Internet Addiction Support Group

This community is for people who believe they are addicted to the Internet and would like support. Internet addiction disorder (IAD) is a theorized disorder coined by Ivan Goldberg, M.D., in 1997. It is compared to pathological gambling. Whether the Internet is causing significant stress and impairment in your life, or you would like to reduce your usage of the Internet,...

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deleted_user 11/27/2007

Okay, here's my story and it's kind of a bizarre one... when I was about 15 I got aol when it first came out and became addicted to chat rooms. My parents were so strict about no dating in high school so I went online for relationships. I started chatting to a 30 year old guy who said he was 23. He sent me a picture from years ago and he looked good. I was already head over heels for him at this point. We talked for hours every day after school for about 2 years and I was addicted to him. So I let it slide when he told me he lied about his age, etc. and sent me a normal pic.
I eventually met him when I was about 18 and wasn't attracted to him. It really hit me in person how old he was! And there is just no chemistry for me. But I couldn't stop talking to him again for very long.
I'm 27 now and although we don't talk more than once a week, I STILL talk to him! I feel like he is a crutch for me, and a big secret. People know I have a friend named Doug but they don't know how we met etc! And they never see him because I never do either! It's just a phone and online relationship, I don't want it to be more. I know I have to stop talking to him forever but I have so much trouble with it! He gets so hurt. And I need to tell people the truth about him somehow so this "secret" doesn't have a lot power over me. Help?

deleted_user 12/06/2007

i would just tell him the truth. and if he gets hurt...he'll get over it. you have to do whats best for you.

deleted_user 12/15/2007

Internet relationships, well, bad thing. Some people get so attached to others when it comes to online dating. If the person you are so attached to leaves, it all goes down hill from there. Not a good idea.

BSPUNKY 12/16/2007

NOT A GOOD IDEA, CUZ SOMETIME THEY ARE NOT WHO THEY REALLY ARE. THAT'S MY OPITION ONLINE RELATIONSHIP.

deleted_user 12/17/2007

thanks for your comments. I've since stopped talking to the guy and feel kind of stupid about the whole thing. But I guess you need to make mistakes sometimes to learn from them

deleted_user 01/13/2008

Thats the danger of a relationship behind a keyboard. You never truly know who is at the other end. The sick paedophiles hang out in chat rooms for kids to come along then pretend they are also a kid where infact there a 65 year old pervert getting off on all the kiddies pictures they post on my space , face book ect ect ect.
I have heaps of friends online but I for one wouldnt look towards the net for a permanent relationship thats what going out and socializing is for.

deleted_user 01/23/2008

thanks... yeah it's been a mistake, my parents were so busy when I was younger and my internet activity wasn't really monitored. That's how it started then it kind of got out of control. A lot of people I know are on myspace and things like that, but I've had such a negative experience online and I don't want to get addicted or another problem, so I haven't joined.

AndyJ 01/28/2008

Vanessa, thanks for sharing this experience. We all have experiences that are painful and maybe embarrassing - but that's how we learn!

deleted_user 06/04/2008

Lord knows I know what you are going through. Ive not been talking to anyone for 10 years or anything like that but I can easily get there, with the track Im on now. But the thing is with me is that I have more than one and if they do something that pisses me off I can cut the off quickly but my problem is I keep getting more I just droped one about 2 weeks ago and I go a new one just last week. But there is only one that has a hold on me Ive known him for almost a year now I dont talk to him much but I think about him all the time. I could sit here and type all these wonderful things I think u should do to get out of this thing but I would be fooling myself because I know alot of stuff but Im not doing it myself. I guess I responded to this post because I just felt at peace that there IS someone out there like me and that is going through some of the same things. Thank you for sharing your story, you just made this day a little bit better for me and gave me some strength.

deleted_user 06/06/2008

It's clearly a "fantasy relationship" which outlasted the reality of meeting in person. Just as you said it sounds like you are "addicted" to the fantasy of who you wanted to think this guy is & thus letting go of that fantasy that you've built up is going to be difficult.

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