George Wassell

Internet Addiction part 2
By Vivien Bergl, LCSW, CEAP
Employee Assistance Program Coordinator

The internet is an exciting, compelling resource. For those of us who grew up with
rotary phones, it is an amazing invention. As wonderful as it is, people can
develop an addiction to it. In China and Korea it is their biggest public health problem.
According to Maressa Orzack director of the Computer Addiction Study Center at Harvard University’s McLean Hospital, between 5% and 10% of Web surfers suffer some form of Web dependency.

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

avoid the distracting and divisive term addiction and are not limited to any single cause” (from Wikipedia).

How do you know you are addicted or dependent?! Or someone you know? While some examples are obvious, such as the case of the Straws. Michael and Iana Straw were the parents of two children, a boy who was 22 months old and a girl who was 11 months old. The couple was so addicted to an online game that they neglected their children, choosing to spend all of their efforts online, immersed in the virtual realm. When the children were found they were “severely malnourished and near death.”

If you would like to find out more about your level of addiction or dependence, you can take a test
online (ironically) at http://netaddiction.com, click under recovery resources, then self-tests, and the IAT (internet addiction test) is there. People can have a pathological relationship with one aspect of the internet, such as bidding on online auctions, viewing pornography, online gaming or online gambling. Internet addicts often suffer from emotional problems such as depression and anxiety-related disorders. People need to look at what is missing from their lives or within themselves that they reach to the internet to deal with their problems. The use of the computer to avoid pain, loneliness or fear can become a problem.

If you are aware of this problem, you can often take steps yourself to sharply reduce your time on
the computer. Studies show this is often effective. When it is not, it is important to reach out for
help. There are providers that specialize in this field. Treatment facilities exist. In August 2009, ReSTART, a residential treatment center for “pathological computer use”, opened near Seattle, Washington.

Next week, we will talk about internet safety for children and teens.

If you would like to talk about this or any other problem or concern, please call Solutions Employee
Assistance Program at 1800-526-3485 or go on line (safely of course) to www.solutions-eap.com<http://www.solutions-eap.com>

George "Bud" