Internet Addiction: When the Computer Becomes a Problem

[David Baxter PhD]

Internet Addiction: When the Computer Becomes a Problem
by Youmasu J. Siewe, Ph.D, MPH.
Published in the Stillwater News Press
April 24, 2002

Your child, student, spouse, friend, or coworker may not be using or addicted to cocaine, heroin, alcohol, prescribed or illegal narcotics, tobacco, coffee, sex, television watching or gambling (just to name a few), but could have a new mental health problem called ?internet addiction?. Thousand of individuals including children, spouses, and students spend hundreds of hours on the computer not learning, shopping/selling, sending/receiving valuable information or contributing to the cyber-pool of knowledge, but have become addicted to the internet. The internet addict is one who spends several hours each day surfing the net, playing games or communicating with ?invisible friends? in chat rooms, to a point where this behavior hurts school or job performance, and also interferes with family as well as social life, including having a care-free attitude towards people. Despite awareness of the consequences of internet addiction, the addict is likely to deny having a problem, and continue to use the computer with more frequency and intensity, thus making his/her problem get even worse.

How is internet addiction determined? Watch for the following behaviors to tell if an individual has become addicted to the internet:

1. constantly anticipates the next online session,
2. spends more time on the internet,
3. decides to spend a brief period on the internet only to discover later that several hours have already been spent,
4. checks email constantly,
5. develops cravings for internet use, and experiences withdrawal symptoms when away from the computer,
6. skips class, work, or late for early morning appointments because of late night hours spent on the computer,
7. prefers to talk to people online than face-to-face,
8. sleeps for fewer hours each night because of time on the internet,
9. engages on online services everyday without skipping,
10. loses track of time after connecting online,
11. haqs infrequent contact with people offline,
12. spends less time on meals at home,
13. eats in front of the computer monitor,
14. sneaks online when parents, spouse, or family members are not at home,
15. gets a feeling of excitement ?high? once on line.

Are the characteristics of internet addiction different from other forms of addiction? No! Internet addiction shares same general characteristic with other forms of addiction, which include:

1. Reinforcement: the addictive behavior produces pleasurable physical and psychological states of mind that leads to;
2. Compulsion or craving: The individual feels a strong compelling need or urge to engage in the behavior, and thereafter plans for the next opportunity to perform the behavior, which leads to
3. Withdrawal symptoms: the individual feels very uncomfortable, obnoxious or irritable if not engaged in the behavior after sometime, leading to
4. Loss of control: the individual loses control over the behavior, and becomes unable to block the desire to engage in the behavior, and likely to deny that the behavior is a problem, which leads to
5. Escalation or tolerance: More and more of the behavior is required to produce the desired effect previously felt on a smaller dose/amount of time engaged in the behavior, leading to
6. Negative consequences: this is when the behavior has serious negative consequences such as problems with school, job performance, difficulties with relationship, health or legal problems.

Is there is solution to internet addiction? Yes, but the first step must involve awareness and acceptance of the problem and a willingness to commit to change.

Youmasu J. Siewe, Ph.D., MPH, is the State Specialist for Public Health Education, Oklahoma