Internet Addiction

Internet Addiction
Digital Heroin: How Internet is Turning Youths
into Psychotic Junkies

Introduction
• The internet can provide access to some
valuable tools, interesting stories, exciting
games and informative content but, when
used in excess, the internet has the ability to
interfere with work, life, relationships, and
daily routines.

The Internet Can Provide Access To Some
Valuable Tools

Introduction
• Internet Addiction Disorder is a potentially
dangerous condition that affects individuals
who spend large amounts of time online
socializing with friends, playing games,
gambling or just surfing the web despite the
negative consequences.

Introduction
• Learning about the causes and symptoms of
internet addiction can help you to detect a
problem early on and find help.

What is Internet Addiction?
• Internet addiction is described as an
impulse control disorder, which does not
involve use of an intoxicating drug and is
very similar to pathological gambling.
• Some Internet users may develop an emotional
attachment to on-line friends and activities
they create on their computer screens.

Internet addiction is very similar to
pathological gambling

• Internet users may enjoy aspects of the
Internet that allow them to meet, socialize,
and exchange ideas through the use of chat
rooms, social networking websites, or "virtual
communities."
• Other Internet users spend endless hours
researching topics of interest Online or
"blogging".

Internet users may enjoy aspects of the Internet that
allow them to meet, socialize, and exchange ideas
through

• Similar to other addictions, those suffering
from Internet addiction use the virtual
fantasy world to connect with real people
through the Internet, as a substitution for
real-life human connection, which they are
unable to achieve normally.

• Internet addiction is a growing epidemic
characterized by a compulsive desire to
interact online through internet gaming,
gambling, cybersex, social networking or
compulsive surfing of the web. According to
Dr. Kimberly Young, the first psychologist
to document internet addiction, these
disorders are similar to impulse-control
disorders.

Internet addiction is a growing epidemic

Dr. Kimberly Young, the first psychologist to
document internet addiction

Following Symptoms Can Lead To A Diagnosis Of
Internet Addiction Disorder
Meeting five of the following symptoms can
lead to a diagnosis of internet addiction
disorder:
• Feeling preoccupied with the internet.
• Feeling a desire to use the internet for
increased amounts of time in order to achieve
satisfaction with your use of the web.
• Having a lack of control in efforts to stop
using the internet or to cut back use.

Following Symptoms Can Lead To A
Diagnosis Of Internet Addiction Disorder
• Feeling restless, irritable, depressed or otherwise
moody when not using the internet.
• Staying online longer than you originally planned to.
• Jeopardized a job, relationship, educational
opportunity or other important opportunity because of
the internet.
• Lying to friends, family members or others in an
effort to conceal the true amount of time that you
spend online or your actual activities while online.
• Using the internet as a way of escaping reality,
escaping problems or relieving a negative mood.

Using the internet as a way of escaping
reality

• Internet addiction disorder (IAD) also known as
problematic internet use or pathological internet
use is generally defined as problematic, compulsive
use of the internet, that results in significant
impairment in an individual's function in various life
domains over a prolonged period of time.

• Such disorders can be diagnosed when an
individual engages in online activities at the
cost of fulfilling daily responsibilities or
pursuing other interests, and without regard
for the negative consequences.

• Excessive Internet use has not been
recognised as a disorder by the World Health
Organization or the Diagnostic and Statistical
Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5);
however, the related diagnosis of gaming
disorder has been included in the
International Classification of Diseases
(ICD-11).

Gaming Disorder Has Been Included In The
International Classification Of Diseases (ICD-11)

Types of Internet Addiction Disorders
• An addiction to the internet can come in
various forms.
• Most of the time, internet addiction is
characterized by the activity that an individual
is taking part in while they are online such as
shopping, socializing or gaming.
• Internet addiction disorder includes:

• Net Compulsions – this includes compulsive
gambling, gaming, shopping, trading stocks or
other obsessive use of the internet that
interferes with your work or home,
relationships or financial well-being.

• Cybersex Addiction – compulsive use of the
internet to take part in adult chat rooms,
fantasy role playing sites, or to watch internet
pornography.

• Cyber-Relationship Addiction – taking part
in social networks, chat rooms and virtual
messaging online to a point in which these
online relationships mean more than real-life
relationships with friends or family members.

