Internet separation anxiety
When people say they are feeling homesick, typically it’s one of two things:
- they miss their family, friends and/or pets
- they miss the familiarity of their surroundings
I recently spent three weeks in Europe with my partner. It was a short trip and I didn’t miss my family, friends or pets… and I didn’t feel alienated by the unfamiliar surroundings, in fact I fit right in and can’t wait to get back. But towards the end I did start to experience a strange sort of homesickness that I can’t think of a good word to describe.
Websickness? Internet separation anxiety?
For the first week in Krakow, we had internet access in our apartment, I spent 30-45 minutes keeping up to date each day, and all was good. But after that we went to Rome where access was decidedly more difficult – and we were way too busy seeing the sights to expend much energy looking for connectivity. Then camping in rural Germany – obviously a wireless-free experience. It was internet cold turkey and I was not coping well!
So what was I missing? The feeling of connectedness with my friends, family and the wider world that I get from Twitter and Facebook and Flickr. Writing on my blogs and getting feedback and comments. The daily routine of checking in on forums like the Aussie Bloggers Forum and the various mailing lists I participate in. Not to mention the 200-odd blogs I regularly read that I was missing out on!
In fact, I think that if I just had one of those things – maybe a half hour email check each day or if Twitter actually worked reliably over SMS – I wouldn’t mind the absence of the others. But taking away the whole internet was too much in one hit.
Does this mean I live online? How do you cope with extended periods without internet?
I have to admit that I would feel odd after a few days. A whole world that didn’t really exist for my first 45 years, making a big impression now. I think that your experience is very normal.
I think too long without the internet I would start to feel disconnected. But if it’s a shortish time then I actually feel quite liberated and free.
I’m SO with you on this. Recently suffered a bout myself. I felt completely disconnected.
And I’ve just read on AllForWomen that you’re in hospital – all the best for a speedy recovery!
CB
Hey Cellobella – got a case of mistaken goat identity – there’s actually two of us goatladies, and we’ve both being using the name for aaaaages but never came across each other until quite recently. I’m in Perth…
How do I cope without internet? I don’t. Simple as that.
Actually, I don’t mind if we’re away for a few days or even a week but beyond that I find it really hard/boring.
I’m actually trying to wean myself away from the internet a bit. My library books are stacking up alarmingly. I’ve declared Sundays as computer free days. Last Sunday was the first one, it wasn’t too bad.
I am an internet addict and do not cope well away from it. In Japan, it wasn`t a problem because I checked my email and fav blogs and own blog etc via my mobile but more than a couple of days then I would be shouting to my partner to get me to an internet cafe, pronto!
In fact, the thing I find most stressful about moving is that Internet is always down for a couple of days!
Like I said, I am definitely an addict!
Three weeks is not that much, and you were traveling mostly, not like staying in one place and getting homesick, you had no time for that. Give it at least two months and then we’ll talk about it.
Now, the problem is not in getting “home-internet-sick”, the problem is that you spend too much time online and when you don’t you just feel that lack and that’s disturbing you. I suggest you stick to the essentials, like emailing, some networking and other favorite or necessary stuff, forget about the rest!
I suffered from this badly even when not away on holidays LOL but I had to come to terms with my addiction …
I felt disconnected too even when away for a day or two and I would rush in the door to check .My husband hated it and hardly uses the internet -he doesn’t undertsand.
I still crave my ‘cyber world’ but for the sake of my family I had to make a hard choice.
‘Young families are a passing moment never to be recovered’. I didn’t want my toddlers’ lives to evaporate before me as they played and talked to my back.
I know I would feel just like you….even when i can’t sleeo I have to check what is happening in the big wide world….luckily my girls have grown so am not feeling too guilty about being on-line so much…have a good week…