Are bloggers addicted to the internet?

What about bloggers then Doc? Do we fit your tick box? Are we 'addicted' to the internet?

The story was covered in loads of papers, including The Guardian, and according to Dr Block, we need to officially recognise we're clinically disordered.

I'm pretty open-minded and like having a look at what's going on in the world. But it's this point about a psychiatrist saying this and that about the way we do things, or what we say, and we all go "wow." That really gets on my nerves. Why d'you need a psychiatrist to point out the bleedin' obvious, i.e. you might be on the internet too long? There's nothing psychiatric about that.

Now, here's a little test for all you psychiatrists out there. By the way, I'm not assuming you're going to read this blog, but there might come a day when you can laugh at yourself. I hope I'm around to see it.

If you answer 'yes' to five or more of these questions, you may have a psychiatric thingy that needs a name... All ideas for a name in an email to howdoyouknowthatthen@gmail.com


· Do you feel preoccupied with other people's behaviour? (Think about your practice or your next appointment.)

· Do you need increasing amounts of time to convince your patient of their illness to achieve satisfaction?

· Have you repeatedly made unsuccessful efforts to control, cut back or stop thinking of making up new disorders?

· Do you feel restless, moody, depressed, or irritable when attempting to cut down or stop thinking of making up new disorders?

· Do you ponder on other people's behaviour longer than originally intended?

· Have you jeopardised or risked the loss of a significant relationship, job, educational or career opportunity because of thinking of new disorders no one else has thought of?

· Have you lied to family members, a colleague or others to conceal the extent of your involvement with other people's behaviour?

· Do you tell other people they're ill to escape from your own problems (eg, feelings of helplessness, guilt, anxiety, depression)?

Source: Centre for the Resolution of Addiction to Psychiatry (CRAP)