• General Computer Addiction – obsessively
playing on the computer, not necessarily
online.
• This may include playing games such as
Solitaire or programming a computer
obsessively.

• Compulsive Web Surfing – obsessively
surfing the web or a database to a point in
which you take time from your friends, family
members or regular daytime tasks at work or
home.
• Most internet addiction disorders are the
result of cybersex, online gambling or
gaming, and cyber-relationships.

What are the warning signs of Internet
addiction?
• The symptoms of internet addiction may not
be visibly present or a person may only show a
few of the signs of internet addiction.

What are the warning signs of Internet
addiction?

Some of the warning signs of internet
addiction include
• Spending more time online than you even
realize.
• Repeated, unsuccessful efforts to control,
cut back or stop Internet use.
• Feelings of restlessness, moodiness,
depression, or irritability when attempting to
cut down use of the Internet.

Warning Signs Of Internet Addiction

addiction include
• Isolating yourself from friends or family
members to spend time online.
• Becoming defensive about your time spent
online.

addiction include
• Difficulty completing tasks at work or at home
because you spend too much time surfing the
web.
• Jeopardized or risked loss of significant
relationships, job, educational or career
opportunities because of Internet use.
• If you have trouble focusing on your priorities
or you find that your time online has made you
slack on your tasks at work or at home you may
be suffering from an internet addiction.

Jeopardized or risked loss of significant
relationships

addiction include
• Euphoric feelings when involved with
internet activities.
• Preoccupation with the Internet. Thoughts
about previous on-line activity or anticipation
of the next on-line session.
• Use Internet to escape from problems or to
relieve a dysphoric mood. (e.g. Feelings of
hopelessness, guilt, anxiety, depression.)

Euphoric feelings when involved with internet
activities

What are the Causes of Internet
Addiction?
• People become addicted to the internet for a
number of different reasons.
• Most of the time, the urge to compulsive use
the internet is the result of a desire to manage
unpleasant feeling such as depression,
anxiety, stress or loneliness.

What are the Causes of Internet
Addiction?

Some Causes Of Internet Addiction
Include
• Self-medication for a mental health
disorder.
Many people use the internet to mask anxiety,
depression, or other mental illness.
• Information addicts.
Some people have an intense hunger for
knowledge and the internet provides
immediate access to tons of information that
can be very attractive for information addicts.

Self-medication for a mental health
disorder

Include
• Anxiety or social disorders.
Some people have anxiety when they are face
to face with people or suffer from other social
disorders that make it difficult for them to
interact in real life but easier to interact online.
• Loneliness. Many people, especially those
who do not have a companion, interact online
to fulfil a void that causes them to feel lonely.

Include
• Shifting from a real world addiction.
Many people who suffer from a real world
addiction to shopping or gambling will shift
their addictions to an online version such as
internet gambling or excessive shopping
online.

Shifting from a real world addiction

Effects of Internet Addiction
• In many ways, internet addiction can be
compared to an addiction to drugs or
alcohol in that, internet addiction causes a
desire to use the internet more and more in
order to produce a satisfactory effect.

Internet Addiction Can Be Compared To An
Addiction To Drugs Or Alcohol

• Internet addicts struggle to control their
behaviours and often experience great despair
over their consistent failure to escape their
addictive behaviours.
• A loss of self-esteem and a burning desire to
escape can lead the addict further into their
addiction sending them into a whirlwind of social
anguish, relationship failure and emotional pain.
In the end, the internet addiction will cause a
sense of powerlessness for the addict.

Internet addicts struggle to control their behaviours
and often experience great despair over their
consistent failure

• Internet addiction results in personal, family,
academic, financial, and occupational
problems that are characteristic of other
addictions.
• Impairments of real life relationships are
disrupted as a result of excessive use of the
Internet.
• Individuals suffering from Internet addiction
spend more time in solitary seclusion, spend less
time with real people in their lives, and are often
viewed as socially awkward.

Internet addiction results in personal, family,
academic, financial, and occupational
problems

• Some suffering from Internet addiction may
create on-line personas or profiles where they
are able to alter their identities and pretend to be
someone other than himself or herself.
• Those at highest risk for creation of a secret life
are those who suffer from low-self esteem
feelings of inadequacy, and fear of disapproval.
• Such negative self-concepts lead to clinical
problems of depression and anxiety.

