What are the Signs of Addiction to Social Networking Sites?

There are clues that you’re addicted to social networking sites. The first and most obvious sign is that you can’t function in your everyday life without them. If you can’t last a half hour without checking your Facebook page or responding via Twitter, then you know you’ve got a problem. Since this addiction is a new phenomenon, we need to solve it with the latest treatment approaches like the one offered at JFlowersHealth. Now, you know you are addicted to social networking sites if you are experiencing the following things:

Lose sleep over the site

Staying up all night (or the better part of it), trying to connect and write your most clever thoughts on your Wall, will really eat into your energy level. You’ll find yourself dragging through the next day, unable to concentrate on whatever it is you’re supposed to be doing, not a good thing, and certainly not conducive to overall mental and/or physical well-being.

Spend more than an hour a day on Facebook

The compulsion to be on the site for hours on end is just that: compulsive behavior. You shouldn’t need to be on the site for more than 30 minutes or one hour at max.

Become obsessed with old loves

While it’s natural to wonder whatever happened to your old flame from high school or college, when you start trying to dig up and possibly rekindle old loves, you may wind up in addiction territory. First of all, it’s easy to reminisce with someone who’s not face-to-face. As with all Internet communication, it’s just too easy to let slip some inadvertent (and inappropriate) comments about the state of your life right now, how miserable or lonely your marriage or current relationship is, pining over old times, wondering what if, and so on. Don’t think that all of this stays private. Many a marriage (and relationship) has ended as a result of such communication getting back to the other party.

Ignore work in favor of Facebook

Sneaking onto your Facebook home page while you’re supposed to be working will sooner or later land you in hot water. Not only are you not paying attention to work you’re supposed to be doing, you’re being a thief with time. That’s what happens with addictions: Users become obsessed with the behavior to the exclusion of all else.

The thought of getting off Facebook leaves you in a cold sweat

If it was alcohol or drugs, suddenly quitting would soon result in withdrawal symptoms, including a cold sweat. It’s the same thing with stopping Facebook addiction cold turkey. Experts say that you should try to stay off your social networking site of choice for a single day. If you become stressed out, anxious, or depressed, you should get some professional help. You very well may be addicted.

Social networking is a great concept and is fine in moderation. Just be sure to use your time productively, set limits, reconnect with family and friends in real-time, and be alert to signs that you’re stepping over the line from casual use to addiction.