1. INTERNET ADDICTION DISORDER BY Mrs.G.Kavitha M.Sc (N), ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, ASWINI COLLEGE OF NURSING, THRISSUR.

2. INTRODUCTION: A new domain have opened in social interactivity by technological advancements in communication tools i.e. internet. It is now possible, from the privacy and sanctity of one's own home, to publish one's ideas to hundreds or thousands of other people, and receive feedback from millions of Internet user’s world wide. This is a categorically different form of human interaction, that is too recent and still changing too fast, for it's implications to be fully cognizant to even the oldest members of on-line virtual communities. Internet Addiction Disorder (IAD) is not like other forms of behavioral addiction, because it involves interaction with others in the context of this new, scarcely researched medium.

3. DEFINITION Internet addiction disorder refers to “the problematic use of the Internet, including the various aspects of its technology, such as electronic mail (e-mail) and the World Wide Web”.addiction

4. CAUSES The mood-altering potential of behaviors i.e Just as a person addicted to shopping may feel a "rush" or pleasurable change in mood from the series of actions related to a spending spree— checking one's credit cards, driving to the mall, going into one's favorite store, etc.— the person with an Internet addiction may feel a similar "rush" from booting up their computer and going to their favorite web sites. Furthermore, from a biological standpoint, there may be a combination of genes that make a person more susceptible to addictive behaviors, just as researchers have located genes that affect a person's susceptibility to alcohol. Internet use might be reinforced by pleasurable thoughts and feelings that occur while the person is using the Internet.

5. CAUSES CAUSES contd…. People with mental disorders or symptoms such as depression, feelings of isolation, stress, or anxiety, may "self-medicate" by using the Internet in the same way that some people use alcohol or drugs to self-medicate the symptoms of their mental disorder.stress From a social or interpersonal standpoint, there may be familial factors prompting use of the Internet. For example to escape from the family conflict, a person might "surf the Web". Another possibility is that social or peer dynamics which might prompt excessive Internet use.

6. CAUSES CAUSES contd…. Modeling -users can witness and experience how others engage in Internet use and then replicate that behavior. The interactive aspects of the Internet, such as chat rooms, e-mail, and interactive games like Multi-User Dungeons and Dragons (MUDS), seem to be more likely to lead to Internet addiction than purely solitary web surfing. The "hyper personal aspect" to Internet communications, i.e. a way to be more selective about how one presents ones self. The kinds of differences between people that might inhibit relationship formation which are hidden. This promotes a sense of group membership, that is solely depended on the perceptions of the receiver. (Wellman, 96).

7. CAUSES CAUSES contd…. People who "lurk" (lurking is a means of gaining access to very personal information in a manner that no real life forum can offer), participate in a read only mode, in chat rooms or email groups, are surreptitiously witnessing the ideas, feelings and interactions of the active participants where as this is not possible in academic discussion forums, where the social norm is the exchange of research ideas and the philosophic debate of social abstraction, this voyeuristic component is not a significant attractive. People who "lurk" (lurking is a means of gaining access to very personal information in a manner that no real life forum can offer), participate in a read only mode, in chat rooms or email groups, are surreptitiously witnessing the ideas, feelings and interactions of the active participants where as this is not possible in academic discussion forums, where the social norm is the exchange of research ideas and the philosophic debate of social abstraction, this voyeuristic component is not a significant attractive. The authors theorized that a form of learned helplessness leads to a negative affect as a general response to life, and that the immediate gratification offers a "temporary respite in the insatiable quest for self-affirmation." (Taber, 87). The authors theorized that a form of learned helplessness leads to a negative affect as a general response to life, and that the immediate gratification offers a "temporary respite in the insatiable quest for self-affirmation." (Taber, 87).

8. SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS: PHYSICAL Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Dry Eyes Migraine Headaches Back Aches Eating irregularities (skipping meals) Sleep disturbances Failure to attend to personal hygiene

9. SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS: PSYCHOLOGICAL The main symptom of Internet addiction is excessive time devoted to Internet use. WHY IS IT SO COMPELLING? Be anyone you want to be Be part of a group and play a role not possible in “real life” Have social connections with other gamers/chatters – reinforcing Maintain a relationship not possible in the “real world”

10. SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS: PSYCHOLOGICAL SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS: PSYCHOLOGICAL con’t. Inability to stop the activity Craving more and more time at the computer Neglect of family and friends Feeling empty, depressed, anger & irritable when not at the computer Lying to employers and family about activities Deny that they have a problem

11. SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS: PSYCHOLOGICAL SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS: PSYCHOLOGICAL con’t. Problems with school or job Having a sense of well-being or euphoria while at the computer But above all: A loss of control over use!!!!!