Some suffering from Internet addiction may
create on-line personas or profiles

• Many persons who attempt to quit their
Internet use experience withdrawal
including: anger, depression, relief, mood
swings, anxiety, fear, irritability, sadness,
loneliness, boredom, restlessness,
procrastination, and upset stomach.

• Being addicted to the Internet can also
cause physical discomfort or medical
problems such as:
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, dry eyes,
backaches, severe headaches, eating
irregularities, (such as skipping meals),
failure to attend to personal hygiene, and sleep
disturbance.

Psychological Effects of Internet Addiction
Disorder may include
• Depression
• Dishonesty
• Feelings of guilt
• Anxiety
• Feelings of Euphoria when using the Computer
• Inability to Prioritize or Keep Schedules
• Isolation
• No Sense of Time
• Defensiveness
• Avoidance of Work
• Agitation
• Mood Swings
• Fear
• Loneliness
• Boredom with Routine Tasks
• Procrastination

Physical Effects of Internet Addiction
Disorder may include
• Backache
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• Headaches
• Insomnia
• Poor Nutrition (failing to eat or eating in excessively
to avoid being away from the computer)
• Poor Personal Hygiene (e.g., not bathing to stay
online)
• Neck Pain
• Dry Eyes and other Vision Problems
• Weight Gain or Loss

Physical Effects of Internet Addiction
Disorder

How can someone get help?
• The first step is to determine if there is a
problem.
• If you do not believe you have a problem, you
are not likely to seek treatment. One of the
overarching problems with the Internet is that
there is often no accountability and no limits.
• You are hidden behind a screen and some
things that you may say or do online are
things you would never do in person.

• There is debate in the literature whether
treatment is necessary in the first place.
• Some believe Internet Addiction Disorder to be
a “fad illness” and suggest that it usually
resolves itself on its own.

The first step is to determine if there is a
problem

• Studies have show that self-corrective
behaviour can be achieved and successful.
Corrective behaviours include software that
controls the Internet use and types of sites that
can be visited with the majority of
professionals in agreement that total
abstinence from the computer is not an
effective method of correction.

Corrective behaviours include software that
controls the Internet use and types of sites

• Some professionals argue that medications are
effective in the treatment of Internet Addiction
Disorder because if you are suffering from this
condition, it is likely that you are also suffering
from an underlying condition of anxiety and
depression.
• It is generally thought that if you treat the anxiety
or depression, the Internet Addiction may resolve
in step with this treatment approach.

Treatment of Internet Addiction
Disorder

Some of the more common psychological
treatments of Internet Addiction Disorder
• Individual, group, or family therapy
• Behaviour modification
• Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT)
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
• Equine Therapy
• Art Therapy
• Recreation Therapy
• Reality Therapy

Individual, group, or family therapy

Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT)

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

Some of the more common psychological
treatments of Internet Addiction Disorder
• Because of the prevalence of the disorder in
the general population, treatment centers and
programs have started to pop up.
• A Certified Addictions Counsellor trained in
identification and treatment of Internet
addiction can effectively perform an
assessment to determine what level of care is
most appropriate.

Take these steps to get your internet
usage under control
• Get help for any mental health problems that may
be contributing to your compulsive use of the
internet.
• Develop coping skills.
• If you use the internet as a way to cope with stress or to
deal with other emotions, you’ll need to develop coping
skills in order to reduce your urges to use the internet.
Instead of resorting to the internet as a method of
coping with stress or anger or other emotions,
develop skills that will help you to cope with these
emotions without the internet.

usage under control
• Get support.
• You’ll need an extensive support network to help
you through the difficult times when you are most
vulnerable and susceptible to using the internet.
Your support network may consist of friends,
family members, co-workers, community
groups, and social support groups as well as
your counsellor or therapist.

usage under control
• Log your time.
One way that you can reduce the amount of time
that you spend online is to actually keep a log of
the time that you do spend online.
Keep track of the time of day that you log
onto the internet, how long you spend and any
emotions that were present prior to your use of
the internet or during your internet use.
You can even log your activity online so that you
can review your log to determine emotions that
may have triggered a particular activity or
impulsive behaviour.

usage under control
• Set a timer.
You can reduce the amount of time that you
spend online by setting a timer before you go
online and making a commitment to yourself to
get off of your computer when the timer goes off.
You should also make a commitment to turn
your computer off at a particular time each
day to allow for interaction with family or to
handle other tasks.

usage under control
• Substitute internet usage with healthy
activities.
• Instead of going online, take a walk, read a
book, call a friend or find another way to fill
the time with a healthy activity.

