Internet is an integral part of life today. We bank, work, go to school, shop, play, and interact socially online. While internet has many benefits, excessive use may interfere with daily life. This causes work and relationships to suffer, which are both symptoms of Internet addiction. The most common types of internet addiction are internet gambling, internet gaming, pornography addiction and social media addiction.

Signs of Internet Addiction

Meeting 5 of the criteria of the Internet Addiction Diagnostic Questionnaire (IADQ) means you are addicted.

Do you feel preoccupied with the Internet (think about previous online activity or anticipate next online session)?
Do you feel the need to use the Internet with increasing amounts of time in order to achieve satisfaction?
Have you repeatedly made unsuccessful efforts to control, cut back, or stop Internet use?
Do you feel restless, moody, depressed, or irritable when attempting to cut down or stop Internet use?
Do you stay online longer than originally intended?
Have you jeopardized or risked the loss of significant relationship, job, educational or career opportunity because of the Internet?
Have you lied to family members, therapist, or others to conceal the extent of involvement with the Internet?
Do you use the Internet as a way of escaping from problems or of relieving a dysphoric mood (e.g., feelings of helplessness, guilt, anxiety, depression)?

Other Symptoms Include:

Failed attempts to control behavior
Neglecting friends and family
Neglecting sleep to stay online
Being dishonest with others
Feeling guilty, ashamed, anxious, or depressed as a result of online behavior
Weight gain or loss, backaches, headaches, carpal tunnel syndrome
Withdrawing from other pleasurable activities

How can someone get help?

The first step is to determine if there is a problem. One of our counselors which is trained in identification and treatment of Internet addiction can effectively perform an assessment to determine what level of care is most appropriate. For a free confidential assessment, you can get in touch with us via our contact page. An assessment can be completed in 24 to 48 hours depending on our counselors availability. Once this is done, we will discuss together about your particular situation and will look into further steps and solutions.

Net Addiction Center

Internet addiction types