Internet addiction: symptoms and how to get rid of it

In adults, computer addiction is not limited to games - just like in adolescents, there is also an addiction to virtual communication or types of addiction typical for adults: online shopping, auctions, online casinos, studying information pages, watching movies. All this, no less than games, takes people away from reality into the virtual world. Computer addiction develops in 58% of cases within a year, in 25% - within six months, in 17% - after a year of active computer use.

The essence of addiction

Computer addiction is an obsessive need to use a computer and the Internet, accompanied by social maladaptation of the individual and psychological symptoms. A dependent person is characterized by an inadequate perception of himself and the world around him.

American psychiatrist Ivan Goldberg introduced the concept of “Internet addiction”, but preferred to use another term – “pathological computer use”. This is a broader term and is still used today. This concept includes all possible situations of using a computer, and not just communication on social networks or online games.

There are three stages of development of computer addiction:

1. Familiarity with the Internet and interest in its possibilities. Their application in relation to your life.
2. The computer is gradually replacing the main areas of life: working online (some people even know how to make money from games), online dating, buying and selling things, ordering food, virtual excursions, etc.
3. Almost complete or complete escape from reality into the world of the Internet and computer.

Regardless of the expressed signs of addiction or behavioral characteristics of the individual, it is customary to focus on losses in real life, and not on the time spent at the computer. And losses usually occur in the areas of family relationships, daily responsibilities, sleep and rest, playing sports, communicating and walking with friends, reading printed publications, hobbies, and sex life.

Why is it dangerous?

The Internet, as a great achievement of technological progress, is of great importance for humanity, performing many useful and irreplaceable functions. But, as it turned out, the World Wide Web has one negative consequence that is widespread throughout the world - it is Internet addiction, a problem of modern society. What is its essence and what is the danger of dependence on the network?

The problem of Internet addiction is really not so harmless. Some psychologists still put it on a par with alcoholism and drug addiction, taking into account the antisocial consequences. According to the results of research on the topic of Internet addiction, it turned out that prolonged and uncontrolled stay on-line causes negative changes in the state of consciousness and in the general functioning of the brain. This threatens a person with the loss of the ability to learn and deep analytical thinking and to do any intellectual work.

In addition to mental disorders, constant exposure to the Internet and developing addiction lead to the fact that a person loses real communication skills and acquires antisocial characteristics in behavior. Thus, all the advantages and conveniences that the Internet provides (Skype, e-mail, online trading), if used without alternative and constant use, threaten to turn into a problem.

In addition to mental and mental disorders, Internet addiction is an indirect cause of physical diseases. The most common consequence of frequent and prolonged sitting at a computer is visual impairment. A sedentary lifestyle that inevitably accompanies Internet addiction affects the condition of the spine (scoliosis, osteochondrosis), the functioning of the heart and blood vessels (arrhythmias, hypertension, varicose veins).

The fact that Internet addiction is a problem in modern society especially clearly demonstrates another serious consequence: disruption of family relationships.

Risks

Gaming or computer addiction in adults threatens problems in family relationships, including divorce. Financial problems often arise, such as unreasonable spending on a computer and the Internet (computer upgrades and fees for Internet services), due to taking out loans and going into debt (especially relevant for casino games).

Losing access to the Internet or failure in a game can cause a state of distress in an individual, leading to nervous breakdowns and emotional disorders. There have been cases of death due to chronic lack of sleep.

In the course of real communication and social interaction, a person learns social norms and values, gains experience and knowledge. With computer addiction and the accompanying social isolation, the individual loses the ability to interact with people. A person can communicate and assert himself in a circle of similar addicts, but in other respects he becomes untenable. For him, categories such as reflection, empathy, self-identification disappear, the ability to put oneself in the place of other people and imagine how others see the individual himself is lost.

For those people whose profession involves working on a computer (programming, writing articles, creating videos and photos, etc.), addiction borders on workaholism, that is, one addiction turns into another and vice versa. You don't have to just play on the computer to feel disconnected from reality. In terms of health consequences, all types of computer addiction are equally harmful.

Features of computer games

Most games are built in such a way that a person looks at the virtual space through the eyes of the hero, that is, maximum identification with the character occurs. It is this entry into the role that causes the loss of connection with reality and with one’s true “I”. A conflict gradually develops between the virtual self and the real self.

