INTERNET ADICTION:

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. 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 that result from spending so much time online.

Learning about the causes and symptoms of internet addiction can help you to detect a problem
early on and find help. Computer addiction does not have to cause long term consequences in
your life or in the life of a loved one—help is available in the form of counseling, therapy, and
social support groups that will assist you in overcoming impulsive behaviors and reducing the
amount of time you or your loved one actually spends online.

What is Internet Addiction?

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. Meeting five of the following symptoms
can lead to a diagnosis of internet addiction disorder:

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. Some feel socially inept in the real world and turn to
social media interaction as a means of feeling close to people, while others may lose themselves
online in an effort to temporarily feel better. Unfortunately, the internet, when used
compulsively, can lead to many consequences.

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.
 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 fulfill a void that causes them to feel lonely.
 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.
Help for Internet Addiction

There are many steps that you can take to reduce impulsive behaviors and get your internet
usage under control. Many of the ways that you can get help for internet addiction can actually
be taken on by you individually without the need for treatment.

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. If you suffer from depression, stress, anxiety or other mental health
problems that are contributing to your desire to self-medication by using the internet,
get help!
 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.
 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 counselor or therapist.
 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 behavior.
 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.

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

Help for Internet Addiction

There are many steps that you can take to reduce impulsive behaviors and get your internet
usage under control. Many of the ways that you can get help for internet addiction can actually
be taken on by you individually without the need for treatment.

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. If you suffer from depression, stress, anxiety or other mental health
problems that are contributing to your desire to self-medication by using the internet,
get help!
 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.
 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 counselor or therapist.
 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 behavior.
 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.
 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.

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.