Headline of the Week Weak
Filed under: Headline of the Week
"Internet addiction is a 'clinical disorder'
Lovesit! CLICK HERE to read the article accompanying this headline.
[Image copyright via J.Pittman, 2008.]
Internet addiction is a 'clinical disorder'
Obsessive internet use is a public health problem which is so serious it should be officially recognised as a clinical disorder, according to a leading psychiatrist.
British psychiatrists have previously reported that between five and 10 per cent of online users are internet addicts
Sufferers spend unhealthy amounts of time playing online games, viewing pornography or emailing.
They suffer four symptoms: They forget to eat and sleep; they need more advanced technology or more hours online as they develop 'resistance' to the pleasure given by their current system; if they are deprived of their computer, they experience genuine withdrawal symptoms; And in common with other addictions, the victims also begin to have more arguments, to suffer fatigue, to get lower marks in tests and to feel isolated from society.
Early research into the subject found highly educated, socially awkward men were the most likely sufferers but more recent work suggests it is now more of a problem for middle-aged women who are spending hours at home on their computers.
Psychiatrist Dr Jerald Block said some sufferers were so addicted to the internet that they required medication or even hospital treatment to curb the time they spent on the web.
He said: "The relationship is with the computer. It becomes a significant other to them. They exhaust emotions that they could experience in the real world on the computer through any number of mechanisms: emailing, gaming, porn."
He added: "It's much more acceptable for kids to talk about game use, whereas adults keep it a secret. Rather than having sex, or arguing with their wife or husband, or feeding their children, these adults are playing games."
Dr Block, of the Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, in the USA, first made the claims in an editorial for the American Journal of Psychiatry.
British psychiatrists have previously reported that between five and 10 per cent of online users are internet addicts.
first
I'm sure it is!
makes sense to me.
first?!
Lame
first
Laaaame.
I AM ADDICTED
First!
ANY ADDICTION IS MENTAL
Addiction Kills.
1st of many
oh crap.
firstttt
FIRSTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT
FIRST!!!!!!!! suck on that whores!
I am Perez, my clothes for sale all suck, I'm a fatass loser, and will likely die within the year (hopefully)
Haha, I think I used to have that.
Lol, my dad shut internet off for a couple days and I was seriously going insane, talking about being addicted.
hummm-…. i need hospitalization PRONTO
oh hey i have that disorder.
i recognize my symptoms, LOL…
I can dig it!
Ummm I don't think they forget to eat. There are alot of fatasses on the internet. Look at youtube.
i spend atleast 10 hours a day on the comp … and most of it is on Perez … SAD
wow
hey!! thats me. lol first
people wtthis add.should die:]byeee.
i know i'm addicted!
i just read that whole article
Could be, but the study has no authority.
Bullshit! You can't have withdrawal symptoms from something that doesn't affect you physically. Psychiatrists can't be trusted.
Re: Brahm – Your retarded, you obviously know nothing about addictions
Wow. It's about time. I wonder if I can sue AOL cuz it caused me to drop out of college back in '95. Seriously. If the smoker can sue and win why can't I?
for sure! when there's nothing on the telly, it is easy to spend hours on the internet just reading drivel like perez hilton.
Re: Brahm –
Obviously you have not met my husband. Withdrawal is an understatement.
LIBERALS SUCK BIG HAIRY COCK. THEY ARE THE REASON WE ARE PAYING HIGH GAS PRICES. THEY WONT LET US DRILL HERE AND NOW. THEY WON'T ALLOW NEW REFINERIES. BARACK IS GOING DOWN IN NOVEMBER! DOWN, I SAY!
So is it going to be put in the new DSM in 2010?
Dr Rand Pink sells OB/GYN Technologies to Bristol Meuers Sqibb for $464 Million Dollars.Announcement to follow via MedPharma Netscience
Rather internet than drugs, alcohol, smoking, and other related activities.
think this could be you sweety ?
Re: Angel – so you're selfish enough to destroy out earth for future generations just so you can have cheap gas prices now?
ahaha.
I get withdrawal symptoms when my dad takes my phone.
Well of course it is! It's one more reason to prescribe medication and one more reason for therapists to have a job! No doubt this assessment has the full support of pharmaceutical companies……
hahaha.
its probably true..and all of US are also addicts
at least we wont DIE from it..right?
I AM ADDICTED and suffer from a eating disorder. but i love myself
wow i must be an addict i spend almost all day till 5 in the morning online drinking coffee and only away to eat,potty,or smoke.
Sign me up for this!
i believe it. for surre
Ihave all those symptoms…..I wonder
I am this… ah well..
i spend so much time on here i even make up profiles of other people on social networks and stalk other girls because i will never have any girl friends so i moved by myself a girl across the state only to work in a warehouse(take about bad k) so not only am i mental ill i cant find a friend or make girl friends or look like a slim girl without a back of a man so i make more profiles up of other people because i cant even stand my own reflection. but i love my life and my family who didnt even come to my graduation. i love my life. and my lisbo mom! and father who touched me. i am addicted to perez hilton and working on my eating disorder
LOL
damn
thats me
I used to visit here be4 until perez ruind my life…i was addicted to celebs and i wanted to BE ONE JUST LIKE ALL OF YA"LL..I WANTED TO BE STNKING RICH JUST LKE ALL OF YA"LL …but now thats a BYE-BYE …thnkfully..but i pity the rest of yull .. still addicted to them .. STILL WANNABEEZ!
helle
I used to visit here be4 until perez ruind my life…i was addicted to celebs and i wanted to BE ONE JUST LIKE ALL OF YA"LL..I WANTED TO BE STNKING RICH JUST LKE ALL OF YA"LL …but now thats a BYE-BYE …thnkfully..but i pity the rest of yull .. still addicted to them .. STILL GAY WANNABEEZ! SAD..
This article is lame. Who cares if people get addicted to the net. Its fun. I dont get why people care so much about what other people are addicted to.
So What!!
yeah ,thnx to perez
OMG! That is so me…I go to sleep late sometimes just cuz i wanna be on the internet..and half the time, Im not really doing anything just browsing or finding something to do XD
Yeah yeah yeah. Classify it as a general addiction. You can grow addicted to most anything - overpriced coffee, soap operas, carrots, whatever….
it happens…..
But I think its better than other addictions.. being addicted to food, sex, alcohol and drugs kills you faster.
this is funny. my mother came to mind actually.. i don't even know why.. but i can truly belive this in todays world.
LOL… that's sad.
Re: Jenn – it's no the same because cigarets cause known physical harm while the internet does not though it may lead to consequential tribulations but those are evidence of misbehavior
sadly enough, i recognize the symptoms
this may have been a problem but i have greater control now
it only exists because i project my personal attributes onto this online egocracy
it won't be long though before it's epidemic and a casual aspect of life as is a driver's test …
For all you guys say it's ridiculous. Let me tell you something, I feel empty when I'm not near my computer. If you're a young kid, get off the internet! Go hang out with friends. I've lost all my friends because of my addiction. I don't even do anything important on here (Except for the occasional paper)
Re: bjfnr – Bite me Camille… seriously..Re: bjfnr –
I believe it…sad…sometimes I think I have this. but it's not that severe.