Milan Novakovic

The internet has become a sort of virtual room where you can have access to anything you desire, from interesting games and tools to valuable and informative content, and much more in between. With a growing number of people gaining access to the internet comes an increase in its misuse. Though there are far more dangerous ways of using the web, internet addiction is mostly harmful only to the user himself. Nonetheless, this doesn't prevent people from sitting in front of their computers for hours. How The Internet Describes Internet Addiction Internet addiction has taken its hold to the extent that it has been labeled as a disorder in the recent years, and with good reason. While I was researching the subject, I stumbled upon dozens of case studies and articles dealing with the problem of internet addiction. According to a 2012 study conducted by Current Psychiatry Reviews, Internet Addiction Disorder (IAD) has become a worldwide problem that ruins lives by causing psychological disturbances, neurological complications, and social problems. What's more, Wikipedia - one of the most influential websites in terms of facts - describes internet addiction disorder as excessive computer use which interferes with daily life. The website states that the symptoms of internet addiction were first diagnosed at the end of 20th century. Namely, the term IAD was coined for satirical reasons by Ivan Goldberg, M.D., in 1995. He used the term in his essay thinking it was suitable for his parody. Last thing on his mind that the term would find its users all over the globe. The disorder soon gained momentum and had become one of the most common disorders of modern times. Habits common for IAD are playing computer games, reading, or watching very large numbers of Internet videos. Moreover, IAD is divided into subtypes such as: gaming blogging online social networking Internet pornography etc Internet pornography is perhaps the most severe form of IAD. For that reason, we are going to dedicate a few lines to this world virus. A Word or Two about Porn Addiction Porn addiction has been reported to be most common among younger individuals. Porn addiction develops similarly to drug addiction. Based on the observations and implications for sex addiction conducted by Mark Griffiths and later published in Journal of Sex Research in 2001, an initially rewarding experience with pornography becomes a sort of obsession to the practitioner, hence the urge for pornography becomes more frequent and more powerful. Porn addicted individuals are often overwhelmed with the feeling of shame. Back in the day, it was necessary to buy an adult magazine or solicit a prostitute, which represented a shameful act for those who were in need of those services. Nowadays, porn is available all the time, especially free porn. This is exactly why porn addiction is so common in the today's world. Internet Addiction is One of the Reasons for Disconnection Among People Internet addiction leaves the impact on personal, family, academic, occupational and financial spheres on one's life. Due to excessive internet use, less time is dedicated to real life relationships, thereby causing solitude. Also, individuals diagnosed with IAD are often viewed as socially awkward due to their impaired social skills, or better yet, a lack of social skills. Moreover, these lone riders often incline towards creating fake profiles online - a sort of alter egos - where they pretend to be someone else due to the feelings of low self-esteem, fear or inadequacy. Such negative self-concepts are often the gateways to depression and anxiety. How Do We Help Them? As I surfed the web, I found that many psychiatrists recommend drug use for treating internet addiction. Drug use is treating not causes but consequences. This way, the patient will only end up in a vicious circle - like a dog chasing its tail. Indefinitely. In my opinion, this is not the path they should take for there are healthier and more effective options. The first and the best option (just another opinion of mine) includes acknowledging and getting to know with the problem. I consider myself to be a former internet addict. I spent hours playing video games, unmotivated to anything else. From this perspective, I figure that the problem could be much less severe if only I had been willing to face it. So, instead of buzzing around doing nothing, use that leisure time by getting informed, sharing personal experiences with others, even if it's online. Ultimately, you'll find yourself more confident talking about your problems, which will lead to complete treatment. The second option includes using technology. You know what they say, "Fight fire with fire." There are a number of apps that can help in fighting the disorder, and this article includes the best of the best.