Real life is rich in conflicts, communication with both pleasant and unpleasant people, disappointments and defeats, but there are also pleasant sides. In the virtual world, you can create your 100% most comfortable reality. There is a disguise of fear of society.

Signs of addiction

Signs of pathological computer use in adults include:

• feeling good or euphoric while spending time at the computer;
• inability or unwillingness to stop working or communicating on the Internet (in the real world there is nothing more interesting, more valuable or important);
• a systematic increase in time spent at the computer (increasing tolerance), the inability to plan a session at the computer, and, accordingly, other elements of life;
• unsuccessful attempts or unrealized desire to control spending time at the computer;
• a lot of time is spent not only on work or play itself, but also on computer-related activities (searching for programs and browsers on the Internet, increasing computer power, distributing information into folders, communicating on thematic forums);
• neglect of family, friends and work;
• irritation, feelings of emptiness and signs of depression outside of computer work;
• lying or concealing real activities (computer activity);
• ignoring physiological needs, skipping meals or eating irregularly;
• sleep disorders;
• neglect of personal hygiene;
• using a computer despite a pronounced deterioration in health, problems in the family or professional sphere, or the care of loved ones.

In addition, they will hint about Internet addiction:

• the urge to check your email or web page or game profile every minute;
• anxious anticipation of a new access to the Internet, which happens, for example, immediately after work and against the backdrop of ignoring the individual’s everyday responsibilities and physical needs;
• complaints from others that a person spends too much time on the Internet;
• complaints from others (family members) that a person spends a lot of money on the Internet (many modern games require investment).

Physiological symptoms include dry and red eyes, blurred vision, muscle spasms and pain, joint problems, headaches, and back pain.

The diagnostic criteria are two: computer use causes distress; causes damage to the physical, psychological, family, economic, social and interpersonal status of the individual.

The fact that we are talking specifically about the problem of addiction is also evidenced by the withdrawal syndrome, which is observed from a couple of days to a month after the individual has stopped “communicating” with the computer. Manifestations of withdrawal syndrome include:

• psychomotor agitation and anxiety;
• obsessive thoughts about what happened during this time on the Internet;
• finger movements simulating computer activity (voluntary or involuntary);
• fantasies about what is happening on the Internet or what awaits a person when he returns.

Symptoms disappear as soon as the person returns to their previous computer activities.

Kinds

Internet addiction is a constant desire to go online and spend as much time there as possible. There are several types of Internet addictions:

1. Surfing – aimlessly flipping through pages, clicking on different links and reading unnecessary information. 2. Gaming addiction - constant freezing in online games. 3. Financial dependence – there is a constant desire to buy something in an online store. 4. Gambling – frequent participation in auctions, lotteries, drawings, and Internet gambling. 5. Dependence on communication - characterized by a large number of correspondence, participation in chats, forums, too many friends and subscribers on social networks with whom the child is not even familiar. 6. Cybersexual addiction – frequent visits to sites with pornographic content, viewing videos and photographs of a sexual nature, intimate correspondence. 7. Video addiction – watching a large number of films via the Internet, TV series, videos on various topics. Often the viewer cannot even tell what the video they watched was about.

Recently, this dependence has been increasingly observed in children and adolescents. The main symptom is the desire to go online at any free moment. The gaze is focused on the smartphone for a very long time or a lot of time is spent at the computer without a specific goal. Often the reaction to irritating factors around disappears, and when trying to distract from this activity, aggression or hysteria appears.

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Subsequently, interest in the real world is lost, the desire to communicate with real people disappears, there are no hobbies and interests. Obsessive thoughts of opening another website keep you awake at night and distract you from everyday activities during the day. The daily routine, nutrition and sleep are severely disrupted, and, as a result, mental activity decreases.

Personal characteristics of addicts

It has not yet been established exactly what comes first: personal characteristics or computer addiction, that is, the question remains open as to whether the computer causes the following personal changes or whether these characteristics are prerequisites for the development of computer addiction:

• perseverance and perseverance in achieving goals;
• high intelligence;
• disregard for social norms;
• developed abstract and creative thinking and a penchant for creative activity;
• focus on the process of activity, not on the result;
• coldness and unemotionality in communication;
• lack of empathy;
• conflict;
• egocentrism;
• lack of responsibility.

