Study links excessive Internet use to depression

[merrijoy]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35207840/ns/technology_and_science-tech_and_gadgets/?gt1=43001

Thoughts? Seems that a lot of people on message boards I scan talk about having depression or being on anxiety/depression meds. Maybe it is that doctors are more easily diagnosing now than years past?

 

[Maisie]

I think that the Internet can be a form of escapism for people suffering from depression. I don''t know if it causes depression. It didn''t with me.

 

[lyra]

It''s not a well researched article. I mean, is it the same for people (like me) who might spend several hours a day reading actual books? The article talks about **** sites and gambling too. The only **** I look at is jewellery. I certainly don''t gamble. I only belong to this forum. I dunno. Sounds whacky to me. Also, it''s unfair to people who do suffer from clinical depression which may be due to a strong genetic factor or other physiological factor. Are they supposed to avoid their computers now too? Everything in moderation.

I do agree that *some people* will fit the mold described in the article of course.

 

[JulieN]

If you''re less interested in doing what you used to like, it kinda makes sense that you might spend more time on the internet.

Also, depression is way more common than most people think.

 

[Bella_mezzo]

I don''t look at ****, don''t gamble, have lots of hobbies, and am happily married, but PS is a fun and easy hobby I can do at work sometimes

and do at times like these--when I am also reviewing class video of a the class I missed earlier this week when I was sick...

No depression here and no history of clinical depression in my immediate family.

 

[Gailey]

Oh Hell!

So my internet use is what's giving me the blues, and according to the BBC world news today my lifestyle is likely to give me Altzheimer's.

If I wasn't so fond of you all, I'd slit my wrists now and get it over with!

What will it be next? Eating ice cream will give me cavities?????

 

[MissMina]

When I first started posting on a well known auction site I was shocked to find what seemed the majority discussing their use of Prozac. That was in 1996.
Perhaps auctions could be seen as form of gambling but it seemed these folks were firmly ensconced in medicated lives before joining.
I feel that for people who don''t have much chance to interact with the outside world
because of location, age infirmity etc. the internet can ease feelings of isolation and deprssion.

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

I think the key word here is "excessive." Excessive internet usage implies that the person is spending the majority of the day/night online. I consider this to be online doing things like chatting on forums and playing games, etc, not doing work or research. For people who use the internet as a vehicle for escape, I can see how someone might perceive the rate of depression as being higher. But I don''t think the internet is the cause of their depression. I think the condition or predisposition existed before and was then exacerbated by late nights, lack of person-to-person interactions, lack of exercise, and other unhealthy habits that go hand-in-hand with being on the computer for great lengths of time.

 

[Erin]

My sister is definitely a member of this group. She stops taking meds because she feels better and then her only coping skill is being online ALL DAY playing Mafia Wars, downloading music, facebook, YouTube... C''mon - do your dishes. Get out for a little exercise.