I think the majority of us are addicted to the internet, but we are so saturated with the internet we don't notice it. Like America's addiction to caffeine, it's such a staple of our diet (soda, chocolate, coffee, various others) that we only get headaches when we're outside our normal environment.

But, like any early addictions (the internet's not been around for very long) it will usually be easy to end the cycle and move on to something else, outdoors exploring, reading a book, or back to our old vice, Television.

My name is roclvpt and I'm an addicted. Maybe we can form some sort of Internet Anonymous group to help people. But on a serious note, I have noticed that I am getting addicted to the internet especially Mahalo, it’s just that there are so much interesting things you can learn and a wealth of knowledge you can share.

I would reduce the time I spend on the computer and occupy my time with other social activities that I have given up to surf the internet. Like sleep. Since I have been on Mahalo I have been sleeping less and answering questions more, now this is all new to me I only joined less that a month and my internet usage has doubled. So I would not consider myself an addict yet. When I start managing a couple pages and start calling in sick to update my pages then and only then I think I would seek professional help.

I've adapted these questions from Alcoholics Anonymous but they are good questions to ask if you think you are suffering from any addiction (I replaced "drunk" with "stuck" to mean any time you stay on the internet for longer than you intended:

1 - Have you ever decided to stop the internet for a week or so, but only lasted for a couple of days?

2 - Do you wish people would mind their own business about your use-- stop telling you what to do?

3 - Have you ever switched from one kind of website to another in the hope that this would keep you from getting on the internet?

4 - Have you a craving to get on the internet upon awakening during the past year?

5 - Do you envy people who can the internet without getting into trouble?
this case, trouble can mean not getting off the internet at a time that you need to to get other things done, or it could be more specific (like for me, if I stay on too long my eyes really start to hurt)

6 - Have you had problems connected with internet during the past year?

7 - Has your use caused trouble at home?

8 - you ever feel you have to sign on while out with friends?

9 - Do you tell yourself you can stop the internet any time you want to, even though you keep getting stuck when you don't mean to?

10 - Have you missed days of work or school because of the internet?

11 - Do you have "blackouts"?
could think of a "blackout" as a period of time spent on the internet without being aware that that's what you're doing, like being on auto-pilot. If you ever snap out of it and think to yourself "wow, I've been on the computer this whole time." or its equivalent, you've had a "blackout"

12 - Have you ever felt that your life would be better if you did not the internet?

Basically, its an addiction if it gets in the way of your life and you want to stop but still can't. The internet has become a necessity. If you think you're addicted, try only use it for things that are necessary for work or for school.

At first, you'll need to find other activities to occupy your time, but you'll find that your relationships will get better.

Watch the documentary "No Impact Man" for inspiration.

I have always known I was addicted to the Internet. I was recently placed on medicine and the first side effect that I felt was a loss of interest in the Internet. Before I would have to make myself get offline and now I have to make myself go onto the Internet. Very strange and I can not say I am exactly happy about it.. because I might have been addicted to it. but I enjoyed every second of it. Since I can't find that the Internet is a mind changing addiction to have, I do not think it should have been taken away like a chemical addiction should.