Substitute internet usage with healthy
activities

Methods of Internet Addiction
Treatment
• Many different options for treatment exist to assist those
who cannot cope with or overcome their internet
addiction on their own.
• If self-help for internet addiction doesn’t work for you,
consider these internet addiction treatment options:
• Cognitive-behavioural Therapy – providing methods of
changing compulsive thoughts that result in poor behaviour
into positive thoughts and reactions, cognitive-behavioural
therapy can help to change the perceptions that you have
regarding your internet use. This method of therapy is
effective at reducing anxiety, eliminating stress or
alleviating depression.

Methods of Internet Addiction
Treatment
• Support Groups while there may not be as many
support groups for those suffering from internet
addiction as there are for those suffering from
substance abuse or a gambling addiction, there are
often alternatives.
• For instance, if you tend to spend your time
online gambling, you can take part in
Gamblers Anonymous, or if you tend to spend
your time watching pornography, Sex Addicts
Anonymous may be an alternative social
support option.

Helping an Individual who is Addicted to the
Internet
• These are the steps you can take to help that
individual overcome their addiction.
• Manage your own time online to show your loved one
the right ways.
• Help the individual to find friends and social support
• Help them get involved in other activities that aren’t
online
• Encourage counselling and therapy
• Help them manage their time online by keeping a
log of internet usage

Help them get involved in other activities

Helping an Individual who is Addicted to
the Internet

Preventing Internet Addiction in Children
and Teens
• In today’s society where the use of the internet is
present in schools, at home and on the go,
children and teens are subjected to a whole new
potential for internet addiction that was not
necessarily present for adults until recently.
Preventing internet addiction in children and
teens can be more difficult that you may think.
As a parent, there is a fine line between the
level of internet usage that is acceptable and
what is not for a child or teen.

Preventing Internet Addiction in Children
and Teens

Follow these tips to prevent internet
addiction in children and teens:
• Limit internet usage to include minimal use for social
interaction.
• Internet use should focus on the need to use the
internet for school assignments and research.
• Limit internet gaming
• Monitor internet use and set boundaries
• Keep internet usage restricted to specific areas of the
home
• Talk to your child about anxiety, depression, school,
and other potential triggers that may be causing
additional internet use
• Seek help form a doctor, friend or professional if
your child seems to be spending too much time online

Internet use should focus on the need to use
the internet for school assignments

Keep internet usage restricted to specific
areas

Terminology
• Problematic social media use
• Problematic social media use, also known as
social media addiction or social media
overuse
• It is generally defined as the problematic,
compulsive use of social media platforms that
results in significant impairment in an
individual's function in various life domains
over a prolonged period.

Terminology
• Digital Detox
• Digital detox refers to a period of time when a
person voluntarily refrains from using digital
devices such as smartphones, computers, and
social media platforms.
• This form of detoxification has gained
popularity, as individuals have increased
their time spent on digital devices and the
Internet.

Terminology
• Pornography Addiction
• Pornography addiction is an addiction model
of compulsive sexual activity with concurrent
use of pornographic material, despite negative
consequences to one's physical, mental, social,
or financial well-being.

Terminology
• Behavioural Addiction
• Behavioural addiction is a form of addiction
that involves a compulsion to engage in a
rewarding non-substance-related behaviour
sometimes called a natural reward despite
any negative consequences to the person's
physical, mental, social or financial well-being

Terminology
• Online Gambling Addiction
• According to David Hodgins, a professor of
psychology at the University of Calgary,
online gambling is considered to be as serious
as pathological gambling.
• It is known as an "isolated disorder" which
means that those who have a gambling
problem prefer to separate themselves from
interruptions and distractions.

