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A comment on How to curb Internet addiction?. Parent comment

Re:How to curb Internet addiction? by andrewf on Monday November 09, 2009 @08:37AM (#930858)
As I understand it, people with OCD are checking to subdue an anxiety. They fear that the oven is still on and can't convince themselves otherwise - but checking it over and over helps.

Repetitive Facebook checking is supposedly more like an addiction - people are chasing the endorphin rush that comes with finding a new message (or winning at the table) rather than trying to chase away anxiety.

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Re:How to curb Internet addiction? by turtle4 on Monday November 09, 2009 @10:23AM (#931034)
From people I've observed, I would say that at least half are attempting to subdue the anxiety that they are somehow missing out on something that is going on. As if they couldn't be the 10th person to accept a party invite, or couldn't bear to not be the first to know that somebody is pregnant or getting married or breaking up, or whatever. I think the OCD comparison is accurate. Not for everyone, but for a substantial subset.
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