Internet addiction is real: the journey to recovery

When your real-life has been taken over by your online life, you have an internet addiction! Is everything lost?

Do you have any idea of a certain drug, so normalized in your life that you may not even be aware of its consequences? No, I’m not referring to sugar. Although sugar falls under this type of drug that is advertised to and given even freely to children. I am talking about internet addiction. It is easily accessed through your computer, laptop, phone, and other devices.

A new group of psychiatric disorders exists called, ‘Behaviour disorders’. ”Theses are compulsions to engage in pleasure-give, ‘non-drug-related’ behaviour” such as surfing the web, video games, pornography as well as gambling. This article states that, according to current studies, ”these addictions act on the human brain circuits the same way as an addictive drug affects the brain. Patients experience symptoms of ‘withdrawal’ when gaming ceases.”

Children & internet overuse

Growing up, what did you do without the internet and technology? For a late 80s baby like myself, I spent most of my time outside, it was how I wanted to spend my time; playing with my friends.

Nowadays, there are children who fart around at home all day, playing video games, surfing the web, and thereby, missing their childhoods. Child Psychiatrist, Dr. Philip John, in an article entitled, How the internet acts like drug states:

’’With connectivity becoming integral to our lives, children and youngsters are spending abnormal amounts of time online, studying, communicating, and entertaining themselves. For some of them, it can turn into `behaviour addiction’, like a drug addiction.’’

Children who are at most risk

• This article states the following risk factors: children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are ”restless and multi-task impatiently” (I would imagine they would include Attention Deficit Disorder or ADD) are at great risk of being addicted to the internet. However, in our fast-paced society, technology over-reliance whats causes more and more children to be diagnosed with these ‘disorders’? Is it nature or nurture? Genes or environment?
• Youngsters with learning disabilities and oppositional defiant disorder.
• Children who are obsessive and have a hard time controlling their impulses.
• Shy (not the same as introversion) and introverted youngsters (who get their energy and recharge when they are alone
• People with mobile phone addiction, as most are connected to the internet through data packages and WIFI, therefore fall under internet addiction.
• Parents and caregivers who coddle or give into children’s whims and are overly lenient is also a risk factor
• Low self-esteem in youngsters

How do you know if a child has internet addiction?

”An eight-year-old boy was referred to me before his exams. His family physician could not identify as to why he was agitated and sleepless at night, running deliriously from room to room. At first, it was suspected that he had exam phobia. It turned out that his tab broke a couple of days ago, his addictive gaming ceased abruptly and he was experiencing `withdrawal’ symptoms.

Source: How Internet Acts Like a Drug

According to Child Psychiatrist, Dr. Phillip, parents should not dismiss net binging as a phase. If a child has violent outbursts when the internet, a video game, mobile phone, or other technology is taken away, parents should help the child or get help for them. He recommends the following: ‘‘New schedules of time management, abstinence from a particular app, timing internet use, use of internet in open space are methods that need to be tried with professional assistance to resolve this problem.”

It is unfortunate for children to suffer and the truth is, they are not alone. Many adults, including myself, also fall into the trap of internet and technology abuse and misuse. WiFi is ubiquitous. Being online constantly has become a social norm. For example, a client may opt for someone else if you don’t reply to their constant emails within minutes. A friend of ours told me recently that her landlady became very angry with her when she did not respond to her text messages, instead of just knocking on her door. A long-term injury forces her to limit technology use, and she has a loved-one who the landlady should have called instead.

How internet addiction affects your brain

It can shrink your brain; the gray and white matter. This means that you will have to limit your brain’s ability to process to function as well as process emotions. ’’The brain changes are similar to those produced by alcohol and cocaine addiction.’’ (Source)

According to a 2014 study explains that Internet Gaming Addiction (IGA) occurs when a person is unable to control their use of the internet regardless of negative consequences. The findings show that participants who all had IGA showed ”significant gray matter density in the bilateral inferior frontal gyrus, left cingulate gyrus, insula, right precuneus, and right hippocampus, as well as significant lower white matter in the inferior frontal gyrus, insula, amygdala, and anterior cingulate than healthy controls” The study states that previous ones link these brain regions to ‘‘decision-making, behavioral inhibition, and emotional regulation. Current findings might provide insight in understanding the biological underpinnings of IGA.”

Past studies link these brain regions to the following brain functions:

• Decision-making

• Behavioral inhibition

• Emotional regulation

The above findings provide insight as to how IGA affects on a biological level. Current findings might provide insight in understanding the biological underpinnings of IGA.”

How many people have internet addiction?

