Facebook a horrible addiction

So how much can internet really affect us? I am one of the millions that is addicted to face book. It is as if I can't get enough of it. As a college student and a mother of three, I try to ground myself from it so that I can study for exams or spend time with the kids. But I find myself signing into facebook sometimes more than 20 times a day just to see what people are saying. This is rediculous. I think that there is no way that this is healthy and there are of course better things that I can be doing. Maybe if I am able to completly get off of face book then I would get an A on some of my tests or I could spend another 5 or ten minutes shooting the breeze with the ones that really care about me ( my family). It is like facebook is a drug and I have to have it, but yet I know better.
Some people are able to use facebooks without becomeing obssessed with it. But for me, it is like a way of escaping from the real world and that is where the problem lies.
So why did I even start using facebook? Because I thought it would be a great way to keep in touch with family after moving away. I think yea I do get to communicate with them easier. I just post what I want to be known and then everyone replies. That is easier than calling up everyone individually. But facebook has made family impersonal. Nobody calls anymore and everyone knows everything. Sometimes it is just a big soap opera. Maybe it would be better to escape facebook and go back to life.
Today, I had one hour inbetween classes. The kids were all at school. Me and my husband were home and he was fixing lunch. Instead of being in the kitchen helping, I was on the computer. It is ridiculous. I found this article that stated the 5 signs of a face book addiction. http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/04/23/ep.facebook.addict/index.html
1. You lose sleep over Facebook
I don't loose sleep over it but it is one of the first things I do in the morning. I have even burnt my families breakfast because I was on facebook. This is pittiful.
2. You spend more than an hour a day on Facebook
I haven't actually calculated the hours, but it is way too many!
3. You become obsessed with old loves
This one I am not a victim of, but I can imagine that facebook has killed many marriges.
4. You ignore work in favor of Facebook
It is easier for me to be on facebook then to do the dishes or to look up some information for my research assignment.
5. The thought of getting off Facebook leaves you in a cold sweat
It seems like everytime I try to restrict myself from facebook, I am on it more than I was before.
It is nice to know that I am not alone in this addiction.....here are more articles.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tara-stiles/help-im-addicted-to-faceb_b_166726.html
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/256114/my_name_is_lori_i_am_addicted_to_facebook.html
http://www.experienceproject.com/groups/Am-Addicted-To-Facebook/45835
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23576325-the-women-addicted-to-facebook-friendships.do
http://sg.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20091021033933AAxBc4y
http://www.techzoomin.com/how-to-know-you-are-addicted-to-facebook/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztO-EoU-uGM