Internet addiction

1. Internet Addiction
Dr.Suresh Kumar Murugesan PhD
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2. About the Presenter
● Dr.Suresh Kumar Murugesan is a passionate Professor, Researcher
and Mental Health Practitioner from Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India
● At present he is Heading the department of Psychology, The
American College, Madurai and Adjunct Professor of School of
Behavioural Sciences and Education at TAU
● He is very keen in learning new research studies in behavioural
Sciences and open to learn.
● His ultimate aim is to make impression in the field of Knowledge
● His area of specializations are Psychometry, Positive
Psychotherapy
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3. Disclaimer
● This presentation is prepared for learning
purpose only and all the images and pictures
used in this presentation are taken from google
image search.
● Due recognition was given to all the material
collected from the various sources.
● Any name or reference is missed kindly bring it to
the notice of the presenter for inclusion.
● Email - sureshkumar800@yahoo.com Thank you
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4. Internet Addiction
Internet addiction is when a person has a
compulsive need to spend a great deal of time
on the Internet, to the point where other areas
of life (such as relationships, work or health)
are allowed to suffer.
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5. Internet
Addiction
The person becomes
dependent on using the
Internet and needs to
spend more and more time
online to achieve the same
‘high’.
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6. Other Terms
Other terms for this addiction include
● Internet addiction disorder (IAD) and
● net addiction.
● Online Addition
● Web addiction
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7. Male and Female
Generally speaking, surveys suggest that
males who are addicted to spending time
online tend to prefer viewing
pornographic websites, while females
are attracted to chat rooms for making
platonic and cybersexual relationships.
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8. Internet addiction
A recent study showed that four per cent of college (university) students aged
between 18 and 20 showed problematic internet behaviour.
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9. Purpose
According to Mental Health America,
people may spend excessive amounts of
time engaged in the following activities
online
● Gaming
● Gambling
● Trading stocks
● Shopping for merchandise
● "Shopping" for relationships on
dating sites
● Cybersex or pornography
● Social media
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10. Signs of IA
According to the American Psychiatric Association, Internet
addiction can include three or more of the following:
● The user needs to spend ever-increasing amounts of
time online to feel the same sense of satisfaction.
● If they can’t go online, the user experiences
unpleasant withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety,
moodiness and compulsive fantasising about the
Internet. Using the Internet relieves these symptoms.
● The user turns to the Internet to cope with negative feelings
such as guilt, anxiety or depression.
● The user spends a significant amount of time engaging in
other activities related to the Internet (such as researching
internet vendors, internet books).
● The user neglects other areas of life (such as relationships,
work, school and leisure pursuits) in favour of spending time
on the Internet.
● The user is prepared to lose relationships, jobs or other
important things in favour of the Internet.
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11. Physical
Symptoms
● Backache
● Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
● Headaches
● Insomnia
● Poor Nutrition (failing to eat
or eating in excessively to
avoid being away from the
computer)
● Poor Personal Hygiene
(e.g., not bathing to stay
online)
● Neck Pain
● Dry Eyes and other Vision
Problems
● Weight Gain or Loss
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12. Behavioural
Symptoms
Emotional or behavioral symptoms may include:
● Inability to prioritize or keep a schedule
● Avoidance of work and negative effects on your school or job
performance
● Isolation and reduced involvement with your family or friends
● Preoccupation with being online, even when you’re offline
● Taking steps to hide the extent of your computer or internet use, or
lying about time spent on your device, according to GoodTherapy
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13. Emotional Symptoms
● Depression
● Dishonesty
● Feelings of guilt
● Anxiety
● Feelings of Euphoria when using the Computer
● Inability to Prioritize or Keep Schedules
● Isolation
● No Sense of Time
● Defensiveness
● Avoidance of Work
● Agitation
● Mood Swings
● Fear
● Loneliness
● Boredom with Routine Tasks
● Procrastination
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14. Different types of IA
The categories of Internet addiction include:
● Sex – the person uses the Internet to look at, download or swap
pornography or to engage in casual cybersex with other users. This
results in neglect of their real-world sex life with their partner or spouse.
● Relationships – the person uses chat rooms to form online
relationships (‘online dating’) at the expense of spending time with real-
life family and friends. This could include having online affairs
(‘cyberadultery’).
● Games – this can include spending excessive amounts of time playing
games, gambling, shopping or trading. This can lead to severe financial
troubles.
● Information – the user obsessively searches for and collects
information.
● Social networking addiction – includes the desire to constantly
monitor social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter. This includes
constantly updating profile posts and checking messages to inform
friends of what you are doing at the present moment.
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15. Causes of IA
The actual cause is unknown. The current range of theories for compulsive Internet use
includes:
● Personality issues – the user may have personality issues that make them likely
to become dependent on a range of things – such as cigarettes, alcohol,
gambling, other drugs or the Internet – given the right circumstances.
● Shyness – people who are shy in real-life situations may be drawn to the
anonymity of the Internet and believe they can be their ‘true selves’ when
online.