It should be noted that these traits are considered not only in the context of gaming or network addiction, but also in conditions of dependence on a computer for the sake of self-realization and self-development. If we assume that these traits are primary, then it is not surprising that computer addiction arises - in real life, it is difficult for an individual to fully socialize with such a very contradictory set. Then a person finds work online, friends online, educational courses online, etc.

Often the development of addiction is preceded by the individual’s discovery of the opportunity and ability to regularly increase knowledge and master new types of activities, which serves as a source of self-esteem. Along with this, an unexpected awareness of the individual’s own intellectual potential, new interests and hidden abilities or forgotten talents occurs.

For more information about what attracts people to the Internet, read the article “Pros and cons of Internet communication.”

How to get rid of Internet addiction

We recommend that you seek help from a specialist. A qualified psychologist will help cure this addiction.

How to deal with Internet addiction in children

In order to help a child get rid of addiction on his own, the support and comprehensive assistance of parents is necessary.

At the first stage, everyone must understand that there is a problem and it needs to be solved. You need to discuss it with your child and try to explain to him that this is a very real problem that can result in severe mental and physiological complications.

The main thing is to do this in a calm manner - under no circumstances should you shout, get nervous, “put pressure” on the child and accuse him of incorrect behavior. You cannot take away a gadget and leave your child completely without the Internet. It is important to be calm, flexible, friendly and confident.

Recognizing your addiction is the first step to successful recovery. If the child does not understand the scale of the problem, then parents should easily convey this to him. At this stage, there should be no conflict between the child and the parent, because In case of misunderstanding, the chances of cure are significantly reduced.

This was preparation for therapy.

The fight includes the following steps:

1. Assessment of habits - it is necessary to understand why the child “sits” on the Internet so often and for a long time
2. Working with a trigger is a habit that has become the reason for complete immersion in the virtual world. For example, mindless surfing of Internet pages can be replaced by going to the library and searching for the necessary information in books. Games on the Internet - replace with real games (even better in the fresh air). Communication on social networks - walks with friends, sports sections, clubs.
3. Planning your day in such a way that there is no time left to go online. Parents, like no one else, know all the child’s hobbies; they must distribute his time so that he is interested, and you (the parents) participate in this process.
4. The time limit on the Internet is no more than 15-20 minutes twice a day, with one session interrupted for rest or other activities. But here we need to reach a compromise.
5. Exercise and proper nutrition will naturally improve your child’s mood.
6. Monitoring the child’s time on the Internet and the sites he visits – going online should have a purpose. For example, searching for information to prepare for lessons.

Internet addiction in teenagers - what to do, how to fight it?

Helping a teenager get rid of internet addiction will be a little more difficult than helping a child. Firstly, he is already forming the basics of his personality, and secondly, adolescence is an age that is characterized by the judgment that “I am already an adult.”

You need to act wisely, smoothly and carefully. If something goes wrong, your teen may not give you a second chance. His trust is a fragile vase.

Countering symptoms provides only temporary relief. First of all, parents should think about what example they themselves are setting for their teenager. How much time do they devote to him, do they support his interests and achievements? An idyll should reign between you and the teenager. Position the child towards you. This will be helped by heart-to-heart conversations, joint activities in handicrafts, sports, and trips to nature.

Connect to your teenager's interest: play with him, try to develop a plan for the day that is suitable specifically for your child. Do not express assessments and categorical judgments, even if you notice obvious stupidity or a mistake, it is better to laugh it off. For a child, the contact itself is more important, and not the situation in which it is included. Therefore, it will gradually be possible to move the dialogue away from computer topics and away from the computer itself.

A child psychologist says that teenagers have a common mistake: they do not share the professional responsibilities of a psychologist, psychotherapist and psychiatrist. According to the teenager, it’s a shame to go to the “shrinks”! Therefore, first, together with your spouse, visit a pediatric specialist without your child, tell the “case history,” and discuss ways of further cooperation. A professional will definitely give you detailed instructions. Only an individual approach will help bring a child to a psychologist.

The most important thing is that you must understand that your child is sick. The sooner you and your child understand this, the faster and more progressive your treatment process will be.

