The internet can be a major force for good. It has created new industries, has connected people from all over the world to one another, and has been instrumental in shaping the modern world.
People use the internet for so many things. They use it to shop, plan trips, look up old friends and communicate with current ones. Many people use it to look for jobs, which can also be essential to a person’s career.
However, there are many people whose internet use can be problematic.
While it can be hard to avoid internet use in the modern world. Some people can become addicted to the internet and find it hard not to go online, and their problematic internet use can lead to addiction.
It is possible to treat internet addiction, and Sivana Rehab can help people get their internet usage under control.
Understanding Internet Addiction
Internet addiction is a behavioural addiction that can lead to significant impairment in various aspects of life, including personal relationships, work, and day-to-day activities. Individuals who struggle with compulsive internet use often experience a compulsive need to be online, spending extended hours browsing, gaming, or engaging in social media.
This behaviour can lead to the neglect of real-world responsibilities, such as familial obligations, academic pursuits, and professional tasks. Excessive internet use can also impact physical health due to eye strain, a sedentary lifestyle, and sleep disturbances. It should also be noted that while some try to avert eye strain by using blue light glasses, their efficacy is questionable.
Furthermore, internet addiction can also lead to mental and emotional difficulties, such as anxiety, depression, and feelings of isolation, as virtual interactions replace face-to-face communications.
The pervasive nature of the internet makes it challenging to escape this cycle as people turn to the internet for so many things. This difficulty can entrench individuals in their online habits and deepen the negative consequences of this form of addiction.
Types of Internet Addiction
Internet addiction can manifest in a number of ways. Some of how internet addiction can manifest include:
An online gaming addiction is a compulsive urge to play video games, often to the detriment of personal relationships, work, and day-to-day responsibilities. Individuals who struggle with internet gaming may spend excessive hours gaming, neglecting social interactions, academic or professional duties, and self-care.
This behaviour can lead to physical health problems like eye strain, poor posture, and sleep disturbances. Additionally, this addiction can lead to emotional and psychological issues, such as increased anxiety, depression, and social isolation.
Online gambling is the act of placing bets on internet-based platforms. This addiction may result in significant financial and personal consequences. Individuals can spend substantial time and money on these platforms, and their actions often result in financial strain.
Like other forms of addiction, online gambling can affect personal relationships, as individuals may prioritise their gambling activities over family and social obligations.
Furthermore, the ubiquity of online gambling, thanks to glossy ads and easily accessible websites or apps, can contribute to these issues, leading to emotional distress and increased feelings of anxiety and isolation.
Cybersex addiction is characterised primarily by an excessive preoccupation with online sexual activities. Like other types of addiction, this can interfere with normal responsibilities and interpersonal relationships.
Individuals may spend significant time engaging in cybersex activities such as viewing explicit content, lurking in adult chat rooms, or engaging in online sexual encounters.
Like other addictive behaviours, cybersex addiction can lead to neglect of work, social obligations, and self-care. Furthermore, cybersex addiction can cause emotional distress and feelings of guilt and shame, especially for those who grew up in sexually conservative circumstances, and contribute to social isolation.
Compulsive information-seeking is an uncontrollable urge to search for and consume information online, even at the expense of daily responsibilities, personal relationships and mental health.
Individuals who have this addiction will often spend excessive hours browsing the internet, reading articles, and collecting data. Like other addictions, this can result in the neglect of work, social interactions, and self-care.
This addiction can result in mental fatigue, increased stress, and difficulty focusing on tasks. Additionally, it may contribute to feelings of anxiety and overwhelm due to the constant influx of information, which may not always be the most optimistic.
Internet Addiction Treatment Options
A treatment programme for internet addiction will often be multifaceted. Unlike other forms of addiction, treating internet addiction may not necessarily require a person to be fully abstinent, as fully abstaining from the internet can negatively impact a person’s life, given the way that the modern world revolves around it.Â
Rather, the treatment of internet addiction is about refocusing a person’s use of the internet into a more positive one and having betting control of their time online. Some of the aspects of a treatment plan include:
Residential Rehab
Residential rehab can be a potent tool in helping someone overcome addiction. While in an inpatient treatment facility, a person will be in a controlled environment where their access to what they are addicted to may be limited.Â
Many addiction treatment centres also provide people with distance from their triggers and enablers, allowing them to reflect on their addiction with clarity.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
CBT is a form of treatment that can help people identify and change the patterns of thought that can lead to unhealthy behaviours such as those associated with internet addiction. CBT is a dynamic form of therapy that can be adapted for numerous substance use disorders, behavioural addictions, and mental health disorders.
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) can help treat internet dependence by teaching individuals skills to manage emotions, reduce impulsivity, and improve relationships.
By integrating mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness into a person’s treatment, DBT can empower patients to develop healthier coping mechanisms, regain control over online activities, and achieve a balanced lifestyle.
Group Therapy
Group therapy for internet addiction can be incredibly beneficial for recovery. Many addictions can make a person feel alone and isolated, and support groups can offer people a place where they may find a sense of community, which can alleviate the feelings of loneliness that often result from social isolation.
Holistic Therapy
Holistic therapies can be a major part of treating online addiction. These treatments can help people with internet addiction manage stress, which can often be a major trigger for addictive behaviours. Mindfulness practices can also help people manage their cravings.
Many holistic therapies can also help people with an addiction to the internet by occupying time that could be spent on the internet.
Symptoms of Internet Addiction
Internet addiction manifests through various symptoms that impact different aspects of an individual’s life. One of the most common signs is an overwhelming preoccupation with being online. This is when a person’s thoughts and activities are dominated by internet use.
This can often lead to neglecting responsibilities at work, school, or home, as people spend their time online instead. There are also changes in behaviour that include increased irritability, mood swings, and defensiveness when questioned about internet use.
Individuals may also experience withdrawal symptoms, such as anxiety or depression, when they are unable to access the internet. Real-world relationships can also suffer as online interactions replace face-to-face communication, which can contribute to the previously mentioned feelings of isolation and loneliness.
Effects of Not Receiving Treatment for Internet Use
If a person does not receive treatment for excessive internet use, many of the problems outlined above will persist and worsen. Depending on the scope of a person’s addiction to the internet, they may face financial difficulty due to poor work performance and excessive online shopping.
Discover Treatment for Internet Addiction at Sivana Rehab
The internet is a tool; like any tool, it can be used for good. People have used the internet to find jobs, long-lost friends and family members, and even romantic partners.
But like any tool, it can be misused. Many people can become preoccupied with the internet, whether it’s shopping, seeking information, online games, or seeking information.
It would be difficult to stop using the internet, but with the right treatment, people can regain control over their internet activities. At Sivana Rehab, we can help you retake control over your online life and have a more positive relationship with the internet.