Disconnected: Technology Addiction & the Search for Authenticity in Virtual Life

"If I disconnect from my virtual life, will I connect more with my REAL one?" If your life was spinning out of control, would you take the leap and disconnect? I was faced with that challenge in 2010, while dealing with a deep depression. How much was my online habit contributing to the state of my downtrodden being? To find out, I disconnected, and catalogued my journey in longhand, with paper and pen. What I discovered was a mosaic of intertwined real and virtual lives, experiences that many of us have fashioned. It can have a devastating effect, leaving us distracted, irritated, and feeling overwhelmed. Sometimes, it can even contribute to such intense anxiety that a person can exacerbate health problems and end up on the brink of mental collapse. This book describes, day by day, my "rehab" experience as I disengaged from the trappings of modern connected life - while continuing to live within its environment, constantly reminded of its presence. Along the way, I found out how to live a more authentic life by integrating lessons from philosophers, psychologists, mystics, technology experts, journalists and friends - and new guidelines for healthy hybrid living.