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Internet addiction is a range of behaviors that refers to the excessive use of the internet which ends up affecting many aspects of a person’s life. Excessive computer use becomes problematic when it interferes with one’s personal relationships, work, or school.
Signs that are indicative of internet addiction can be physical or emotional. The most common symptoms of internet addiction include unintended weight gain or loss, poor personal hygiene, backache, headaches, increased irritability, anxiety, and depression, among several others. Both physical and emotional symptoms of internet addiction are a result of remaining inactive for long periods of time and becoming dependent on the use of the internet.
Several factors play a role in the development of the condition. The causes of internet addiction are genetics, structural brain changes, environmental factors, and underlying mental health conditions. There is increasing evidence of biological and genetic predispositions to addictive behaviors around computers.
Excessive internet use can have negative repercussions for people of all ages. The effects of internet addiction can manifest in both physical and emotional ways, including bad posture, carpal tunnel syndrome, vision problems, damaged personal relationships, and mental health concerns such as anxiety and depression. The lack of interpersonal interactions can take a huge toll on an internet addict’s offline personal relationships.
Internet addiction is the excessive use of the internet to the point where many responsibilities in life are neglected. The condition encourages unhealthy behaviors similarly seen in other types of addiction, including the persistent need to achieve the same high and the neglect of relationships, finances, or job.
The addicted person spends a significant amount of time on the internet and becomes increasingly dependent on the use of the internet or other online devices.
The indicators of internet addiction can be physical or emotional. The most common signs and symptoms of internet addiction are listed below.
Physical symptoms of internet addiction include:
Emotional symptoms of internet addiction include:
Excessive internet use has multiple contributing factors. The causes of internet addiction are listed below.
The impact of internet addiction encompasses people of all ages. The effects of internet addiction are listed below.
An individual can benefit from different types of treatment for problematic internet use. The treatments for internet addiction are listed below.
One effective way of overcoming internet addiction is by engaging in self-corrective behaviors. Aside from the internet addiction treatment options mentioned above, practicing self-control is also beneficial for internet addicts. Self-corrective behaviors involve limiting internet access and controlling internet usage. Making a list is helpful in both situations.
In limiting internet access, a person can block distracting websites for a certain amount of time. Since the internet is used for many purposes in everyday life, one can selectively decide which sites can be visited or prohibited for a set amount of time. It will be helpful to make a list of sites that keep you from focusing on other more important tasks like doing school- or work-related assignments while on the internet.
Cutting down on internet usage can also have a profound effect on the amount of time spent in front of the computer. A person can make a personal list of activities once enjoyed but cannot take on anymore because of internet addiction. This can provide increased motivation for controlling internet usage.
The internet can be used in several ways that can be equally addictive. The different types of internet addiction are listed below.
There are several defining features of internet addiction. The most common characteristics of internet use disorder are listed below.
There is a strong correlation between internet addiction and a variety of psychological disorders, including anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and bipolar disorder, among several others.
Internet addiction can be detrimental to one’s mental health. Evidence exists that several psychiatric disorders and internet addiction can coexist. There is an ongoing debate about which comes first for individuals - tech addiction or the coexisting mental health condition.
Either way, it is widely known that adults who are addicted to the internet are more likely to have other mental health problems such as depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), anger issues, alcohol and substance problems, and even suicidal ideations.
The population that is most vulnerable to internet addiction is male adolescents between the age of 15 and 16 years old.
Adolescents are also more likely to use the internet as a coping mechanism. Teens turn to smartphones to ignore problems by escaping into another world. As a result, this escapism leads to dependency and then a full-scale addiction.
Studies show that adolescents who need internet addiction help are more likely to have lower-quality relationships with parents and other personal difficulties.
Dealing with an addiction to technology starts with moving out of the denial stage and admitting that the problem exists. Through the acceptance of the situation, a person shows honesty and brings clarity to the severity of the internet addiction being experienced.
Admitting the existence of the problem also makes a person become more open to the possibility of seeking treatment. Aside from self-help techniques like cutting out problematic apps and sites, effective time management, and tracking the time you are spending online, professional help in treating internet addiction can also be beneficial in many cases.
Internet addiction can cause drug-like withdrawal symptoms. The most common symptoms of internet addiction withdrawal are listed below.
Internet addicts can develop tolerance to several stimuli. The most common symptoms of internet addiction tolerance are listed below.
Internet and gaming addiction affects the youth by causing social isolation that keeps a person from living a normal life. The long hours spent gaming may mean missing out on family events, outings with friends, or skipping school.
As a result, someone with digital addiction may suffer from a lack of social skills, poor mental health, and emotional difficulties. The social consequences of internet and gaming addiction can also lead to anxiety and depression as the condition hinders one’s ability to form and maintain healthy relationships.
This lack of skill to establish relationships will unfortunately feed the addiction, making the gaming addict return to the online world where relationships are formed without having to work for it.