”Depending on whom you ask”, 1% to 9% of people worldwide are affected by internet addiction, based on a 2012 study published in Current Review of Psychiatry.

Signs of internet addiction

How do you know you’ve moved from overuse to addiction?

Here are ways to unofficially diagnose internet addiction, courtesy of this article.

• Attempts to limit internet use have been futile
• Feeling guilty or defensive about the amount of time spent online and what you do online
• Physical symptoms like Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, dry eyes, headaches, neck or back pain, sleep disturbances or insomnia, strained images, unexplained weight gain or loss
• Isolating or distancing from friends and family in favour of the web
• Losing track of time when you’re online
• Neglecting your responsibilities and staying online
• Relying on the internet to improve, bring pleasure, relief, or sexual satisfaction

 Source: How do I know If I am addicted to the internet

Who is at risk for Internet Addiction Disorder (IAD)?

• Feeling lonely

• Lack of social interaction or support

• Currently suffering from other addictions (gambling, alcohol, drug, sex)

• A life-change that limits social activity or mobility such as loss of a loved one, moving, unemployment, disability, or having a baby

• Excessive stress

• People suffering from anxiety, depression, or other mental health or mood disorders

Source: How do I know If I am addicted to the internet

Sadly, people seeking to improve their mood via the internet are likely to feel worse! Existing anxiety and depression will skyrocket!

” A study of 60 adults in the United Kingdom shows that those in the high-Internet-use group had a much greater drop in their mood after logging off their computers than the those in the low-use group.”

Source: Internet addiction may be as hard to kick as drugs

Treatment for internet addiction

Inpatient Treatment at a Facility

Inpatient treatment requires that you check into a treatment centre for a period of time, 30 days to 18 months of internet-use monitoring. This is an option for those who have the time to devote to their recovery free from distractions and interference.

Withdrawal symptoms of internet restriction

• Anger
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Fatigue
• Fear
• Irritability
• Loneliness
• Mood swings

For those of us who do not have access to a recovery facility, doing so at home is the only option. It requires unplugging your modem and even having a loved one hide it. You may use it for work-related tasks, such as your job, keeping your life in order by paying your bills, online banking, etc.

Internet addiction recovery tips:

• For the first 3 days to 1 week of your recovery, do a technology detox- no screens or devices, this will give you a good start to being incorporating to use in productive ways, as a tool used moderately.
• Unplug the modem and hide It from sight.
• Start off your day by doing something that energizes you:
  • Go for a jog, walk, yoga, or another workout
  • Meditate (You can prepare your body first with yoga if you want)
• Keep a recovery journey and write down how you feel every day
• Tell people you are close to or live with that you are doing an internet detox. They can be of support and won’t worry about you. It’s up to you how much you share with them about what you are going through.
  • ”Online is overwhelming for me and I notice that it drains and makes me unhappy. Remember that most people get that social media is toxic.”
• If you share the internet bill and will definitely be staying off for 30 days, ask if they can exclude you from the bill, only if they are close to you can afford it. Perhaps, you can surprise them with a pizza delivery to celebrate after 30 days!
• Write a list of activities you can do to occupy your mind or just have in mind what you can do whenever you feel triggered to go online
• Use this recovery to get to know yourself, practice self-love and understanding

Encouragement for internet addiction recovery

Quitting the Internet has Changed my Life.*

”First off, forgive the grammar. I’m typing this through a laptop with a covered screen.

That’s how hardcore I am. In fact, I don’t even look at computer screens anymore as it induces “third reality” syndrome. Something I made up, basically it sucks you into third reality/cyberspace.

This has been the best week and a half I’ve had in a long long long time. It’s been hard but I have to tell you the benefits are coming in slowly.

I am 30 years old and I have quit the internet, media, television, and radio for 9 days now. I am more productive, alert, and my anxiety has diminished.

‘In fact, I have decided, and have linked my anxiety issues to internet use. I have been using the internet since I was 15 year.. no.. 11 years old. Since 1996. So roughly, I have been online for about 20 years. I have also had lifelong anxiety and depression. It hit hardest late 20’s. I have linked this all to internet use.

Posted byu/[deleted]5 years ago

*Spell checked for easy reading.

Conclusion

Internet addiction is like any other health problem and should as treated right away. Parents must monitor children’s use of the internet and seek professional help when outbursts constantly occur when access is denied. Studies show that structural changes to the brain happen and can only be reversed once addiction seizes. At our peril, we need to take this seriously and monitor usage, as internet overuse can lead to internet addiction, with numerous adverse consequences like anxiety, depression, sleep problems, and many more.