COMPUTER USE ADDICTION AND WITHDRAWAL SYNDROMES:
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
By
Adetutu Ijose
SMASHWORDS EDITION
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PUBLISHED BY:
Adetutu Ijose on Smashwords
Computer Use Addiction and Withdrawal Syndromes
What You Need to Know
Copyright © 2011 by Adetutu Ijose
Smashwords Edition License Notes
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COMPUTER USE ADDICTION AND WITHDRAWAL SYNDROMES:
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
The advice given in Computer Use Addiction and Withdrawal Syndromes is based on an understanding of the effects of computer use on human behavior gained when I was forced to accept the fact that computer use hurts as a consequence of suffering life threatening consequences of long term computer use the doctors could neither understand, diagnose or treat.
I was forced to go to the human computer user manual we call the Bible where with prayer and consistent study, I began to understand the human code of existence, its violations inherent in computer use and the various measures put in place by our maker before hand to which we need to comply in order to minimize the effects of these violations and avoid devastating consequences.
These understandings are documented in my various books available at amazon.com and other online stores. I will advise you to get copies of them to increase your understanding of the issues we will be discussing in this book. A compete list and Information on how to get your copy is provided at the end of this book under “ Note to the Reader”.
I have applied these understandings to the issue of the compulsive use of computers that is now the norm in our society and the withdrawal syndrome that shows up when this phenomenon takes control of our lives as well as the health and behavioral hazards in these issues.
Please note that the term computer incorporates both the desktop and laptop and other devices not normally considered as computers but which are actually mini and or microcomputers such as cell phones, ipads, ipods, video games and so on.
This book is informational and is a guide that contains both advice and instructions. It is essential that you read the entire book carefully and that any decision you make be discussed with your physician.
This book is suitable for all ages and consequently, if you are a teenager reading this book please discuss whatever decisions you arrive at with your parents as well as school authorities or any other person of authority in your life before proceeding.
If you are reading this book as a parent or guardian, please take time to discuss with your child and get their perspective on things. This will go a long way in helping them establish the necessary controls to prevent self-destructive addiction. Also discuss with your child’s physician and school authorities to get their perspective on your child’s behavioral pattern.
As with all other forms of addiction, the addicted person is addicted because they have reached a point where self-monitoring and control is difficult for them to exercise without help. This book seeks to help computer users and those around them identify when this state is reached as well as provide advise on how to avoid reaching that stage.
It also provides suggestions on how to manage and reverse the situation. Please note that the result will vary with each individual based on a vast array of issues including a person’s perseverance and persistence in carrying out suggested practical lifestyle changes and other advises provided.
This book does not replace the advice or service of your doctor who knows you personally as results in the practice of the various suggestion contained therein may vary in individual situations.
If you are a teenager, this book is not meant to replace the advice of parents or the service of a health care provider who knows you personally. An essential element of taking responsibility for your life and health is having a good relationship with your parents and other persons in authority over you.
If you are a parent, having regular conversations with your teenager, giving advise and being on top of whatever is going on around them is important as well as getting them regular checkups and working in partnership with medical professionals and counselors.
If you or if you are a parent, your child is under treatment for any computer-related behavioral disorder or if you are an adult and suspect you might need such care, you must discuss any insight you gain from this book with your doctor before starting.
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Table of Contents
Chapter2: The Biochemical Angle
Chapter3: How Addiction Develops
Chapter4: The Withdrawal Syndrome
Chapter5: Solutions, Summary and Conclusion
Note to Doctors – Supplementation
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Chapter 1
Introduction
The computer is a tool developed based on our understanding of the code of our human way of existence and operation.
It was developed in an attempt to make our human activities especially those important for business and commerce easier by assigning some tasks to tools we can control to operate like us thereby conserving human energy, increasing productivity and reducing costs by reducing employee costs.
Over time this tool has found its way into homes and schools and is no longer just a business tool but an everyday activity tool.
Some people now depend on it for leisure, relationships and in fact all forms of communication ceding control of their lives to the computer and its devises.
They no longer control their lives or the computer. But the computer controls them. They have lost control. Unfortunately when one loses control to the computer, it is very difficult to get it back because it is a lifeless tool.
You cannot communicate with it as a human to reason with it in a bid to agree on a compromise that will yield your life back to you.
You can neither fight it nor beat it up to get yourself out of its control.
That is because only living things can communicate in such a way.
In today’s world however many seem to have forgotten this fact and actually deal with computers and computer devices as though they are human that can be reasoned with and so do not control their activities unconsciously expecting the computer to stop them when they are excessive as a parent would.