According to the ITU – the United Nations agency for information and communications technologies – more than three billion people around the world currently use the internet. Those numbers are on the rise and as they do, so does a new mental health issue called internet addiction disorder, a health problem that for some may require a visit to rehab.
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TNW News reported Dec. 21 that though internet addiction disorder is not listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, some patients have been admitted into rehabilitation programs because of their codependency on the net. These programs take many forms, includingsurvival and wilderness camps, retreats, medication, talk therapy and support groups. Each program is designed to promote digital detox and train participants to redirect their attentions to more productive activities such as school, work and offline relationships.
Medical professionals don’t agree on whether internet addiction should be considered an addiction at all, let alone how to treat it. Still, digital detox centers and programs are increasing in number. Do a quick Google search and numerous programs offering treatment appear. Some of these programs cost patients thousands of dollars and they often are not covered by their insurance policies.
Excessive internet use can cause problems in an individual’s daily life. For example, some parents watch as their children spend hours on their computers, playing video games or keeping up with social media. The time spent on the internet can cause issues with school work. Youth may experience a lack of initiative and also see their relationships with friends and family suffer. Excessive internet use has also been linked to depressive symptoms in teens.
A slew of other studies point to issues that are created from being constantly connected to the net. From social media’s tendency to promote narcissism and anxiety to smartphones causing insomnia, being so connected seems to be hindering interactions with everyday life and possibly even making users less empathetic to those around them.
Internet addiction disorder is described as an impulse-control issue and can include addictions to computers, cyber-relationships, information overload (web and database surfing), gaming and other net compulsions such as gambling, stock trading and using auction sites like Ebay. Signs and symptoms of the disorder can include losing track of time while online, having trouble staying focused on tasks at home or in the workplace, isolating one’s self from family and social interactions to be online, euphoric feelings when engaged in internet activities and attempts to lessen time on the internet without success.
A full-blown therapy program may not be necessary. Some experts suggest unplugging from all computers and devices for a predetermined amount of time ranging from a full day to weeks or longer. The aim of a digital detox is to reduce stress and to take time to focus more on social interaction and activities outside of the internet.
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