Adesola inspired me to post this blog I touched on it in my previous blog "social networking is both useful and dangerous" and figured I would develop it further. The internet has a huge impact on our society today and with out it many things that we rely on and take for granted would not be possible. There are many benefits to surfing the world wide web but in this post I am focusing on the pit falls of regular internet use. I found some shocking evidence to support internet addiction however I was more shocked to find I fit into some of these statistics. Obviously with any kind of addiction there are different levels, in extreme cases you may have to seek help from your GP or Psychiatrists to undergo therapy. "Abnormal psychological dependency" this definition of addiction made the most sense to me. Internet addiction like gambling is an impulse control disorder. I personally feel that I have an abnormal relationship with the internet. I know for a fact that I check my facebook and emails on a far too regular basis every time I pick up my mobile which has access to the internet I feel the need to check for updates or just plain surfing. From what I have read there is no actual figure of how many people suffer from internet addiction so it is hard for me to estimate just how many people fall into this category in the UK. However a nationwide study conducted by a team from Stanford University's School of Medicine had estimated that nearly one in eight Americans suffer from at least one sign of problematic internet use. This to me sounds like a huge figure when you think the population of the United States, in 2009 was 307,006,550.
These Signs of Internet Addiction were found at http://www.netaddiction.com/ : Meeting five of the following symptoms were considered necessary to be diagnosed.
1. Do you feel preoccupied with the Internet (think about previous online activity or anticipate next online session)?
2. Do you feel the need to use the Internet with increasing amounts of time in order to achieve satisfaction?
3. Have you repeatedly made unsuccessful efforts to control, cut back, or stop Internet use?
4. Do you feel restless, moody, depressed, or irritable when attempting to cut down or stop Internet use?
5. Do you stay online longer than originally intended?
6. Have you jeopardized or risked the loss of significant relationship, job, educational or career opportunity because of the Internet?
7. Have you lied to family members, therapist, or others to conceal the extent of involvement with the Internet?
8. Do you use the Internet as a way of escaping from problems or of relieving a dysphoric mood (e.g., feelings of helplessness, guilt, anxiety, depression)?
Other Symptoms Include:
• Failed attempts to control behavior
• Heightened sense of euphoria while involved in computer and Internet activities
• Neglecting friends and family
• Neglecting sleep to stay online
• Being dishonest with others
• Feeling guilty, ashamed, anxious, or depressed as a result of online behavior
• Physical changes such as weight gain or loss, backaches, headaches, carpal tunnel syndrome
• Withdrawing from other pleasurable activities
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