INTERNET ADDICTION

BY: L AVA S H A S H E R M A N

Research has shown that people with internet addiction have demonstrable changes in their brains – both in the connections between cells and in the brain areas that control attention, executive control, and emotion processing.

BABY BOOMERS VS. MILLENNIALS

INTERNET OBSESSION• Likely to play outdoors • 79% use internet• 30% use social networking site• 13% with only cellphone, no land

line• 51% use cellphone to text• Television is main news source

• 6 times more likely to play video before outdoors, 6% play outside unsupervised

• 90% use internet• 75% use social networking site• 41% with only cellphone, no

landline• 51% use cellphone to text• Internet main news source

Baby Boomers Millennials

VS

WHAT IS INTERNET ADDICTION?

• Internet addiction or Internet Use Disorder (IUD) is defined as an impulse control disorder. The compulsive urge to continually use the Internet, whether it be to spend hours surfing the Web, blogging, chat rooms, virtual communities or play on-line games.

WARNING SIGNS OF INTERNET ADDICTION

• Preoccupation with the Internet.  (Thoughts about previous on-line activity or anticipation of the next on-line session.)

• Use of the Internet in increasing amounts of time in order to achieve satisfaction.• Repeated, unsuccessful efforts to control, cut back or stop Internet use.• Feelings of restlessness, moodiness, depression, or irritability when attempting to cut down use of the

Internet.• On-line longer than originally intended.• Jeopardized or risked loss of significant relationships, job, educational or career opportunities because

of Internet use.• Lies to family members, therapists, or others to conceal the extent of involvement with the Internet.• Use of the Internet is a way to escape from problems or to relieve a dysphoric mood.  (e.g. Feelings of

hopelessness, guilt, anxiety, depression.)

TYPES OF INTERNET ADDICTION

Addiction

Online gaming

Virtual environme

nts

Online shopping

Online gambling

Cyber relationship

s

Chatrooms

CAUSES OF INTERNET ADDICTION• Family Issues• Feelings of neglect and loneliness• Social Isolation

SIDE-EFFECTS

• - Mood shifts, such as increased irritability, if access is taken away• - A significant decrease in other activities and interests• - Neglecting friends, family and other responsibilities• - Sleep problems• - Deterioration of personal hygiene

TREATMENT• Assessment

– A Certified Addictions Counselor trained in identification and treatment of Internet addiction can effectively perform an assessment to determine what level of care is most appropriate

– For a free confidential assessment, call the Illinois Institute for Addiction Recovery at (800) 522-3784.

• Boot camp• Counseling

REFERENCES

• Brown, M. (2014). Online gaming addictions: sundance films explore a darker side of the internet. Retrieved from http://national.deseretnews.com/article/884/online-gaming-addictions-sundance-films-explore-a

-darker-side-of-the-internet.html• Gumbrecht, J. (2016). Boot camp for the internet-addicted. Retrieved from http://

www.cnn.com/2016/04/26/health/cnnphotos-internet-addiction-china-boot-camp/

• Healthy Living Editors. (2013). Baby boomers vs. millennials: how internet-obsessed are you?. Retrieved from

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/babyboomers-vs-millennials-how-internet-savvy-are-you-infographic.html

• Miller, T. (2013). Video game addiction and other internet compulsive disorders mask depression, anxiety, learning disabilities.

Retrieved from http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/health/kids-addicted-video-games-violent-experts-article-1.1298338

• Nguyen, C. (2015). Inside a Chinese internet addiction rehab center. Retrieved from http://motherboard.vice.com/read/inside-a-chinese-internet- addiction-rehab-center

• Walton, A.G. (2012). Internet addiction: the new mental health disorder?. Retrieved from http://www.forbes.com/sites/alicegwalton/2012/10/02/the-new-mental-health-disorder-internet-addiction/#378357eb5230