I think it exacerbates depression.
I was reading this
post--Deb is an awesome writer!--and it got me to thinking. Not just about the woman that still loves her ex, even though she half-heartedly denies it, but about the internet and how it can make depression worse.
My conclusion: Depression and excessive computer usage is
Not a Good Combination. When people start isolating themselves because of depression, they turn to other outlets to fulfill their social needs. Especially chat rooms. Hell, even WoW (
and my former outlet for fun and social events---play by email roleplaying) can seemingly fill the need.
I say seemingly because an online life---is ultimately empty. At the end of the day, there will be nothing to show for it. Sure, people do fall in love and get married, form some friendships for life, but 99% of cyber life is unreal. It's hard to connect to reality when someone is lost in the "Matrix". It's easy to feel safe and secure...and to think that the basic human need for like-minded company is being met. It's easy to pretend that online friends are real friends. Online, you can be and say what you want. No worrying over looks.
It's seductive, the online life. It really is. But, taken to extremes and it is the
only social outlet a person has, it is unhealthy because it distorts what life is about. Growing. Learning. Physical contact with other--hugging, sharing a beer or a tear. The kind of living one can only share in close proximity.
I can say all this because I was afraid to "live life" out loud. I lived my life exclusively for my online time for a long period of time. Yes, maybe that made me what some would call a loser. But, I ripped that capital L from my forehead, starting talking to others, and now I see that real life is so much more precious than my internet identity.
Live and love life, I say.
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