What Is Internet Addiction Disorder :Signs, Symptoms, and Treatment 

 

Do you find yourself scrolling your social media every day for hours aimlessly and almost endlessly or your children playing a lot of video games or using the Internet in excess? Have you been shopping online helplessly? Are you ignoring your work or tasks and instead spending time doing the above? 

If you have a “yes” to any of the questions above, you or your child may be suffering from Internet Addiction Disorder, also called Compulsive Internet Use (CIU), an iDisorder or Problematic Internet Use (PIU) 

 

Originally, it was compared to pathological gambling and the disorder has gained serious attention in the digital age we find ourselves today. A majority of mental health counsellors, psychologists and doctors do consider this a real and debilitating disorder. However, it is not officially recognised as a disorder, its prevalence is apparent and everyone knows when they’re spending too much time on the Internet, yet they can’t help themselves: that is addiction. 

Some studies have suggested that almost 40-50% of the general population around the world are hooked on to the Internet and their screens, these figures may be much higher since there are no particular criteria for diagnosing Internet Addiction Disorder. There’s also a video gaming disorder where people just can’t stop gaming and have serious withdrawal symptoms if they have to stop. 

 

What is important to note is that Internet Addiction is only a subset of addiction in general; there are other types of media addiction like television and radio addiction as well. Due to the digital age, Internet Addiction Disorder has taken centre stage as the major cause of media addiction today. The trouble with this disorder is that everyone is endlessly surrounded by the Internet and a lot of daily tasks are done online. 

 

Order food online, but shoes and clothes online? Can’t get a friend to play video games at home with you?  Just get online and someone online will be ready to play! 

It’s almost impossible to imagine life without Internet. 

However, even if you have to use use the Internet often, does not mean you have an Internet Addiction Disorder. The trouble arises if being online begins interfering with daily life. 

Internet Addiction Disorder can be categorised into gaming, emailing, social networking, email, shopping online, blogging, shopping, and internet pornography addition. The risk of using and interacting over the Internet use can can also add to the risk factors of Internet Addiction Disorder, along with emotional impairment, obesity, social impairments, impulsive Internet use (when you can’t help but get online irrespective of what you are doing or where you are). 

How dangerous Internet addiction is can be gauged from the fact that many children had committed suicide after the PUBG game was banned in India. Therefore, it should be used only as per the need.

 

Causes of Internet addiction disorder 

Like all addictive disorders, this is caused by a number of contributing factors. Some suggest the brain makeup of individuals with Internet Addiction Disorder is akin to those who have a chemical dependency on substances or smoking or alcohol. 

Some revealing studies have linked Internet Addiction Disorders to physical changes to brain structure, affecting the amount of grey and white matter contained in areas of the prefrontal brain, associated with memory, attention and prioritising tasks. One of the causes of Internet Addiction Disorder is structural changes to the prefrontal area of the brain, which makes the Internet taking over instead of doing important life tasks.

Internet Addiction Disorder also seems to affect the pleasure center of the brain (as is the case with all addictions); satisfying addiction releases dopamine which makes it a most gratifying experience because of the chemical. Gradually, more and more is needed to induce the same response, which creates dependency

 

Symptoms

The symptoms of Internet Addiction Disorder may show up physically and emotionally.

The Physical Symptoms include headaches, insomnia, backache, obesity, lack of going out, neck pain, poor hygiene, dry eyes, and vision complications. 

The emotional symptoms of Internet Addiction Disorder are depression, anxiety, lying, isolation, agitation, mood swings, anger, boredom and procrastination. 

 

Diagnosis 

While there are no set criteria for diagnosing this disorder, if you find yourself constantly thinking about what you did and will do online, if your screen time has been rising, or if you’ve been unable to cut down on internet usage, you may have an internet addiction disorder. 

Take note of the symptoms mentioned above and see if you feel unhappy, restless or irritable when you try and stay off the Internet. 

People who ignore family, relationships or lie to people about their internet usage are also likely to have this disorder. 

 

How to stop internet addiction

The first step is recognising you have a problem.

Some don’t believe it is an actual illness and believe it can resolve itself.

Some professionals argue this can also be a sign of anxiety and depression and if they are treated then this too shall be rectified. 

 

Physical activity can also boost serotonin levels and decrease dependency. 

 

Some psychological treatments of are therapy, DBT, CBT, Behavior modification, Recreational activity and Counselling. 

 

with Dr. Rakesh Pandit

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