Internet addictions: A real medical menace? Mon Mar 24, 2008
Alcohol, drugs, food, sex, and even shopping are all candidates for medical treatment and are recognized as genuine mental disorders, so what about the Internet? Internet addiction -defined as "excessive gaming, sexual pre-occupations, and email/text messaging" - is becoming so common that at least one psychiatrist says it merits inclusion in psychiatry's official handbook of mental illness, the "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders."
Dr. Jerald Block of the Oregon Health and Science University is the latest voice pushing for this inclusion, noting that tech junkies display genuinely debilitating behavior, including drug-like cravings, withdrawal, and a constant need for more and better gear - just like a substance addict might exhibit.
But other doctors comment that Internet addiction, while it may be real, is too new of a condition and needs further study before being medically classified. There might be something to this: No one wants people being medicated or institutionalized if they aren't genuinely ill.
The "Manual of Mental Disorders" won't be published again until 2012, but an early draft will arrive for public comment in 2009. Meanwhile, mind docs say the problem is growing, now possibly affecting up to 10 percent of Internet users. Recent studies are surprising, indicating the problem is worst not among game-obsessed teens, but rather among middle-aged women who stay at home, constantly on the computer as a way of connecting to the outside world.
Is computer use (or computer downtime) causing a problem in your life? If so, you might be an addict. But you'll have to wait a few more years to find out for sure.
What about a "web-a-holic" who may be using the net on intelligent things. That is, they are not doing IM's, not sitting in chat rooms of the "social" type (those that 90% of the conversation starts out with A/S/L check with responses, or "exchange pix" stuff), and not doing the gambling or playing type stuff. But rather any chat may be in political chat constructively, say about the presidential election. Or perhaps about gardening. How about spending time on website such as these boards, or research before buying a car, or a do-it-yourself site, or food network website. My wife recently got into gardening and is trying to come up with the perfect flower garden. I admit, I'm into geneaology and I could see myself as a "web-a-holic" doing research on family (no, I would not spend money on those websites that claim they'll get personal info for a fee), I found incredible info for a cousin's wife from some small town (government) website, I could see myself spending maybe 5 or 6 hours a day in retirement for example doing that. But dont' get me wrong, that would not mean that household chores would be ignored, doesn't mean I'd would ignore taking the car in for maintenance, doesn't mean I'd ignore my wife.
I guess it's asking is doing "constructive" things online the same "mental disorder" that doing "non constructive" things
Optimists close their eyes and pretend problems are non existent. Better to have open eyes, see the truths, acknowledge the negatives, and speak up for the people rather than the politicos and their rich cronies.
Doing things like you're suggesting will help to keep you well informed, help keep your mind active, keep you from making mistakes when buying items, and doing genealogy can provide a great way to pass the time on cold winter days when you can't do anything else.
I use the web for everything. We research everything before buying anything. We even dabble in ebay occasionally. I don't gamble or play games either. It is also a great way to communicate. I have relatives out of state and we are able to keep in touch and send updated pictures. When my mom was sick with her bypass surgery, I took pictures of her and emailed them to my brother so he could see how she was doing. I find the internet a great resource.
Do they have to label everything people do, to what the "professionals" consider in excess, have aholic associated with it. Like Tony Soprano says, life is just a bunch of distractions. Whether it's the internet, eating, shopping, working, exercising, TV, radio. What's the next label? Those who read the Bible every day or go to church every Sunday will be considered Bible-aholics or Church-aholics. Where does it stop? Why does our society even let Psychiatrist determine what the norm is?
I guess it's just another way for the psychiatry industry to fleece the insurance companies by making them pay for some bulls#@t therapy session for some bulls#@t new disorder.
The end result of the publication of this story are:
(1) Internet addition will become a legally acceptable defense in the court of law (2) Insurance companies, HMOs, etc. will be required by the government to provide cto policy holders coverage for the treatment of Web-aholic-ism. (3) There will be support groups formed (Web-aholics Anonymous). (4) Access to the internet will be restricted. Users will have to sign waivers that indemnify the inventors of the internet (Al Gore et. al.) from damages. (5) There will be education requirements and licensing of those who are certified to be qualified to surf the web. (6) Web-aholic-ism will be a legally acceptable grounds for divorce.
I think a closer look at the medical/legal definiton of ADDICTION might be worthwhile- before someone tells me they are addicted to chocolate icecream-
I am no aurthority but there are some other criteria besides having a reoccouring compulsion-
How is it that the CEO of RJ Reynolds ( until recently ) could testify befor congress that cigarrettes were not addictive- ? Because until recently cigs did not meet the legal/medical definition of addiction-
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