Is Addiction To The Internet Real?
A growing number of new treatment programs have launched across the United States that seek to help individuals seek assistance in dealing with their internet addiction.
You can find several health centers today that have already introduced their own inpatient internet addiction treatment programs, despite some critics who have labeled the addiction as a false condition. Others say that the internet addiction could simply be covering up other mental illness issues and is about a lot more than having a deep appreciation for some online time.
Previous studies have suggested that individuals who spend a lot of time playing might just be hooked because they are unhappy in other areas of their life and it's not just because they are addicted to the activity itself.
Critics of the internet addiction trend negate the assertion that too much internet use is a risk to your mental health.
The World Health Organization and the American Psychiatric Association still haven't officially recognized internet addiction as being a disorder.
Despite the official recognition for internet addiction though, there are some children as young as 11 years old who have been seeking treatment for their various gaming and internet addictions that involves diagnostic tests, psychotherapy, and more.
There has been pressure ongoing for decades now to try and have internet addiction officially recognized despite what critics say is poor evidence to support the notion that it's a real condition.
Internet addiction has been previously deemed a fad diagnosis but you can still find many health experts out there today who insist that it's a serious psychological issue to contend with.
Various reports have come out suggesting that internet addiction is growing rapidly and is now affecting millions of people. Researchers from the United States launched a two-year study last year that was seeking to further determine whether or not this should officially be listed as a mental health disorder. They were specifically looking to focus on online gaming, hoping to determine what might be the best possible form of treatment; the study has been funded by the National Institutes of Health. Depending on the study results, they might eventually move internet gaming addiction toward being recognized as an official disorder on the DSM.
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The information that is posted above is not intended to be used as any substitute for professional medical advice, or diagnosis or treatment. The above is posted for informational purposes only.
@revisesociology makes a good point. There is a LOT to unpack there.
The internet it's self is just a tool. Someone could spend 10 hrs. a day online. 8 of those might be doing research and learning something. Or it could be 10 straight hrs. of looking at cat pictures.
As far as kids being addicted to video games, I love them myself, but that's a failure on the part of the parents. If your kids aren't mad at you, you're probably not doing your job. Pull the plug, let them throw their fit, lay a loving hand of correction across their hind end if they get to out of control, and they'll find something more productive to occupy their time with. I've had to do it a time or two. They'll still love you, probably even more after a day or two, I promise. lol.
I will say this though, I think it's good for everybody to unplug from time to time, just to remind yourself that, no matter how helpful it is, you CAN still function without it, and It's good to teach your kids HOW to function without it.
I believe it is quite real, as is social media anxiety - and I suffer from both to a degree. Now if you throw in online gaming, you can have a real problem. At least I don't do gaming, but the amount of time I spend online is ridiculous. Sometimes it's good to take a walk or go read a book.
Surely it's too broad a concept for there to be a genuine disorder?
I mean if I spend 10 hours a day on netflix is that an internet addiction or a film.addiction... 10 hrs on Amazon... a shopping addiction?
No doubt the internet makes it easier for us to develop bad habits and addictions but it's just a connective technology that in itself can't be addictive.. surely?
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For sure it is and most of the world are addicted and caught in it's web! 💯🐒