Internet Addiction

Internet addiction has yet to be classified as a mental health disorder in the APA’s textbook of mental illnesses, the DSMV-IVr, although its inclusion is under consideration for an upcoming edition.

Some specialists consider problematic use of the internet, email or video games a new variety of an existing condition from the compulsive disorders family, while others consider that internet addiction is a unique and novel condition, similar in many ways to gambling addiction.

Whether or not internet addiction gains inclusion into the APA’s textbook, there is no debating that some people have real difficulty managing the amount of time they spend engaged in internet or computer mediated activities, and that a compulsive use of the internet can result in serious real-world problems.

Internet use is considered problematic when:

• A person suffers offline consequences from their online behaviors (social isolation, declining performance at work or on the job, a failure to meet responsibilities due to time spent online, etc.)
• A person loses track of the time they spend online, and is often on the internet for longer than intended
• A person needs to spend ever greater time online to feel sated
• A person feels withdrawal symptoms, such as anxiety or irritability, when they cannot be online

The Signs of Internet Addiction

Some warning signs of an internet addiction can include:

• Thinking about spending time on the internet when offline
• Concealing the extent of your use to others
• Craving the internet when offline
• Using time on the internet as a reward, or to escape from real life
• No longer participating in activities you used to find enjoyable due the amount of time you spend online

People concerned about their reliance on the internet should seek the advice and diagnosis of a professional. Internet addiction self tests are also available, although they should not substitute for professional expertise.

These games create a fantasy world that operates in real time and with real characters. These games are addictive by design, and for some people, the pull of the game-world becomes unhealthy and overwhelming. 

Some elements of these games that lead to increasing time spent online include:

• The need to work with a team, an the desire to meet “responsibilities” in the game
• The desire to accomplish a quest and meet a goal
• The desire to get increased powers and rewards
• The never ending nature of a game that operates in real time
• Feelings of escapism when online, in game

Addicted gamers will play for marathon sessions, neglecting responsibilities and sometimes even neglecting personal care needs, such as bathing, sleeping or eating. In extreme cases, people have died while hunched at their keyboards. Although gaming addiction is infrequently talked about in America, both China and South Korea have called internet and gaming addictions major public health threats.

The internet offers unparalleled access to sexually explicit material - with complete anonymity. This can lead some to compulsive viewing of internet pornography and a loss of control over their actions while online. This loss of control, when coupled with a need for ever increasing intensity of stimulation (tolerance) can lead men and women into behaviors they would not normally engage in.

Some signs of cybersex addiction (or problematic sexual activity online) include:

• Spending a great deal of time each week engaged in sexual activity online
• Suffering real world consequences (marital strife, for example) from online behaviors
• Feeling guilty about sexual activities engaged in while online
• Viewing content online that is illegal or taboo
• Trying and failing to cut back on the amount of time spend engaged in online sexual activities
• Engaging in online sexual behavior while at work
• Others

Interpersonal communication has evolved on the back of changes in internet technology. Only a couple of years ago, very few people engaged in social networking. Now, Facebook and Twitter are normal means of everyday communication.

While many people enjoy social networking as an easy and fun way to communicate beyond an immediate social circle, others become seduced by the temptations and allure of constant communication, and become compulsive users, spending many hours a day checking and rechecking networking accounts.

The symptoms and warning signs of a Facebook or Twitter addiction are similar to those for internet addiction.

Who Is at Greatest Risk of an Internet Addiction?

People who suffer from a primary mental illness, such as depression or anxiety, seem at greatest risk of compulsive internet use. Newly published research out of Asia indicates that kids and teens with ADHD and other behavior disorders may be at an increased risk as well.

Internet Addiction Treatment

Although a person can abstain from alcohol, drugs or gambling, it is now virtually impossible to live and work without accessing computers and the internet. Treatment therefore generally focuses on teaching people to use with moderation and avoid compulsive use.