[b]Obsessively checking e-mail. Playing online games for 12 hours or more at a time. Placing more value on chat-room friends than real friends. Neglecting family, work and even personal health and hygiene. These are all symptoms of a new form of addiction that has surfaced only in recent years: computer addiction. In this article, we'll learn about computer addiction, why it's a problem -- and why some doctors disagree about whether it exists at all.[/b] [b] [i]SIGN OF YOU BEING ONE[/i] [/b] [b]Many computer addicts hide their computer use from family and friends. Staying on the computer for much longer than intended, or not noticing the passage of time while using the computer Making conscious efforts to cut back on computer time and repeatedly failing Thinking frequently about the computer when not using it or constantly looking forward to the next opportunity to use it Hiding the extent of computer use from family and friends Using the computer as an escape when feeling depressed or stressed Missing events or opportunities or failing at non-computer-related tasks because of time spent on the computer. This could include poor job performance or missing out on family activities [source: Young]. Continued excessive computer use despite incurring negative consequences, such as marital problems or getting in trouble at work due to computer use[/b] [b][i]THE EFFECTS, BAD EFFECTS![/i][/b] [b]Eventually, excessive computer use can take an emotional toll. The user gradually withdraws into an artificial world. Constant computer gaming can cause someone to place more emotional value on events within the game than things happening in their real lives. Excessive viewing of Internet pornography can warp a person's ideas about sexuality. Someone whose primary friends are screen names in a chat room may have difficulty with face-to-face interpersonal communication. Over the long term, computer addiction can cause physical damage. Using a mouse and keyboard for many hours every day can lead to repetitive stress injuries. Back problems are common among people who spent a lot of time sitting at computer desks. Late-night computer sessions cut into much-needed sleep time. Long-term sleep deprivation causes drowsiness, difficulty concentrating, and depression of the immune system. Someone who spends hours at a computer is obviously not getting any meaningful exercise, so computer addiction can indirectly lead to poor overall physical condition and even obesity. Eventually, the consequences of computer addiction will ripple through the user's life. Late-night use or use at work will affect job performance, which could lead to job loss. As the addiction takes its toll on family members, it can even lead to failed marriages[/b]