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Monday, April 4, 2011

"Internet Addiction Disorder Attacks The Recent Generation"

INTRODUCTION



It has been defined that Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that interchange data by packet switching. It carries various information resources and services such as electronic mail, online chat, file transfer and file sharing, online gaming and inter-linked hypertext documents and other resources of the World Wide Web.



Today, the internet is the largest network in the world, connecting millions of people. It has become a valuable communications channel for individuals, business, and government in the world. Internet can now be accessed virtually anywhere by numerous means. Mobile phones, data cards, hand held game consoles and cellular network supporting that devices technology. It was estimated that the internet grows 100% every years. As of June 30, 2008 there are already 1.463 billion people who used the internet according to the Internet World Stats.

As we can see nowadays, most of the people are very much engage to the used of Internet. Aside from having relevant purpose, they use Internet as means of entertainment and others make it a way of escaping such problem and depressions. It was found out that these are commonly visualizing to young ones and to the youths, particular the students. They prefer to stay longer time in front of their computer regardless of the amount they spent for Internet services. Others have their Internet at home, and others went to Internet Cafes which can be found anywhere today. Due to such peculiar behaviors that have been observe, a new phenomenon disorder was discovered, it is called Internet Addiction Disorder. It is a disorder arises because of improper used of the Internet which result to serious and significant problems, such as I relationships, academic performance, job performances and other more. Anyone can be affected by this disorder and so, some treatments are suggested to apply. But then, prevention is still the best thing to do. Limitations in using the Internet can mostly help.


INTERNET ADDICTION DISORDER


Definition and Description


Internet addiction refers to the problematic use of the Internet, including the various aspects of its technology such as electronic mail (e-mail) and World Wide Web. Internet addiction disorder maybe determined by such activities; pornography, overwhelming and immoderate gaming, inappropriate involvement in on-line social networking sites or blogging and internet shopping addiction. Activities which, if done in person would normally be considered troublesome, such as compulsive gambling or shopping, it sometimes called net compulsions. Others, such as reading or playing to the extent that these activities with normal life.

Problematic computer use or pathological computer use are accepted description for excessive computer use that interferes with daily life. These terms avoid the distracting term, addiction. It was also noted that Internet addiction disorder is not yet listed in the mental health professional handbook, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental disorders, which also called the DSM. Internet Addiction disorder has however been formally recognized by the American Psychological Association.


CAUSES AND SYMPTOMS


Causes


There are several factors that have been proposed as contributing to Internet addiction. A theory concerns the mood-altering potential of the behaviors related to process addiction. When a person is addict to shopping, one may feel "rush" or pleasurable change in mood from the series of actions; driving to mall or going to one's favorite store. The person with an Internet may feel similar "rush" from fixing their computer and going to their favorite websites. It has been found out that there are chemical changes that occur in the body when someone is engaging in an addictive behavior. Furthermore, biologically, there may be combination of genes that make a person more susceptible to addictive behaviors. From social or interpersonal standpoints, there may be familiar factor prompting use of the Internet. When a person is having a conflict in their family, he or she tends to surf the web to escape such depression. Another possibility is that social or peer dynamics might prompt excessive Internet use. There are a person having lack of social skills and would prefer to meet people on-line rather than in person. Peer behavior might also encourage Internet use if one's friends are using it. They can witness and experience how others engage in Internet use then also do same behavior. Chat rooms, emails, and interactive games like Counter Strike are interactive aspects seem to be more likely to lead to the Internet addiction than purely web surfing.


Symptoms


Excessive time spent to Internet use is one of the symptoms of Internet addiction. A person might have difficulty cutting don on his or her on-line time even when they are threatened with poor grades or loss a job. Some students failed their course because they would not take off from Internet use to attend classes. Other symptoms may include lack of sleep, fatigue, declining grades o poor job performances, apathy and racing thoughts. Social relationships and activities may also be affected. They may be irritable when off-line or angry toward anyone who questions their time on the Internet.


