you people need help

[cappy]

US internet addicts 'as ill as alcoholics'

* 12:55 18 October 2006

The US could be rife with "internet addicts" who are as clinically ill as alcoholics, according to psychiatrists involved in a nationwide study.

The study, carried out by researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine in California, US, indicates that more than one in eight US residents show signs of "problematic internet use".

The Stanford researchers interviewed 2513 adults in a nationwide survey. Because internet addiction is not a clinically defined medical condition, the questions used were based on analysis of other addiction disorders.

Most disturbing, according to the study's lead author Elias Aboujaoude, is the discovery that some people hide their internet surfing, or go online to cure foul moods – behaviour that mirrors the way alcoholics behave.

"In a sense, they're using the internet to self-medicate," Aboujaoude says. "And, obviously, something is wrong when people go out of their way to hide their internet activity."

Non-essential use

Nearly 14% of respondents said they found it difficult to stay away from the internet for several days and 12% admitted that they often remain online longer than expected.

More than 8% of those surveyed said they hid internet use from family, friends and employers, and the same percentage confessed to going online to flee from real-world problems. Approximately 6% also said their personal relationships had suffered as a result of excessive internet usage.

"Potential markers of problematic internet use are present in a sizeable portion of the population," the researchers note.

Compulsive drive

Aboujaoude, a psychiatry professor at Stanford's Impulse Control Disorders Clinic, says an increasing number of people are seeking help from doctors because of unhealthy internet use.

He compares the compulsive drive to check email, make blog entries or visit websites to substance abuse – an irresistible urge to perform a temporarily pleasurable act.

"The issue is starting to be recognised as a legitimate object of clinical attention, as well as an economic problem, given that a great deal of non-essential internet use takes place at work," Aboujaoude says.

He adds that the problem is not confined to specific types of internet use. "Online pornography and, to some degree, online gambling, have received the most attention," he says, "but users are as likely to use other sites, including chat rooms, shopping venues and special-interest websites."

Previous research suggests that the majority of "internet addicts" are single, college-educated, white males in their 30s, who spend approximately 30 hours a week on non-essential computer use.

Journal reference: CNS Spectrums: The International Journal of Neuropsychiatric Medicine (October issue)

Source:

http://www.newscientisttech.com/article/dn...alcoholics.html

[darkon]

I agree the internet is addictive. Namely sites like Wikipedia where one can expand their knowledge.

[J-Stop]

He adds that the problem is not confined to specific types of internet use. "Online pornography and, to some degree, online gambling, have received the most attention," he says, "but users are as likely to use other sites, including chat rooms, shopping venues and special-interest websites."

Those fucking social people, with their talking to others and such! *grumble grumble*

And what's a 'special-intrest' if it's not porn or gambling?

But, I agree, the interweb leads to bad habits. I'm doing coke as I type this.

On an unrelated note, Coke in a plastic bottle tastes awful. They need to bring back the glasses.

[Svenska Aeroplan]

Hm.. while I do have a compulsion to check e-mail and message boards and stuff, I'd say it has more to do with the fact that I don't have anything better to do on my free time.

Oh, and OCD. That could be part of it too.

[cappy]

its not my fault im a loser with no friends

[Crube]

its not my fault im a loser with no friends

First step to help that: Move out of Ohio.

[stranger]

First step to help that: Move out of Ohio.

said the guy from Kentucky

just kidding, dude

on a related note, i believe that the internet can be addictive, and i believe that some people here are genuinly addicted to it

[Crube]

said the guy from Kentucky

Why do you think I can'tdon't have a girlfriend or boyfriend here? :ohmy:

[FaultyClockwork]

Oh, and OCD. That could be part of it too.

That's no excuse.

Now, it is a good excuse for spending hours editing more music so the song titles are grammitacally correct or for spending 15 minutes trying to figure out the exact place, to the nearest inch, to place a picture on a wall or something like that.

Jezz man. Go try and get something directly centered.

But yeah, I'm addicted to the internet. I am, I am. The power went out for half an hour last night and since then my internet keeps dropping every 5 to 15 minutes. It sucks and it's been ticking me off. Thankfully I had SOME other things to do... I cleaned my room, read, watched a movie, helped an actress with her lines and such... but I still felt kind of miffed and now and again twiddled my thumbs. Plus my mp3 player has been trying to fit nearly 4000 files into it... since 10:00 in the morning, so I have lacked musical flexibility today... which makes me sad. Seriously, it does.

Note: My internet died while trying to publish this post. : \

[Natsu]

wow...I had my first cyber experience playing Everquest online.. that explains alot.

[FaultyClockwork]

Oh, and OCD. That could be part of it too.

That's no excuse.

Now, it is a good excuse for spending hours editing more music so the song titles are grammitacally correct or for spending 15 minutes trying to figure out the exact place, to the nearest inch, to place a picture on a wall or something like that.

Jezz man. Go try and get something directly centered.

But yeah, I'm addicted to the internet. I am, I am. The power went out for half an hour last night and since then my internet keeps dropping every 5 to 15 minutes. It sucks and it's been ticking me off. Thankfully I had SOME other things to do... I cleaned my room, read, watched a movie, helped an actress with her lines and such... but I still felt kind of miffed and now and again twiddled my thumbs. Plus my mp3 player has been trying to fit nearly 4000 files into it... since 10:00 in the morning, so I have lacked musical flexibility today... which makes me sad. Seriously, it does.

Note: My internet died while trying to publish this post. : \

[Samurai Drifter]

I've known this for years.

[Gundampilotspaz]

bollocks

[Ceraziefish]

This summer I used the internet excessively because I had nothing better to do.

Now I do not, because I have homework.

It's not nearly as bad as chemical addiction, I'd say... But perhaps that's just me.

[FaultyClockwork]

I have internet back.

I feel alive again! :hardgay:

[FaultyClockwork]

everyone is searching for a "release" some activity that generates some instant eurphoria. for some its surfing the web

I think part of the problem is that surfing the web can be BAD for your emotional health. You sit there and flounder and don't have social contact. I mean, there's nothing wrong with it and I enjoy the web but sometimes when I have little to do online I sit there and slowly fall into a funk because I'm so used to being on the computer I'm not entirely sure what to do otherwise. And a screen causes so much activity in the brain that it is often harder for people who over use computers to focus on stuff like reading.

I think that's where a problem can come in.

[Pamuya]

i would like to say that i am in the process curing the internet!

[The Lone Magician]

The internet doesn't get me drunk! (but it should!)