Internet Addiction: Ruining Lives?

[Jewels]

Aug. 7, 2003 -- It's got people worried: Glassy-eyed millions are downloading, instant messaging, emailing -- and they're doing it 24/7. Hours and hours after logging on, they can't walk away.

When does harmless Internet surfing cross into overuse, or -- as some say -- Internet addiction?

Nathan A. Shapira, MD, PhD, a psychiatrist in the McKnight Brain Institute at the University of Florida in Gainesville, has been studying this social problem since 1997. His latest paper, published in the current issue of Depression and Anxiety, outlines theories about this phenomenon.

When the computer age burgeoned two decades ago, researchers looked into computer and technology dependence. But they didn't find the same damage -- especially to relationships -- that Internet overuse seems to cause. In fact, psychiatrists are still trying to figure out what's going on -- and how best to treat the problem, he says.

"It's disheartening," Shapira tells WebMD. "We have this wonderful, very prevalent technology, but no one really knows the effect it's having on us."

Positive Becomes Negative

It's no secret: Many people use the computer to satisfy, stir up excitement, release tension, or provide relief -- whether it involves sex or not, he writes. Surfing, chatting, playing interactive games -- that's where those long hours go.

Make no mistake: Surfing has its upside, much like exercise or meditation, Shapira writes. "It's just that when Internet use becomes excessive, it can -- like other impulse disorders -- be distressing and disabling," he tells WebMD.

There likely is a psychological dependence -- as happens with TV, exercise, sex, or gambling -- rather than a physiological dependence as with smoking and alcohol abuse, Shapira writes.

In fact, Internet abuse often dovetails with another psychiatric problem. People with obsessive-compulsive disorder -- the same ones who compulsively gamble or shop -- may find the Internet an outlet, he adds. Depression seems to lead others to overuse, creating a viscous cycle fed by isolation.

The problem is not likely to ebb, not any time soon, he says. "People get a rush from being on three computers at once, keeping different things going on each one. And as speed gets better, the problem will likely get worse. Speed is part of the enticement."

Looking for Trouble

If you've said it too many times, "Come to bed, it's 2 a.m.," you may be living with an Internet junkie. Here are symptoms of a serious problem:

They have a preoccupation in which the Internet becomes "irresistible."
Using the Internet for longer periods than planned. "They say they'll be off in an hour, but three hours later they're still at it," says Shapira.
Preoccupation causes significant problems in relationships, work, or other important areas of functioning.

~They try to cut back but can't.
~They have excessive thoughts about it.
~They get a sense of tension or arousal before doing it, and get pleasure afterward -- much as kleptomaniacs feel after lifting something.
~Their other responsibilities, such as paying the bills, get neglected.

All this rings true for drug and alcohol addiction, too, says Kristin Kassaw, MD, associate director of the Baylor Psychiatric Clinic in Houston. "It would take something like a 12-step program to change the behavior," she tells WebMD.

Getting Help

In fact, therapy does work to curb the problem, Shapira says. Cognitive behavioral therapy -- which involves learning how to deal with feelings that lead to excessive Internet use -- helps people control their urges and manage their time better, he says.

Medications can help, too. "If depression or obsessive-compulsive disorder is involved, when the mood gets stabilized, it will have an affect on impulse control," he says.

Loved ones are always the first to identify this problem -- those glued to the screen rarely recognize it in themselves, Shapira tells WebMD. "Interpersonal relationships are the first to suffer."

If you're concerned about a family member or friend, talk to them about it and express concern about Internet addiction. Then help them find a psychologist, he advises.

[GameMaster]

I firmly believe I suffer from internet addicition. I can't go a day without going online. Oddly enough, I suffer from anxiety also. Help me!

[Jewels]

im sorry to hear that gamemaster, i dont think i suffer from internet addiction, im not on it every day, and if i miss a day or cant be on the net for some reason, i dont feel its a big loss.

[GameMaster]

Originally Posted by Jewels

Joined: Jun 2002
Location: In the cornfields



im sorry to hear that gamemaster, i dont think i suffer from internet addiction, im not on it every day, and if i miss a day or cant be on the net for some reason, i dont feel its a big loss.

Hey, it's a dirty job, but someones gotta do it.

From where did you retrieve this article?

[Jewels]

i found the article on http://content.health.msn.com/conten...m?pagenumber=1

www.msn.com is pretty much where i mainly get some of my topics to start a thread.

[TheGame]

Many will be in denial on this subject

I think I'm addicted to the net, I relized it a few months ago, and have been trying to cut back my time online... for it to be the summer, I'm spending barely any time online compared to the last two years.

But I think my addiction to Video games only gets stronger with less time online... somehow I gotta stop the cycle

One day my streak at GT will end, sooner or later... But I can't say that for gaming

[Vampyr]

Im addicted to the internet.

Hey GameMaster, do I see another usergroup coming along? You could call it "Surfers Anonymous" or something like that.

My name is Vampyr, and I have a problem:

The first thing I do when I get up in the morning is get on the net. The last thing Im usually doing at the end of the day is using the net. In the areas in between, Im usually surfing the net. I do get off to play video games and such, but the odd thing is that I spend more time on the computer visiting game websites and reading about games than I do actually playing games.

[Joeiss]

I get online almost everyday. I like it a lot! I think I am somewhat addicted to it... But not too much.

I go online whenever I am bored. It never conflicts with my social life or anything.

[Bond]

Oh no! Oh no! I am addicted! Oh dear lord, I am going to run away and never come back!

[Joeiss]

Nice try, though.

[Classic Rocker]

I doubt we are "addicted" to the net but most of us here use it as a resource. A tool to communicate to others around the world. A tool to download an assortment of stuff one can only imagine 20 years ago.

Let the average joe's and plain jane's say that we are addicted. Majority of them are scared as hell of the internet and don't even use a % of what its capable of doing.

/rant

[gekko]

I wouldn't be surprised if some here were addicted, or damn close.

[Crono]

Well, I can admit that I'm pretty addicted to the internet. In the summer, I'm online almost all day, unless there's somewhere else I have to be. And usually if I'm not online, I'm playing video games in my room.

For me, it really isn't such a big problem (I don't go as far as forgetting about homework or anything like that, so I'm not overly addicted or anything, but still addicted)... it's the lifestyle I chose, and I like it.

[The Germanator]

I pretty much go online whenever I'm home. Though when I was in Nashville for a month with a computer, I only went online once...I was desperate to go back on once I got home, but hey, I can deal without it for awhile.

[Joeiss]

Oh, I forgot about SOCOM online.. lol.. I was definitely addicted to that. I would play for like... at least 3 hours a night... yep yep.

SOCOMII is gonna own me as well.