District Mental Health Program - Internet Addiction

Internet Addiction Internet addiction—sometimes called compulsive computer use, pathological internet use, and internet dependence—is not yet listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) or ICD-11. Although internet addiction is slowly increasing. In simple terms, internet addiction is compulsive or frequent activity on the internet despite harmful consequences. These people are staying up all night and sleeping through their alarms. They’re missing school or work, neglecting their relationships, and disregarding other responsibilities like taking a shower or academic. When it comes to internet addiction (and other types of addiction), there are both short-term and long-term effects, of which can prove harmful to the individual. Short-term effects include: Incomplete tasks Neglected responsibilities Weight loss or gain Backache Neck pain An individual with internet addiction might experience the above symptoms after only several sessions on the internet. Long-term side effects include: Carpal tunnel syndrome Vision problems Damaged relationships Loss of a job Financial strain As with most addiction disorders, there isn’t always a clear cause of internet addiction. However, there are likely multiple factors that contribute to the development of this disorder, some of which are rooted in nature and others that are rooted in nurture. It is the combination of genetics, neurodevelopmntal, environmental, social and family background play a crucial role in development of this disorder Treatment The first step in seeking treatment for internet addiction is recognizing that you have a problem. Hopefully, you have a better understanding of what this addiction entails after reading the symptoms listed above, and you can distinguish healthy internet habits from unhealthy internet habits. Therapy: Different types of therapy can help with internet addiction but cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a common approach. CBT focuses on helping individuals to acknowledge and change unhelpful thinking patterns as well as unhelpful behavioral patterns. Medication: Some professionals insist that medications can help treat internet addiction—at least in instances where the individual is suffering with an underlying illness like depression or anxiety. These professionals believe that if the depression, anxiety, or other illness is dealt with, the internet addiction will resolve as well. In addition, research has shown that antidepressants as well as anti-anxiety medication do lead to decreased internet use.