Internet Addiction- The new Digital Drug

Some health practitioners have compared internet addiction to the same high that’s experienced by cocaine users after a hit. Yes it’s that serious. Nowadays, it’s not uncommon to see someone glued to their phone in public places such as bus stop, and even in public transport. The internet and in particular social media has made many people slaves to their mobile phones. The problem is so bad that some people find it difficult to go for a few minutes without looking at their notifications or keeping up with the latest stories making rounds on the internet.

What’s Internet addition?

Simply put, internet addiction is the uncontrollable urge to spend large amounts of time on your mobile phone which puts a strain on relationships and even health conditions such as blurry vision. There is still debate whether internet addiction should be categorized as a mental health condition or not.

Social media is designed in such a way as to draw people more and more and therefore, you’ll find yourself spending more time to achieve the same “high.” Studies have shown that males addicted to the internet spend most of their time watching pornographic materials while females with the same condition spend their time building platonic or online relationships.

Signs of Internet Addition

• Here are a few pointers to help you identify whether you or your loved one is suffering from internet addiction

• Spending more and more time on the internet to experience the same “high”

• Withdrawal symptoms such as moodiness, anxiety and feeling an uncontrollable urge to use the internet.

• The user uses the internet to counter depression, loneliness, and other negative emotions to help them feel better

• The user neglects real relationships and other important activities such as school and or work.

Categories of Internet Addiction

Internet addiction falls into any or a couple of the following categories

Sex- where an internet user spends most of their time looking at pornographic materials or engaging in sex chats.

Relationships- studies have shown that more women use the internet to build online relationships than men. Most of the online relationships don’t blossom into anything serious.

Games- people can be addicted to playing games, shopping online or even gambling which ends up consuming a lot of their time.

Information- the user uses a lot of time searching for different topics and even seeking for solutions online.

Social networking addiction- where an internet user spends a lot of time online looking at what’s happening online or changing their status regularly.

Causes of Internet Addiction

• Untreated mental conditions such as depression, anxiety, and shyness.

• Genetics

• Environmental factors

• Instant gratification

• Escapism

How to Deal with Internet Addiction

Here are a few things to do when you or your loved one is suffering from internet addiction. You should seek professional help for your condition before it gets worse.

Engage with your community

If you’re spending too much time on the internet because you’re lonely, you can take part in community activities such as football or joining a group club.

Meditate

Meditation is a good way to get rid of emotional distress which may be a cause of internet addiction.

Seek professional help

Talking to a qualified person is the surest way to get to the root of your problem. You’ll then be advised on the best mode of treatment based on your particular type of addiction. More than one methods of treatment may be used to treat the condition.

Go out and socialize

Instead of spending prolonged periods of time looking at your gadget, go out and socialize with real human beings. That way, you won’t become a slave to the internet.

Read books

Instead for conducting research online, you can look for relevant information online. This will help you avoid using the interent when it's not necessary.