As as psychologist and an avid fan of both blogging and reading blogs, I think it is important to address the psychological challenges bloggers can face. All is not always rosy in Blogger Land. Believe it or not, it is possible to become addicted to this social medium. In this article I examine some of the myths, behaviors, personality characteristics, and red flags of a blogging addiction.
Here are some common myths about bloggers and addiction.
- I can’t be addicted to blogging because it isn’t a mind-altering chemical.
- I am employed, and only blog when I am not busy with my job, although I might blog at work if I have time.
- I only blog on important topics - well, important topics to me.
- I only blog to make a difference in people’s lives. If I don’t do it, who will?
- I can stop blogging anytime I want. I just don’t want to stop. This is not hurting me or anyone else.
- I am not addicted, that is a term for alcoholics and substance abusers - coke heads, meth addicts. Blogging isn’t a drug.
- I still go to work every day and it doesn’t count if I work on my blog(s) during my downtime or check the website(s) for comments.
- I hardly ever use a sick day to stay home and blog or to catch up on errands that didn’t get completed because of blogging.
Do you recognize yourself in any of those?
There are also some behaviors that have been identified as common in addictive personalities. With respect to blogging, these include:
- Denying there is an issue with blogging. Denial is the ability to overlook negative consequences so as to be able to justify continuing to engage in a behavior. There might be an awareness that the blogging is creating turmoil, but the desire to blog is stronger than the pressure to stop. Loss of control, being unable to stop the behavior, and continuing to engage in the behavior regardless of adverse consequences are some of the most definitive features of addiction.
- Lying about the time spent engaged in “blogging behaviors.”
- Losing track of time and being late for events, appointments, and celebrations because of blogging.
- Changes in sleep habits and patterns because of blogging or needing to respond to comments. Getting up in the middle or the night or very early before going to work to check the blog, write the blog, or make comments.
- Feeling guilty or confused about the effect blogging is having on your life.
- Disbelief that it is possible to be addicted to blogging.
- Financial problems due to blogging—such as not paying bills on time because of being consumed by blogging.
Not all of these may apply, but if more than two describe you and your current blogging lifestyle it could be a red flag that blogging is impacting your life in a negative manner.
Article comments
1 - Joanne Huspek
Oh, my! We've all got a problem, don't we?
2 - Irene Wagner
This isn't likely to be a very popular article, given the audience, but I took it to heart.
-Have I been message boarding today because I'm responding to something I feel passionately about?
-Is Saturday laundry day?
Um. Yes. And yes.
3 - Dr. Juliann Mitchell, PhD
Joanne and Irene,
Thanks for commenting. It's fine if it isn't too popular. Just had the thoughts rattling around in my brain and decide to put it to paper, well put it to the computer screen. I myself am a big fan of chocolate and yes I have been known to eat chocolate while I blog.
4 - Stephanie
I have friends that have so many blogs and are members of twitter and gather and this and that. Basically, I've been replaced by online buddies. It's sad.
5 - homemaking@eastex.net
Thanks for sharing this. I'm afraid I'm guilty of some of these problems. How silly too! What is your solution or are you just wanting to discuss the fact that there is a problem. I'm aiming for three posts a week or less. If it's worth writing, I'll write, but I don't want it to replace life or friends.:o)
6 - Dave
I really need some help and this article is the only thing I have found on the interent that isn't written by bloggers that think everything is "ok".
I am not a blogger, I have tried but I work. My girlfriend of almost 2 years however does. She runs a great blog but for a long long time I have been convinced she as a clinical addiction to it. She answers Yes to almost everything you write about except where you talk about taking time off work. The thing is her blog has consumed her to the point where she hasn't worked for 2 years and refuses to see the harm this is doing to me and others.
We are in financial strain and my whole wage goes into supporting us, but she feels anytime away from her blog is worthless. Everything we do has a sideline to being for her blog. The outings, the food, the birthdays.
Everytime I approach it and make any sort of criticism we have a full blown arguement. She now says she has to put all her time into her blog to try and monetise it to make money. She wanted a Vintage shop so I bought what she wanted and now that is set up she is still not happy.
I think this type of addiction is dangerous, because it is not down to something that we can catagoically say is "wrong". It has good intentions but it has just gone too far and there is no support for it.
Can you help? I don't want to destroy her world but it is destroying me and our relationship.
7 - Dr Dreadful
I'm not speaking as an expert, Dave, but any behaviour can become addictive. Just because there's no documented medical condition called "blogging addiction" doesn't mean there's nothing seriously wrong.
It seems to me that perhaps there is something in your girlfriend's life that she is trying to avoid confronting. If it wasn't blogging, she would find something else that consumed all her time and energy.
Her talk about monetising her blog sounds like an excuse, especially if the promised returns haven't materialised.
I strongly suggest you talk to her about counseling - for both of you. (By financially supporting her you are enabling the addiction, which is also a behaviour that needs to be addressed.) Broach the subject in a way that makes it clear you want to do this because you love her and are concerned about her. If she won't go for it, sadly you are going to need to think about whether, for your own health and sanity, it might be best for you to walk away from the relationship.