Just as eating, drinking alcohol or shopping can become addictions, so can a person's preoccupation with the Internet. People who are shy, lonely or suffering from other forms of addiction can be especially susceptible to becoming addicted to the Internet. Using the Internet consistently as the main form of stress relief can escalate into addiction and lead to financial or social problems usually associated with other forms of addiction.
Types of Internet Addiction
The term "Internet addiction" describes many behaviors and problems with impulse control. According to the Texas State University Counseling Center, Internet addiction has five main types. Cybersexual addiction is the preoccupation with adult chat rooms or Internet pornography. Cyber-relationship addiction is an addiction to online friendships that replace real-life relationships with friends and family. A person who compulsively gambles online or obsessively participates in online auctions and online trading is suffering from an addiction called net compulsion. Information overload refers to compulsive Internet or database surfing, and computer addiction is an obsession with computer gaming or programming.
Who Gets Addicted
Anyone can become addicted to Internet use if they abuse it, but certain personality types tend to be more susceptible than others. Some people are fascinated by the faceless aspect of the Internet and the ability to enter multiple anonymous relationships with multiple online identities. People with a lot of time not filled by employment or other activities may abuse Internet use out of boredom.
Gender Role in Internet Addiction
The Texas State University Counseling Center says that gender seems to play a role in the type and reason for Internet addiction. Men and women tend to seek specific results from their online preoccupation. Men look for power, status and sexual fantasy in their Internet activities. Sources of information overload, aggressive interactive games and adult chat or porn sites tend to draw men more than women. Women look for supportive relationships online and tend to enjoy the anonymity more than other aspects of Internet use.
Warning Signs
You may be starting to abuse your Internet use if you feel preoccupied with it, such as thinking constantly about your online activity and always looking forward to your next online session. You may start to feel restless, moody or depressed if you try to cut back on your Internet time, and may stay online far longer than you intended. If you have a serious addiction, you may risk the loss of real-life relationships or jobs in order to pursue online goals. You may lie to family members, friends or others in order to hide the extent of your online activity, and use the Internet to escape from real-life problems.
Recovery Techniques
If you suspect you have an Internet addiction, seeking the help of a therapist is the best way to overcome it. An important part of beating an Internet addiction is to realize the things you're giving up to spend time online, such as family relationships and other activities. You can help force yourself to realize the extent of your preoccupation by keeping a log of your daily Internet use. This log will help keep you from denying the amount of time you spend online and the activities in which you participate. Internet addicts often isolate themselves from real-life family and friends. You may need to consciously seek to re-establish these relationships as you begin the recovery process.