Diagnosis


To be diagnosed as having Internet Addiction Disorder, a person must meet certain as prescribed by the American Psychiatric Association. Three or more of these criteria must be present at any time during a twelve month period:



  1. Tolerance: This refers to the need for increasing amount of time on the Internet to achieve satisfaction and/or significantly diminished effect with continued use of the same amount of time on the Internet.

  2. Two or more withdrawal symptoms developing within days to one month after reduction of Internet use or cessation of Internet use ( i.e., quitting cold turkey), and these must cause distress or impair social, personal or occupational functioning. These include: psycho motor agitation, i.e. trembling, tremors; anxiety; obsessive thinking about what is happening on the Internet; fantasies or dreams about the Internet; voluntary or involuntary typing movement of the fingers.

  3. Use of the Internet is engaged in to relieve or avoid withdrawal symptoms.

  4. The Internet is often accessed more often, or for longer periods of time than was intended.

  5. A significant amount of time is spent in activities related to Internet vendors, etc.

  6. Important social, occupational, or recreational activities are given up or reduced because of Internet use.

  7. The individual risks the loss of a significant relationship, job, educational or career opportunity because of excessive use of the Internet.




The patient must meet all of the following criteria:




  • He or she is preoccupied with the Internet (thinks about previous on-line activity or is anticipating the next on-line session).

  • He or she needs to spend longer and longer periods of time on-line in order to feel satisfied.

  • He or she has made unsuccessful efforts to control, cut back, or stop Internet use.

  • He or she is restless, moody, depressed, or irritable when attempting to cut down or stop Internet use

  • He or she repeatedly stays on-line longer than he or he originally intended.




The person must meet at least one of the following criteria:




  • He or she jeopardized or risked the loss of significant relationship, job, educational or career opportunity because of Internet use.

  • He or she lied to family members, a therapist, or others to conceal the extent of involvement with the Internet.

  • He or she uses the Internet as a way of escaping from problems or of relieving an unpleasant mood (such as feelings of helplessness, guilt, anxiety, or depression).



EXTENT PROBLEM


How this phenomenon does affects to the people in the society today?

Nowadays, there are problems existing as an affect of excessive Internet use. One major component of this study is to determine such problems to let anyone realize the negative effects when it is occurring to them.

It has been found out that excessive use of the Internet resulted in personal, family and occupational problems. As shown in table 1, problems were classified into five categories: academic, relationship, financial, occupational and physical. It shows the breakdown of the problems rated in terms of mild, moderate, and severe impairment.



                            Impairment Level
Impairment         None      Mild      Severe
Academic           0%         2%      58%
Relationship        0%         2%      53%
Financial            0%         10%     52%
Occupation        0%         15%     51%
Physical             75%       15%     0%


Table 1 : Comparison of Type of Impairment to Severity Level Indicated



Academic


Student experience significant academic problems as they surf irrelevant web sites, engage in chat rooms, converse with Internet pen-pals, and play interactive games. They have difficulty in completing homework assignment, study for exams, getting enough sleep to be alert for class the next morning. Often times, they were unable to control their Internet use which eventually resulted in poor grades, academic probation, and expulsion from the university/collage.


Relationship


Personal relationships were also noted to be poorly disrupted by excessive use of the Internet, such as marriages dating relationships, parent-child relationships and close friendships. They spent less time with people around them in exchange for the longer time they spent in front of the computer. Among dating and marriages relationships, when addictive behavior continued, arguments about the increased volume of time and energy spent on-line rise. But such complaints were often deflected as part of the denial by addict Internet user. They become angry and resentful to others, even to ther partners who questioned or tried to take them away from using Internet. Marriages and dating relationships werer the most affected when one in the relationship formed new relationship with on-line "friends". They claimed on-line friends to be exciting and many cases lead to romantic relationships and even Cybersex, a romantic conversations were perceived as harmless as these sexual on-line affairs did not involve touching and electronic lovers lives thousand miles away. However, they neglected their partners because of such electronic lovers, leaving no quality time for each other and exerting more effort to maintain recently discovered on-line relationship.