Causes of addiction

There are several reasons for pathological computer use:

• low self-esteem, anxiety, tendency to depression;
• inability to independently plan free time and life;
• dependence on the opinions of others;
• feelings of insecurity, loneliness and incomprehensibility;
• the hardships of work, study, family, that is, dissatisfaction with one’s life;
• search for new sensations and feelings, something new;
• the desire to receive support, to be understood and accepted, the opportunity to speak out, the desire to get rid of real troubles;
• the desire to stand out from the crowd and improve your computer skills, to become a “guru” in the world of technology and the Internet.

Treatment

There are many tips on how to get rid of Internet addiction. Treatment is determined by the depth of the problem and is selected individually, but the main goal is to return to real life.

Specialized treatment of Internet addiction, accompanied by mental disorders, is carried out with medication (psychotropic drugs), in combination with psychotherapy, physical activity and reflexology.

For those who want to learn how to overcome Internet addiction on their own, we can advise one thing - the way out of the problem is where the entrance is. But simply turning off your computer or limiting its use is not enough. The real treatment of online addiction begins with identifying its causes, which are often socio-psychological in nature. In essence, treatment comes down to solving the problem of existence - the search for new worthy interests and activities, new human connections and relationships with the outside world.

How to fight

Whatever activity a person does at the computer, if we are talking about addiction, then the purpose of such activity is the same - escaping reality, creating the illusion of safety and security, restoring balance and inner harmony. The more a person gets bogged down in the computer world, the weaker his ability to exercise volitional regulation becomes.

Thus, getting rid of computer addiction involves complex work, starting with identifying the specific reasons for leaving reality. These problems are individual, but all addicts are united by a weak ability to adapt, impaired socialization, the desire to avoid decisions and get away from problems, and low resistance to stress.

To cope with the problem, you need to remove the roots of computer addiction:

1. Eliminate the discomfort experienced by the individual in everyday life, that is, increase resistance to frustration and stress resistance.
2. Work on increasing responsibility and determination. As a rule, computer-dependent people are endowed with increased sensitivity to life's difficulties, do not know how to withstand the blows of fate, and deny their own importance in the development of life.
3. Achieve a change in mental state and mood from negative to positive. That is, find interesting activities for the individual in the real world and form positive thinking.
4. Develop coping strategies for overcoming difficult life situations.

It is impossible to cope with the problem of addiction on your own - the patient himself has an altered consciousness, those around him rarely have the appropriate competencies. To determine the true reasons for the desire to escape from reality and work through them, I recommend seeking a personal consultation with a psychologist.

Prevention

The goal of prevention is to help a person realize responsibility for his own health and life, to make the individual informed in matters of decision-making and their consequences, as well as in matters of risk in the computer world. It is easier to prevent computer addiction; every person can do it. Prevention of gaming and computer addiction involves:

1. Formation of media culture and development of personal resistance to the aggressive influence of the computer environment (more about this in the article “Security on the Internet”).
2. To hone practical skills and abilities, socio-psychological trainings are suitable to increase psychological stability, reduce anxiety levels, increase self-confidence, correct self-esteem, develop communication skills, and overcome difficult life situations.
3. Self-realization and satisfaction of needs in the real world, respect for yourself as an individual, following your interests.
4. The ability to express and regulate your emotions, relieve tension.
5. Improving self-organization skills. Start small - making a plan for the day and sticking to it.
6. Ability to rest and turn off the computer on time. At first the computer becomes a means to an end, but gradually it becomes the end itself. Set your daily computer limit and turn it into something meaningful for you. If the work involves a computer, then indicate your daily earnings, which will be sufficient. If you are addicted to networks and games, then translate this into the damage they cause - you missed dinner with your family, you don’t have time to read a book. At the prevention stage, you can still cling to this; at the addiction stage, no “translations” will help.

The main rule for preventing gaming and computer addiction is to live the life you want. Of course, there are generally accepted social norms that must be observed. But where you have the right to choose and vote (work, relationships, hobbies, self-realization), you need to use it.

And, of course, it is important to accept yourself. People run away from themselves much more often than from reality. Actually, this is why reality does not turn out the way we would like - there is no self-love and understanding of oneself.