"It's not like he's getting drunk and driving," a woman said about her husband.
"Does he text and talk on the cell while driving?" I asked
She nodded. "Do you think it would make a difference to those he's putting in danger if they were harmed because of drunkenness or distraction?"
After spending the first half of my life as an addict, and the last half in recovery and working with others, I've realized that there are some common traits shared by all types of addicts. They excuse their behavior by saying that they never felt like they fit in, that they are lonely even when with others or that no one really cared about them. Through their actions, however, they pull further and further away from the world and humanity. They use their addictions as an escape from the reality that is their lives.
Then what of electronic addicts? While the majority of people use electronic devices to open the world to them, the addict's world gets smaller and smaller until it is contained in various-sized boxes. Fear of reality drives them further in until it becomes difficult to communicate face-to-face. They can text, e-mail, Facebook, tweet and use any number of other electronic methods because it removes the emotion from interaction. They have escaped into a virtual world with the mistaken belief that it's a safe place, but this world becomes a prison.
If you wonder where you stand electronically, complete the following exercise:
Choose a day when you have no commitments, and turn off your computer, cellphone, and all other electronic devices that you normally use. See how your day goes. Are you anxious? Do struggle through the hours? Do you find an excuse to pick up your cell or log onto your laptop? These are questions only you can answer.
If you think you have a problem, seek help.
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Barb Rogers, author of "Keep It Simple & Sane; Freeing Yourself From Addictive Thinking," can be contacted at www.barbrogersinspirations.com