Understanding Internet Addiction Disorder (IAD) and Its Preventive Measures

By: Dr. Suantak D Vaiphei
Compulsive internet uses is relatively a new mental health concerned. Internet addiction or excessive use of internet is a modern psychological disorder, which hugely affects one’s health, job, economic and relationships in several ways. It is a psychological disorder marked by a compulsive desire to perform one or more online activities, including gaming, social media, or browsing. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) referred to as internet addiction disorder (IAD). Anyone can be affected by IAD, while the majority of people who do so are males in their teens, twenties, and thirties. According to Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI), the number of Internet users in India – 481 million in December 2017, – 500 million June 2018, – 730 million in 2020 – 829 million in 2021. Internet addiction has also been associated with negative academic consequences such as failure, lower grades and career crisis.
Causes of Internet Addiction
* The individual background of excessive computer use is generally comprised of difficulties within the person’s everyday personal environment.
* Psychological problems such as low self-esteem, social anxieties or depression, helplessness uses internet as a way of relieving a dysphoric mood.
* If those affected are unable to develop alternative solution strategies for these kinds of problems and, at the same time, have a high online affinity, there is a danger that they will continue to flee into the virtual world.
* The risk of an Internet or computer game addiction also increases if those affected do not receive sufficient outside support.
Major Types of Internet Addiction
* Cyber-Relationship Addiction
* Gaming Addiction
* Online Compulsions
* Informational Addiction
* Cyber-sexual Addiction
How is Internet Addiction Assessed?
* Preoccupation or salience: Do you feel preoccupied with the Internet (think about previous online activity or anticipate next online gaming/session)?
* Tolerance: Do you feel the need to use the Internet for increasing amounts of time to achieve satisfaction?
* Loss of control: Have you repeatedly made unsuccessful efforts to control, cut back, or stop your Internet use?
* Withdrawal: Do you feel restless, moody, depressed, or irritable when attempting to cut down or stop your Internet use?
* Loss of control: Do you stay online longer than originally intended?
* Interference with work or career: Have you jeopardized or risked the loss of a significant relationship, job, or educational or career opportunity because of the Internet?
* Need to conceal behavior: Have you lied to family members, a therapist, or others to conceal the extent of your involvement with the Internet?
* Escape: 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)? (Amy Bleakley, Sunhee Park, and Daniel Romer, 2017).
Internet Addiction and Psychiatric Symptoms
*Somatization (SSD): conversion of a mental state (such as depression or anxiety) into physical symptoms, also the existence of physical bodily complaints in the absence of a known medical condition.
* Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD): OCD is characterized by unreasonable thoughts and fears (obsessions) that lead to compulsive behaviors. OCD often centers on themes such as a fear of germs or the need to arrange objects in a specific manner. Symptoms usually begin gradually and vary throughout life.
* Depression: Depression is an ongoing problem of mood disorder that involves a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. It is different from the mood fluctuations that people regularly experience as a part of life.
* Anxiety: APA define anxiety as “an emotion characterized by feelings of tension, worried thoughts and physical changes like increased blood pressure. These disorders alter how a person processes emotions and behave, also causing physical symptoms. Mild anxiety might be vague and unsettling, while severe anxiety may seriously affect day-to-day living.
* Aggression: hostile, injurious, or destructive behavior or outlook especially when caused by frustration.
* Phobia: a type of anxiety disorder/ a mental illness that makes someone very worried and affects their life that involves an extreme fear of something.
* Paranoia: a mental condition characterized by delusions of persecution, unwarranted jealousy, or exaggerated self-importance, typically worked into an organized system. It may be an aspect of chronic personality disorder, of drug abuse, or of a serious condition such as schizophrenia in which the person loses touch with reality.
* Psychosis: Psychosis is characterized by an impaired relationship with reality. It’s a symptom of serious mental disorders. People who are experiencing psychosis may have either hallucinations or delusions.
* Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD):Borderline personality disorder is an illness marked by an ongoing pattern of varying moods, self-image, and behavior. These symptoms often result in impulsive actions and problems in relationships. People with borderline personality disorder may experience intense episodes of anger, depression, and anxiety that can last from a few hours to days.
How To Overcome Internet Addiction
* Identify The Most Addictive Element Of The Internet.
* Break the Chain of Trigger-Habit Auto-Response by Injecting a Small Pause in Between.
* Write down the apps that you want to use on a piece of paper and rate the addictiveness of these apps on a scale from 1 to 10.
* Find an Accountability Partner or Seek Therapy or Counselor.
* Change Communication Patterns (online to offline-physical interaction)
* Limit Your Computer and Smartphone Use.
* Block/delete those websites on Select Devices.
* Socialize and meet up groups to find people with similar interests.
* Prioritize Your Needs and set a goal to do your homework first.
* Find Outside Interests
* Keep Yourself Busy
* Ask yourself these 3 Questions:
1. What’s the BEST possible outcome if I stop using this app?
2. What’s the WORST possible outcome if I stop using this app?
3. What’s the MOST LIKELY outcome if I stop using this app?
If your internet addiction has affected your personal relationships or your productivity at work, you may need help from a professional addiction counselor.
Figure out what you’re passionate about and do it every time you feel the urge to check the Internet, play a video game, or social media web. Substituting your negative behavior for a more productive or healthy behavior (such as exercise or art) can help you stay in control of your Internet addiction.
(The author Dr. Suantak Demkhosei Vaiphei is an Assistant Professor in Department of Psychology, Assam Downtown University, Guwahati)