12. INTERNET ADDICTION SUBTYPES Pornography/Cyber sexual Web surfer Chat rooms/online dating/social networking Gaming (video/computer), online gambling, eBay

13. ONLINE GAMING ADDICTION Warning signs: Play for extended periods (over 4 hrs) Restless/irritable if they can’t play Sacrifice other social activities

14. ASSOCIATED DIFFICULTIES Social Anxiety Disorder Fear of social or performance situations that evoke anxiety Avoidant Personality Disorder Avoidance/reluctance in interpersonal relationships Depression Loss of interest in external world, feelings of sadness, lethargy, appetite changes, sleep disturbance.

15. DIAGNOSIS As previously noted, Internet addiction disorder has not yet been added as an official diagnosis to the DSM IV. The following, is a set of criteria for Internet addiction that has been proposed by addiction researchers based on the diagnostic standards for pathological gambling. The patient must meet all of the following criteria:diagnosis He / she is preoccupied with the Internet (thinks about previous online activity or is anticipating the next online session).

16. DIAGNOSIS Contd… He / she needs to spend longer and longer periods of time online in order to feel satisfied. He / she has made unsuccessful efforts to control, cut back, or stop Internet use. He / she is restless, moody, depressed, or irritable when attempting to cut down or stop Internet use. He /she repeatedly stays online longer than he or she originally intended.

17. TREATMENT Since Internet addiction disorder is a relatively new phenomenon, there is little research on the effectiveness of treatment procedures. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Support Groups Behavior Management Techniques Medication if appropriate for Depression, Social Anxiety Disorder

18. TREATMENT Contd… Abstinence from the Internet: Some professionals advocate abstinence from the Internet. Others argue that it may be unrealistic to have a person completely end all Internet use. As society becomes more and more dependent on computers for business transactions, educational programs, entertainment, and access to information as well as interpersonal communication, it will be difficult for a computer-literate person to avoid using the Internet.

19. TREATMENT Contd… support groups: Learning how to use the Internet in moderation is often the main objective in this therapy, as like how clients with eating disorders come to terms with food selection. Many of the procedures that have been used to treat Internet addiction have been modeled after other addiction treatment programs and support groups. support groups: support groups Psychopharmacology: If a person's Internet addiction disorder has a biological dimension, then medication such as antidepressant or anti-anxiety drug, which may help them with these aspects of the addiction.

20. TREATMENT Contd… Negative reinforcement: Psychological interventions may include such approaches as changing the environment to alter associations that have been made with Internet use, or decrease the reinforcement received from excessive Internet use. Psychological interventions may also help the person identify thoughts and feelings that trigger their use of the Internet.reinforcement Interpersonal interventions may include such approaches as social skills training or coaching in communication skills.social skills training

21. TREATMENT Contd… Family and couple therapy: may be indicated if the user is turning to the Internet to escape from problems in these areas of life. Relapsing into an addictive behavior is common for anyone dealing with addiction disorders. Recognizing and preparing for relapse is often a part of the treatment process. Identifying situations that would trigger excessive Internet use and generating ways to deal with these situations can greatly reduce the possibility of total relapse.

22. GREENFIELD’S RESEARCH a 1998 study of 18,000 Internet users who logged onto the ABC News Web site, abcnews.com foundabcnews.com 5.7 percent of his sample met the criteria for compulsive Internet use participants who met Greenfield's criteria (adapted from criteria for compulsive gambling) were particularly hooked on chat rooms, pornography, online shopping and e-mail a third said they use the Internet as a form of escape or to alter their mood on a regular basis.

