Ask the Experts

Back Off, Internet: How to Keep Your Online Agitation Down

“When I was diagnosed, later in life, I was told that I had ADHD with agitation. My home computer — particularly the Internet — kept my agitation ramped up so high that I was overwhelmed by it. What can I do?”

Woman on the internet getting agitated by what she's reading
business woman at work in the office with computer

Whether it’s a cute cat video or a devastating news report, the blinking lights of the Internet hijack our attention and our emotions. To ignore the lure of the Internet can be difficult; most ADHD adults need to get online in everyday life.

See whether reducing online usage correlates with lower anxiety. Try alternating days or nights of being online: Monday online, Tuesday offline, and so on. Or schedule an internet-free weekend. Note whether your feel calmer. Are things running more smoothly in the household? You might benefit from a permanent Internet vacation.