Social phobia and internet addiction

An article I came across the other day there:

http://www.medindia.net/news/Depression-and-Social-Phobia-Fuel-Teen-Internet-Addiction-59145-1.htm

While I do spend an inordinate amount of time on the internet, I wouldn’t go as far as to say that I’m addicted to it. I don’t miss it at all when we go on holiday, and it doesn’t bother me too much if someone else is on the computer when I want to use it. However, I do think that people such as myself who are depressed and have social anxiety are far more likely to develop an addiction to the internet. It provides an environment where you can interact with others in a way which produces little or no anxiety, and in which you can create your own persona. It means that people cannot see you and that you are under less pressure/ have more time to think about what you want to say. You can chat to strangers anxiety-free, and even make friends online.

While I think the internet is mostly a good thing, and that it can certainly be a life-line for the socially phobic, it’s important that we do not overuse it or get carried away, as this could easily lead to addiction.

Exams are finished! =)

My last exam was yesterday, so I can finally relax and get some free time for a few days. Overall, I think (or at least I’m hoping) that I did quite well in my exams. I had mild panic attacks before sitting each one, but I arrived half an hour early, so I had plenty of time to calm myself down. The thing I like about exams is that for once I’m not the only one who is a nervous wreck. I probably always look very strange standing on my own about 5 metres away from everyone, chatting to their friends, but I suppose they are probably too preocupied with the stress of the exam to notice me too much. Although, after the first 10 or 15 minutes of the exam, I become less anxious and manage just to focus on the exam paper and be in my own little world. Just have to wait ’til August for my results (crossing my fingers).

Now that I have more freetime, I’ll try to update more often, and liven my blog up a bit so it’s not just all text.