23. RESEARCH CON’T "addicted" people were far more likely to admit feelings of losing control in their dealings on the Net other signs include time distortion, accelerated intimacy and decreased inhibition 83 percent of those who fit the addiction criteria reported a “loss of boundaries” when they used the Net

24. Con’t 75 percent of "addicts" said they had gained "feelings of intimacy" 62 percent said they regularly logged on to pornography sites average of four hours a week viewing the material 37.5 percent of that group masturbated while online

25. College Students & Problematic Internet Use Profile of those with higher use (Anderson, 1998) : Majoring in hard sciences (e.g. chemistry, computer science, engineering) Male Low self-esteem

26. College Students & Problematic Internet Use Suffer from problems: Lack of sleep/excess fatigue Declining grades Withdrawal from campus activities Less investment in relationships General apathy when off-line Denial of the seriousness (Young)

27. PREVENTION If a person knows that he/she has difficulty with other forms of addictive behavior, They should be cautious in exploring the types of application that are used on the Internet. They should be cautious in exploring the types of application that are used on the Internet. In addition, it is important for people to engage in social activities outside the Internet. In addition, it is important for people to engage in social activities outside the Internet., mental health workers should investigate ways in which to participate in the implementation of new technology rather than waiting for its aftereffects. Finally, mental health workers should investigate ways in which to participate in the implementation of new technology rather than waiting for its aftereffects.

28. CONCLUSION In long and short, internet has to be availed like fire for the maximum benefit of the human community with no risk The Internet is not the enemy just because people become dependent on it. It has many important and necessary benefits. It is fast, convenient and informative. In many ways it makes our lives much simpler as well as more complex. It becomes a problem when people become so engrossed and enmeshed in on-line activities, and their “other” lives to the point of neglecting their health, relationships, jobs and other responsibilities. In long and short, internet has to be availed like fire for the maximum benefit of the human community with no risk

29. Screening: To assess your level of addiction, answer the following questions using this scale: 1 = Rarely. 2 = Occasionally. 3 = Frequently. 4 = Often. 5 = Always. 1. How often do you find that you stay on-line longer than you intended? 2. How often do you neglect household chores to spend more time on-line? 3. How often do you prefer the excitement of the Internet to intimacy with your partner? 4. How often do you form new relationships with fellow on-line users? 5. How often do others in your life complain to you about the amount of time you spend on-line?

30. 1 = Rarely. 2 = Occasionally. 3 = Frequently. 4 = Often. 5 = Always. 6. How often do your grades or school work suffer because of the amount of time you spend on-line? 7. How often do you check your e-mail before something else that you need to do? 8. How often does your job performance or productivity suffer because of the Internet? 9. How often do you become defensive or secretive when anyone asks you what you do on- line? 10. How often do you block out disturbing thoughts about your life with soothing thoughts of the Internet?

31. 1 11. How often do you find yourself anticipating when you will go on-line again? 12. How often do you fear that life without the Internet would be boring, empty, and joyless? 13. How often do you snap, yell, or act annoyed if someone bothers you while you are on-line? 14. How often do you lose sleep due to late- night log-ins? 15. How often do you feel preoccupied with the Internet when off-line, or fantasize about being on-line?

32. 16. How often do you find yourself saying "just a few more minutes" when on-line? 17. How often do you try to cut down the amount of time you spend on-line and fail? 18. How often do you try to hide how long you've been on-line? 19. How often do you choose to spend more time on-line over going out with others? 20. How often do you feel depressed, moody, or nervous when you are off-line, which goes away once you are back on-line?

33. RESULTS 20 - 49 points: You are an average on-line user. You may surf the Web a bit too long at times, but you have control over your usage. 50 -79 points: You are experiencing occasional or frequent problems because of the Internet. You should consider their full impact on your life. 80 - 100 points: Your Internet usage is causing significant problems in your life. You should evaluate the impact of the Internet on your life and address the problems directly caused by your Internet usage.

34. BIBILIOGRAPHY BOOKS Young, K. S. Caught in the Net. New York, NY: John Wiley and Sons, Inc., 1998. PERIODICALS Beard, K., and E. Wolf. "Modification in the Proposed Diagnostic Criteria for Internet Addiction." Cyberpsychology & Behavior 4 (2001): 377-383. Beard, K. "Internet Addiction: Current Status and Implication for Employees." Journal of Employment Counseling 39 (2002): 2-11. Griffiths, M. "Psychology of Computer Use: XLIII. Some Comments on 'Addictive Use of the Internet' by Young." Psychological Reports 80 (1997): 81-81. INTERNET: www.google.co.in www.searchme.com