Photo credit: nico.cavallotto / Foter / CC BY-NC-ND

Electronic device addiction and video game addiction are a serious problem. It’s not uncommon for people to have at least three electronic devices that have internet access or gaming activities on them. In countries like South Korea, several deaths have been attributed to video game addiction, including the death of infants due to parental neglect. In the U.S. device addiction is a growing problem (check out this article in the New York Times)

If you find yourself obsessed with the internet or video games… here are five signs that it may be a problem:

1) You feel satisfied when you’re online or when you’re playing games, but when you stop you feel anxious, agitated or empty.

2) You think about checking your smart phone, going online or playing video games when you are supposed to be focusing on other things, like work, school activities or socializing (with real humans).

3) You spend more time with your electronic device, computer or game console than do physically hanging out with your friends or family.

4) Your loved ones ask what you spend your time doing, and you lie about it, but inside you know that the deception is to protect your device addiction.

5) You get up in the middle of the night to check your e-mail, online profile or surf the internet because you’re having a hard time sleeping.