Internet Addiction: The Rundown

With a recent study being published, saying that middle schoolers spend over 7 hours in front of a computer per day, on average, internet addiction is something worth taking seriously. 

The article below, from the Sioux City Journal, gives a great overview of internet addiction as a whole. 

Check it out:

Many people may joke about being "addicted" to their computers, that they can't live without their favorite websites.

But for some, it's nothing to joke about.

Internet addiction is relatively new, but mental health and addiction counselors are seeing it more and more.

"There's not a lot of research yet because it's fairly new. There's not even a diagnosis for it," said Amy Bloch, program director of outpatient services at Jackson Recovery Centers in Sioux City.

Just what is Internet addiction? Are you an addict if your job requires you to spend a lot of time online or if you spend a couple hours at home shopping on the Internet searching for the best deal?

Probably not. Like most addictions, Bloch said, Internet use is only a problem if it's interfering with your everyday life -- blowing off your family to sit in front of the computer or browsing the Internet rather than doing your job at work.

Like those suffering from any addiction, the Internet addict has a hard time controlling his or her actions.

"It's similar to other addictions that we keep learning about," Bloch said.

It's often linked with another addiction. It's not uncommon to see Internet addicts also addicted to gambling or sex, two addictions that can easily be satisfied online.

Many Internet addicts also suffer from depression and low self-esteem, two conditions that make the computer an easy addiction. Addicts may have social anxieties that make it hard for them to talk to people. But they can go to an online chat room, create a persona and be a completely different person.

"A lot of times that's where the addiction starts is from pseudo relationships rather than genuine relationships with friends or family," Bloch said. "They have people (online) who respond to them, talk to them -- things in real life they don't have."

Because computers are so prevalent in our daily lives, Internet addiction can be hard to treat.

"It's similar to people with eating disorders," Bloch said. "They still have to eat."

Counselors get addicts to change their habits. It may involve having them remove the Internet browser from their home computer or having a timer set to shut it down after a period of use. If the addict suffers from depression, treating that condition can also help with the addiction.

Bloch said Jackson has seen all age groups and both males and females with Internet addiction. Some people still scoff at the idea that Internet addiction is a "real" addiction.

"It is real to people who experience it, and it is treatable," Bloch said. "People recover from it every day."

BREAKOUT 1

Internet addiction signs

Even if you spend a lot of time on the Internet, it's not considered an addiction until it begins to interfere with your everyday life. Here are a few signs.

-- You prefer sitting in front of your computer rather than spending time with your family.

-- You say you only need to use the computer for an hour, and seven hours later you're still there.

-- You get irritated or angry when someone interrupts you while you're on the computer.

-- You spend more time at work on the Internet than doing your job.

Addiction can take many forms. It may involve frequenting online gambling sites or spending hours in online chat rooms.

If you or someone you know may have an Internet addiction, call Jackson Recovery's River Hills location, 2928 Hamilton Blvd., at (712) 202-0777.