching the ball. He does not catch the ball and the son appears dejected. The father never stops his phone call."_

Even after experiencing consequences you continue. Your family's pleas or getting in an accident while on your cell phone don't change your behavior.

But even if you discover you rely too much on your gadgets, there are ways to change, says Hilarie Cash, PhD, co-founder of Internet/Computer Addiction Services.

"It's very difficult to break addictions on your own," she says. "So the first step is bringing people on board, such as a professional counselor or even just friends and family. That holds you accountable."

There are also hardware and software programs to help wean you off technology. Spector Pro, for example, can track how much time you spend on a computer or the Internet and block access at a prescribed time limit.

"The rule of thumb is that you should spend no more than two hours a day [with technology] on activities that are not strictly work related," Cash says. "Understand it's very difficult. Your going to have feelings of loss, and you're going to want someone's help to get through it."