Financial


Financial problem also arose among those who paid for their on-line services, especially those availing Internet in the Internet Cafes. Sometimes, student have difficulty in budgeting their allowance because of staying longer time in the Internet Cafes which also cost more. To those who have their Internet at home, financially impairment is less of an issue as rules are being driven down. Such telecommunication companies ( e.g. Globe, Smart, etc. ) offered flat per month for unlimited services. However, the movement towards that flat rate fees raises another concern that on-line users are able to stay on-line longer which may encourage addictive use.


Occupational


The benefits of the Internet such as assisting employees with anything from research to business communication outweigh the negative for any company, yet there is a definite concern that it is also distraction to some employees and significant work-related problems were observe. They tend to use their access on the Internet for personal purposes. It was discovered that only 20% of the usage was business-related among several companies today. Employees uncertain how to approach Internet addiction among workers and may respond with warnings, job suspensions, or terminations. It only appears rapid erosion of trust.


Physical


The physical risk factors involved with Internet overuse were comparatively minimal yet notable. In general, they were likely to use the Internet anywhere from eight to twenty per week, with single session that could last up to fifteen hours. Sleep patterns are affected due to late night log-ins. They stayed up past normal bedtime hours and still awake being on-line until two to four in the morning, without the concern to wake up at six in the morning to go to work or school. In extreme case, they drink coffee and use other caffeine pills to facilitate longer Internet session. Such sleep deprivation caused excessive fatigue often making academic or occupational functioning impaired and can be able one's immune system venerate to disease. In addition, the act of prolonged computer use resulted in a lack of proper exercise and lead to an increased risk for carpal tunnel syndrome, back strain, or eye strain.


Treatment


As existing problems was identified as a result of Internet addiction, some treatment are suggested that could help in giving a solution to such problems. Since Internet Addiction Disorder is a new phenomenon, there is a little research on effectiveness of treatment procedures. As society becomes more and more dependent on computer for business transaction, educational programs, entertainment and access information as well as interpersonal communication, it will be difficult for a computer-literate person to avoid using the Internet. Learning how to use the Internet in moderation is often the main objective in therapy. Such medication as an antidepressant or anti-anxiety drug may help a person who is having this kind of addiction disorder. Psychological interventions may include such as approaches as changing the environment to alter association that have been mad with Internet use. Psychological intervention may also help the person identify thoughts and feelings that trigger their use if Internet to escape from problems in those areas of life. Interpersonal interventions may also help; improving communication skills to real people around and interact with them.

Although only a limited amount of research has been done on this disorder the treatments that have been used appear to be effective.


CONCLUSION


Although problem effect to the use of Internet, using Internet is not that bad. Advantages of Internet use is the major objective in introducing it to the society. It can help to make things easier. It becomes effective means of communication, tools in such business transactions and others relevant purposes, but if a person go beyond these advantages that are when disadvantages rise. Internet misuse is really rampant today, logging-in to irrelevant websites such as, pornography, interactive games and others. Whether we accept it or not, these effects attack the recent generation. Instead of having busy with their homeroom assignments, students spend their time on Internet Cafes. Others did not come to classes often times go out of budget in their allowance because of spending too much of their money for Internet services. Aside from these, others serious problems also exist.

As Internet Addiction Disorder was detected, it should not be neglected because anyone can be able to acquire such disorder as this. Through some treatment that was presented, it is still the best to have the prevention of having it. Refraining in using Internet in abuse manner could really help. Therefore, using the Internet with the right purpose is the best thing to do, especially to the youth of today that are observed to be the most affected of this phenomenon. Everyone should not let youth's lives to be ruined by such gadgets because they are the ones expected to be the future leaders and hope of our nations.


RECOMMENDATION


If a person knows that he or she is experiencing this kind of addiction disorder and observed peculiars behaviors, they must be responsible in helping their selves to overcome it. Identifying situation that would trigger excessive Internet use and generate ways to deal with these situations are greatly suggested and recommended. In addition, it is important for them to engage in social activities outside the Internet. Presented treatments are also effective when applied.


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