Spending Too Much Time Online? You May Be a Netaholic

By Leslie Davis

Teenagers aren’t the only ones who can’t get enough of the Internet. Adults who find themselves glued to their computers playing games, shopping, blogging or checking the news are also susceptible to Internet addiction.

For people of any age, Internet addiction can have a detrimental affect on their personal, social and work lives.

Internet addiction is an addiction like any other – users have a compulsive need to go online, and find themselves in a bad mood if they can’t get their fix. They may also experience withdrawal symptoms if forced to be away from their computers for any significant period of time.

Internet addicts may not even realize they have an addiction, and most start off as casual users. Though Internet addicts may spend nearly the entire day online, time spent online is not the main indication that you have an addiction. If you have any of the following symptoms, you may have an Internet addiction:

Excessive time spent devoted to using the Internet
Difficulty stopping use even when relationships, school, work or employment is suffering
Lack of sleep due to late hours spent online
Experiencing a sense of euphoria or calm while surfing the Internet
Neglect of family and friends
Feeling irritable or depressed when not online
Lying about how much time you spend online or denying your usage
Having fantasies or dreams that involve using the Internet
Repeatedly staying online longer than you intended
Using the Internet to avoid problems

Internet addicts can also experience physical symptoms such as dry eyes, migraine headaches, a change in sleeping patterns, carpal tunnel syndrome and a change in eating habits.

A Growing Problem

The Internet is here to stay, and the proliferation of handheld devices that allow people to go online during meals with friends, at movies or on the road makes the Internet that much more accessible. Because of society’s reliance on the technology, attempting to abstain from the Internet is next to impossible.

A 2006 study conducted by Stanford University found that more than one in eight people surveyed exhibited at least one sign of problematic Internet use. In fact, between instant messaging, e-mailing, social networking sites, blogging, virtual gaming communities and online dating sites, a significant number of the population may be suffering from Internet addiction.

“We often focus on how wonderful the Internet is — how simple and efficient it can make things,” said the study’s lead author, Elias Aboujaoude, MD. “But we need to consider the fact that it creates real problems for a subset of people.”

The Stanford University study found the following:

Nearly 14 percent of people surveyed had difficulty staying away from the Internet for several days
About nine percent tried to hide their Internet use from family, friends and employers
Six percent felt that their relationships suffered because of excessive Internet use
Eight percent used the Internet to escape problems or relieve their negative mood

Internet addiction is becoming so much more prevalent that at least one doctor has pushed for it to be included in the next edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V), a handbook of recognized psychological conditions published by the American Psychiatric Association.

Dr. Jerald Block published an editorial in the American Journal of Psychiatry claiming that Internet addiction should be included in the DSM-V because it is characterized by the same four factors as traditional addictions: excessive use, withdrawal, tolerance and negative repercussions (including arguments, social isolation and poor achievement).

Treatment for Internet Addiction

Because of its similarity to such addictions as pathological gambling, substance abuse and compulsive shopping, Internet addiction often requires professional treatment, which may come in the form of individual therapy, support groups or residential treatment centers that specialize in Internet addiction.

If you opt for individual therapy or support groups, find a therapist or group that specifically deals with Internet addiction. They are most likely to understand your particular behaviors so that you can learn to better manage your Internet use.

Residential treatment centers throughout the country can help you successfully beat your Internet addiction. Internet addicts often struggle with other disorders, such as depression, substance abuse or impulse-control disorders, and an effective residential treatment center can help you address any co-occurring disorders you may be experiencing along with your Internet addiction.

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Spending Too Much Time Online? You May Be a Netaholic