David Hodgins, a professor of psychology at the
University of Calgary

Terminology
• Because gambling is available online, it
increases the opportunity for problem
gamblers to indulge in gambling without social
influences swaying their decisions.
• This is why this disorder has become more a
problem at this date in time and is why it is
so difficult to overcome.

• Online Gambling Addiction
• Online gambling has become quite popular
especially with today's adolescents. Today's youth
has a greater knowledge of modern software and
search engines along with a greater need for extra
money.
• So not only is it easier for them to find
opportunities to gamble over any subject, but
the incentive to be granted this money is
desperately desired.
Terminology

• Online Gaming Addiction
(Internet gaming disorder)
• Video game addiction is a known issue around
the world.
• Incidence and severity grew in the 2000s, with the
advent of broadband technology, games allowing
for the creation of avatars, 'second life' games,
and MMORPGs (massive multiplayer online
role playing games).
Terminology

Online Gaming Addiction
(Internet gaming disorder)
• Online Gamers Anonymous, an American
non-profit organization formed in 2002, is a
twelve-step, self-help, support and recovery
organization for gamers and their loved ones
who are suffering from the adverse effects of
addictive computer gaming.

• Communication Addiction Disorder
(Compulsive Talking)
• Communication addiction disorder (CAD) is a
supposed behavioural disorder related to the necessity
of being in constant communication with other
people, even when there is no practical necessity for
such communication.
• CAD has been linked to Internet addiction
Terminology

Communication Addiction Disorder

• Virtual Reality Addiction
• Virtual reality addiction is an addiction to the
use of virtual reality or virtual, immersive
environments.
• Currently, interactive virtual media (such as
social networks) are referred to as virtual reality,
whereas future virtual reality refers to computer-
simulated, immersive environments or worlds.
Experts warn about the dangers of virtual
reality, and compare the use of virtual reality
to the use of drugs.
Terminology

Internet Addiction : A Handbook and Guide
to Evaluation and Treatment

Documentaries
• Web Junkie (2013)
• The Chinese government is the first to
classify internet addiction as a clinical
disorder.
• 'Web Junkie' identifies internet addiction and
focuses on the treatment used in Chinese
rehabilitation centres

The Effects Of Internet Addiction, BBC
Documentary
• https://youtu.be/dWMvHEmkBOg

No Time To Think
• “No Time To Think” is
a documentary film that
explores our obsessions
and addictions to new
emerging technologies
and devices.
• The film highlights our
fascination with social
media, gaming, texting,
cell phone, and Internet
use.

China's Digital Detox.
A Life Reboot for Internet Gaming Addicts
• https://youtu.be/WtQevsY3OYw

Ted Talks on Internet Addiction
• What you need to know about internet
addiction | Dr. Kimberly Young
• https://youtu.be/vOSYmLER664

Internet and Technology Addicts Anonymous
https://internetaddictsanonymous.org
• Internet and Technology Addicts Anonymous
is a 12-step fellowship of individuals who
support each other in recovering from the
problems resulting from excessive internet and
technology use.

No Surf
• The No Surf community maintains a list of
resources and strategies helpful for people trying
to decrease their internet usage.
• This includes lists of software programs that people
use to control which sites they visit and when, as well
as a discussion group that takes place on Discord.

SHUT
(Service for Healthy Use of Technology)
http://nimhans.ac.in/shut-service-for-healthy-use-of-technology-clinic-
workshop-flyer
• The National Institute of Mental Health and
Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore has started
the Internet De-addiction services called the SHUT
(Service for Healthy Use of Technology), with a
view to destigmatize the mental health issues arising
out of excessive use of information technology and to
enhance treatment seeking behaviour.

SHUT
(Service for Healthy Use of Technology)

Net Addiction
• http://netaddiction.com/

References
• Internet addiction disorder
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_addiction_disorder
• Internet and Technology Addicts Anonymous
• https://internetaddictsanonymous.org/
• Internet Addiction Disorder
• https://www.psycom.net/iadcriteria.html
• Internet Addiction
• https://nta.gov.np/en/mis-reports/
• What is an Internet Addiction
• https://www.addictioncenter.com/drugs/internet-addiction/

Internet Addiction

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