The computer/IT and the contemporary young person – a must, a passion, an addiction, a hobby or?!..... Etien Georgi Maria Milena Rositsa Mira Tzvetkova BULGARIA

Internet addiction disorder (IAD), or, more broadly, Internet overuse, problematic computer use or pathological computer use, is excessive computer use that interferes with daily life.

The prevalence of Internet addiction disorder can be attributed to the fact that it has become increasingly difficult to distinguish between the online and offline worlds or in other words between the real and the virtual worlds.

The Internet has tremendous potential to affect the emotions of humans and in turn, alter our self-perception and anxiety levels.

Internet addiction appears to be a common disorder. Conceptually, the diagnosis is a compulsive-impulsive spectrum disorder that involves online and/or offline computer usage and consists of at least three subtypes:

excessive gaming, sexual preoccupations, /text messaging.

All of the variants share the following five components: 1) excessive use, often associated with a loss of sense of time or a neglect of basic drives, 2) withdrawal, including feelings of anger, tension, and/or depression when the computer is inaccessible, 3) tolerance, including the need for better computer equipment, more software, or more hours of use, and 4) negative repercussions, including arguments, lying, poor achievement, social isolation, and fatigue. 5) health issues, including eye problems, posture problems, bone and muscle issues, overweight or low weight etc.

Excessive use Internet may have some or all the symptoms of drug addiction or other proposed psychological addictions. Some game players become more concerned with their interactions in the game than in their broader lives. Players may play "many" hours per day, gain or lose significant weight due to playing, disrupt sleep patterns to play, play at work, avoid phone calls from friends and/or lie about play time. Relationships with family and friends, and performance at work or school, may suffer.

Dr. Pierce, a psychiatrist at Chicago’s Children’s Memorial Hospital in the US, said one of her excessive-gaming patients "...hasn’t been to bed, hasn’t showered...He is really a mess."

Internet addicts suffer from emotional problems such as depression and anxiety- related disorders and often use the fantasy world of the Internet to psychologically escape unpleasant feelings or stressful situations.

Globally, there have been deaths caused directly by exhaustion from playing games for excessive periods of time. There have also been deaths of gamers and/or others related to using Internet too much.

Some statistics on the Internet addiction disorder (IAD) The IAD appears to be quite a serious problem throughout the world. Many young people, especially youth and adolescents tend to develop addiction at some points of their lives. Let us provide you with some statistical data:

SOUTH KOREA After a series of 10 cardiopulmonary-related deaths in Internet cafés and a game-related murder, South Korea considers Internet addiction one of its most serious public health issues. Using data from 2006, the South Korean government estimates that approximately 210,000 South Korean children (aged 6–19) are afflicted and require treatment. Since the average South Korean high school student spends about 23 hours each week gaming, another 1.2 million are believed to be at risk for addiction and to require basic counseling.

CHINA China is also greatly concerned about the disorder. At a recent conference Tao Ran, Ph.D., Director of Addiction Medicine at Beijing Military Region Central Hospital, reported 13.7% of Chinese adolescent Internet users meet Internet addiction diagnostic criteria—about 10 million teenagers. As a result, in 2007 China began restricting computer game use; current laws now discourage more than 3 hours of daily game use.

GERMANY Germany has recently reported about young persons experiencing problems with Internet addiction and alarmed on this current risk for children and youth.

United States In the United States, accurate estimates of the prevalence of the disorder are lacking. Unlike in Asia, where Internet cafés are frequently used, in the United States games and virtual sex are accessed from the home. Attempts to measure the phenomenon are clouded by shame, denial, and minimization.

BULGARIA Bulgaria misses exact statistical data, but practice shows that there are really lots of young persons – both children and youth, who suffer from IAD. Our case study 1 will describe a young person with IAD and case study 2 will make familiar with another young person who uses computers, Internet and IT for professional purposes, but is not addicted to any of them.

AND NOW WE COME TO OUR 2 CASE STUDIES:

1.First we will present to you a 20-year old person. His fictional name is Peter. He suffers an IAD for the last few years. Currently he is an university student.

2. Second we will present to you a 22-year old person with the fictional name Ivan. He works as an IT specialist at a branch of a big bank in Bulgaria. In the same time he is doing his university studies.

The reason we would like to make you familiar with these two young people is to make a comparison between an addicted person and a person who uses computers and Internet every day for professional reasons, but is not addicted to them.

We would also like to show you through a real personal story the risks – social, emotional, medical etc., that IAD has for a young person.

Prevention and correction Some countries, like South Korea, China, the Netherlands, Canada, and the United States, have responded to the perceived threat of IAD by opening treatment centers.

The most effective treatments seem to be, as with addictions or dependencies, a combination of: psychopharmacology, psychotherapy, and a special program called “twelve-step program”.

SOME REGIONAL TREATMENT MEASURES INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:

CHINA The Chinese government operates several clinics to treat those suffering from overuse of online games, chatting and web surfing. Treatment for the patients, most of whom have been forced to attend by parents or government officials, include various forms of pain or uneasiness.

THE NETHERLANDS In June 2006, the Smith and Jones Clinic in Amsterdam became the first treatment facility in Europe to offer a residential treatment program for compulsive gamers. The clinic focuses on excess gaming being a result of social situations rather than an addictive dependency.

United States McLean Hospital in Belmont, Massachusetts has set up "Computer Addiction Services". Elsewhere, gamers may seek services at generalized addiction support centers. Online Gamers Anonymous, an American non- profit organization formed in 2002, is a twelve- step, self-help, support and recovery organization for gamers. In July 2009, ReSTART, a residential treatment center for "pathological computer use", opened in Fall City, near Seattle, Washington.

Canada At a "Computer Addiction Services"center in Richmond, British Columbia, excessive gaming accounts for 80% of one youth counselor's caseload.

IN Conclusion IAD is a product of the world globalization that affects all countries, all ages and results in serious health, emotional, psychological and social difficulties. Computers and IT in general are very important and integral part of the contemporary person’s life, but they should be used as a vehicle for personal development and not as a life style.