College and university students may be particularly vulnerable to addiction, yet studies on internet addiction in students typically only use self-selected online surveys, with no control groups for comparison. Sometime survey studies do not give reliable results as they may only study a single class so the data cannot be generalised to a broader group or population, and the construction and use of surveys can produce results that are hard to interpret.
According to the American Psychiatric Association, Internet addiction can include three or more of the following:. Social networking addiction — includes the desire to constantly monitor social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter. This includes constantly updating profile posts and checking messages to inform friends of what you are doing at the present moment.
The actual cause is unknown. The current range of theories for compulsive Internet use includes:. If you think you may be addicted to the Internet and you want to change your behaviour, you could try the following strategies:. Professional treatment aims to allow the person to use the Internet positively rather than compulsively.
Internet addiction seems to respond well to cognitive behaviour therapy CBT. This type of therapy focuses on changing patterns of thinking and beliefs that are associated with and trigger anxiety.
The basis of cognitive behaviour therapy is that beliefs trigger thoughts, which then trigger feelings and produce behaviours. Consult with your doctor for further information and referral. There are also internet addiction support groups available that may help treat your addiction.
This page has been produced in consultation with and approved by:. Adoption can give a secure family life to children who can? Asking for help when you first suspect you have an alcohol or drug problem is important. If you think you have an addiction, speak to your local doctor or phone DirectLine.
Alcohol is responsible for most drug-related deaths in the teenage population. The size of a standard drink can vary according to the type of alcohol. Allergy occurs when the body overreacts to a 'trigger' that is harmless to most people. Content on this website is provided for information purposes only. Information about a therapy, service, product or treatment does not in any way endorse or support such therapy, service, product or treatment and is not intended to replace advice from your doctor or other registered health professional.
The information and materials contained on this website are not intended to constitute a comprehensive guide concerning all aspects of the therapy, product or treatment described on the website. All users are urged to always seek advice from a registered health care professional for diagnosis and answers to their medical questions and to ascertain whether the particular therapy, service, product or treatment described on the website is suitable in their circumstances.
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Psychologists and psychiatrists have a lot in common, but they also have some key differences. Nothing is. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Mental Health. Understanding Internet Addiction. Medically reviewed by Timothy J. Legg, Ph. Habit vs. Is it actually an addiction? What are the symptoms? What causes it? What does professional treatment look like? How can I help a loved one?
Read this next. I Quit Social Media for 65 Weeks. This Is What I Learned This is what logging off from social media for 65 weeks taught me about friendship and how much value we place on online interactions. Typically online relationships are formed in chat rooms or different social networking sites but can occur anywhere one can interact with people online. After being consumed by an online social life and persona, a person may be left with limited social skills and unrealistic expectations concerning in-person interactions.
Many times this leads to an inability to make real-world connections, in turn making the individual more dependent on their cyber relationships. Counseling or therapy is typically required to treat this addiction and ensure lasting behavioral changes. The internet provides users with a wealth of data and knowledge. For some, the opportunity to find information so easily has turned into an uncontrollable urge to gather and organize data.
In some cases information-seeking is a manifestation of pre-existing, obsessive-compulsive tendencies. Compulsive information-seeking can also reduce work productivity and potentially lead to job termination. Depending on the severity of the addiction, treatment options can range from different therapy modalities — which target changing compulsive behavior and developing coping strategies — to medication.
Computer addiction, sometimes referred to as computer gaming addiction , involves online and offline activities that can be done with a computer. As computers became more widely available, games such as Solitaire, Tetris, and Minesweeper were programed into their software. Researchers quickly found that obsessive computer game playing was becoming a problem in certain settings.
Office employees would spend excessive amounts of time playing these games, causing a notable decrease in productivity. Not only are these classic games still available today but so are thousands of new ones, and the condition of computer gaming addiction is as prevalent and harmful as ever.
Make a Call In , Dr. These items include questions like:. Each answer has a numerical value assigned to it. Other internet addiction tests have also gained popularity. Keith W. Beard published an article in which he proposed 8 characteristics that describe having an internet use disorder.
If 5 or more of the traits describe the subject, they would be diagnosed with an internet addiction. The characteristics are:. An internet addiction can have many harmful effects on a person, both physically and emotionally. Emotional effects may include depression, dishonesty, anxiety, social isolation, aggression, and mood swings.
A research study found that those who were deemed as having an internet addiction using Dr. Individuals with these types of addictions also exhibited significantly higher amounts of depression and anxiety symptoms. There is debate over whether a computer, cell phone, or online addiction is the cause or consequence of such mental health issues.
ADHD symptoms, such as difficulty planning ahead, poor time management, and higher-than-average levels of attentional impulsivity, are also common among those with an internet addiction.
Additionally, those with an addiction are more likely to have a co-occurring disorder that requires special care and treatment. Learn More. There is no one specific treatment that should be used to address an internet addiction.
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