● Biochemical responses – the person’s brain responds to the online rewards with
‘feel good’ chemicals and this biochemical ‘high’ encourages dependence.
● Escapism – the Internet is so absorbing that the user can forget about their
problems or escape negative emotions while online. Because it makes them
feel better, it encourages them to turn to the Internet more and more for relief.
● Instant gratification – search engines help users find what they want quickly –
for example information, gambling opportunities or pornography. This instant
gratification encourages them to stay online.
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16. Diagnose of IA
As noted above, internet addiction is not an official diagnosis in the DSM-
5. But a variety of questionnaires have been created to determine if your
internet use is unhealthy. Some of the questions include the following
● Are you preoccupied with using the internet?
● Are you unable to resist your desire to use the internet?
● Do you have to use the internet for certain amounts of time in order
to feel satisfied? And is that amount of time increasing?
● Do you try to decrease your online time over and over again, only
to fail?
● When you can't use the internet, do you find yourself in a bad
mood, anxious, or irritable?
● Do you stay online for longer periods of time than you mean to?
● Have you hidden from others the amount of time you spend
online?
● Do you have any problems with your school or job performance
due to your internet use?
● Has your internet use created relationship problems with family or
friends?
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17. Diagnosis of IA
One of the more accepted diagnostic assessments of
Internet Addiction Disorder has been proposed by KW
Beard’s 2005 article in CyberPsychology and Behavior.
Beard proposes five diagnostic criteria in the identification
of Internet Addiction Disorder in the general population:
● Is preoccupied with the Internet (constantly thinks
about past use or future use)
● Needs to use the Internet with increased amounts
of time to gain satisfaction
● Has made unsuccessful efforts to control, cut back,
or stop use of the Internet
● Is restless, moody, depressed, or irritable when
attempting to control Internet use
● Has stayed online longer than originally intended
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18. Diagnosis of IA
In addition, Beard (2005) suggests at least one of the
following must also be present in a diagnosis of Internet
Addiction Disorder:
● Has jeopardized or risked the loss of a significant
relationship, job, educational, or career
opportunity because of the Internet
● Has lied to family members, therapists, or others to
conceal their involvement with the Internet
● Uses the Internet as a way of escaping from
problems or to relieve a dysphoric mood (e.g., guilt,
anxiety, depression, helplessness)
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19. Prevention
Taking steps to manage your internet use could help you recognize
a problem before it gets out of control. You might try the following,
according to Mental Health
● Take breaks. (For every 45 minutes you’re online, go offline
for 15 minutes.)
● In your free time, engage in activities that are physically
intense or require enough concentration to distract you from
thinking about going online.
● Keep your smartphone or tablet at home when you leave the
house.
● Maintain a log of any internet use that isn’t related to school
or work and see if you notice patterns. Are you going online
to relieve boredom, or feelings of loneliness?
● Keep a list of things that you enjoy doing (or that you need to
do) that don’t involve being online. When tempted to go
online, choose an activity from your list instead.
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20. Treatment
Options
Rather than eliminating online time entirely, treatment for
excessive internet use typically involves learning to set
boundaries around internet use and to reduce it to normal levels
that allow you to function and maintain personal relationships.
Research has shown that a combination of therapy, exercise,
and possibly medication can be effective in reducing and
controlling time spent online
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21. Treatment Options
Some of the more common psychological treatments of
Internet Addiction Disorder include:
1. Individual, group, or family therapy
2. Behavior modification
3. Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
4. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
5. Equine Therapy
6. Art Therapy
7. Recreation Therapy
8. Reality Therapy
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22. Self-help suggestions
If addicted to the Internet and to change that behaviour, try the following
strategies:
● Take note of symptoms – for example, keep track of behaviour,
thoughts and feelings.
● Think about why you use the Internet so much. What makes you
go online? Is there a real problem you’re not facing up to?
● Brainstorm (think about) other ways to cope with your problem that
don’t involve the Internet. Choose some that will work and put
them into practice.
● Use relaxation methods like deep breathing or meditation to
manage anxiety symptoms.
● Rediscover the neglected areas of your life – for example, socialise
with friends, make love to your partner, take your children to the
beach, get out and be active.
● Seek professional help if necessary.
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23. References 1. Natalie Hoeg (August 30, 2021). Internet Addiction.
https://www.addictioncenter.com/drugs/internet-addiction/
2. Elizabeth Hartney (September 17, 2020). How to Know If You
Have an Internet Addiction and What to Do About It.
https://www.verywellmind.com/internet-addiction-4157289
3. Christina Gregory (2021). Internet Addiction Disorder.
https://www.psycom.net/iadcriteria.html
4. https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/internet-
addiction
5. https://www.psychguides.com/behavioral-disorders/computer-
internet-addiction/
6. Rosalyn Carson-DeWitt, MD and Michael Dolan (May 24, 2021).
Could You Be Addicted to the Internet?
https://www.everydayhealth.com/internet-addiction/guide/
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