Internet Addiction: Signs, Symptoms and Treatment

What Is Internet Addiction?

Internet addiction refers to any compulsive online-related behaviour which causes stress on your work environment, loved ones, friends and family, thereby interfering with your everyday life. Also known as ‘problematic internet use’, ‘compulsive internet use’, ‘internet compulsivity’, ‘iDisorder’ and ‘internet dependency’, internet addiction causes you to prioritise your online activity above everything else.

Internet addiction can stem from any (or a combination of) online-related activities, such as:

• Online shopping
• Internet gaming
• Social media
• Online pornography
• Blogging
• Emailing

You might use the internet a great deal, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you’re addicted to it. The problem arises when you use the internet so much that it begins to interfere with your daily routine. If left untreated, internet addiction can lead to emotional, functional, physical and social impairments.

Signs and Symptoms

These are the signs you should look out for:

• Being unable to curb or control your online behaviour
• Hiding your online activity or lying about it
• Being preoccupied with your time online
• Using the internet compulsively
• Regularly using the internet to change your mood
• You’re unable to stop using the internet or cut back, even when you know you should
• You increase your internet use in order to gain satisfaction
• You crave your internet time or are constantly thinking about it
• You experience withdrawal symptoms, ranging from irritability to restlessness when you try to reduce your internet use or stop completely
• You take unnecessary risks as a result of your internet use, whether it’s jeopardising your job or destroying a personal relationship

If you find that you have 3 or more of these symptoms, please call us to discuss your problem.

Short-Term Effects

The short-term effects of internet addiction will vary from one person to the next, but you can expect them to take some of the following forms:

• Gaining weight
• Constantly forgetting your responsibilities
• Leaving your tasks unfinished
• Getting into trouble at work
• Hurting your friends and family by ignoring them
• Financial troubles – especially if you’re addicted to online gaming, gambling or shopping

These are only short-term effects, but the long-term effects of online addiction are even worse. It can make a world of difference to speak to one of our counsellors before the situation worsens.

Withdrawal Symptoms

Clinicians and scientists across the world have found that it’s possible for an individual who is addicted to the internet to experience significant psychological changes when they halt their online activity. While the current evidence on internet withdrawal is not as developed as the experts would like, the following have been identified as symptoms of internet withdrawal:

• Restlessness
• Irritability
• Sadness
• Moodiness
• Rising feelings of anxiety
• Cravings for internet use
• Depression and suicidal thoughts

Have you tried to stop or cut down your online activity, but find that you experience some of these symptoms to a degree? If so, get in touch with us today and speak with a trained and experienced counsellor.

Recovery Treatment

Primrose Lodge have successfully treated many cases of internet addiction, with the help of our brilliant team of experienced and well-trained addiction experts, many of whom have gone through rehab themselves.

Our rehab is CQC approved. See below for a sample of our proven treatments:

• Mindfulness and acupuncture
• Art and music therapy
• Yoga and meditation
• Fitness and massage
• Group therapy
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
• One-to-one counselling
• Relapse prevention techniques

If you have reason to believe that you or a loved one may have an internet addiction, we recommend calling us on 0203 5539263 to speak to an expert.

Rehab Benefits

While not every case of addiction will require professional treatment, rehab is helpful because you’ll:

• Get a bespoke treatment programme
• Be treated by experienced therapists and doctors
• Have your addiction tackled at its root
• Benefit from round-the-clock support and care during detox
• Receive treatment in a nurturing environment
• Learn to establish healthy boundaries
• Learn relapse prevention techniques
• Build new practices and habits to replace your old ones
• Regain your confidence and sleep, feel and look better
• Enjoy free aftercare support for one year

Get Help Today

Countless people find themselves struggling with internet addiction on a daily basis. If you or a loved one have the same problem, Primrose Lodge can help. Recovery can be difficult on your own, so let us provide the professional help that you need.

You can speak to one of them right now by calling Primrose Lodge on 0203 5539263.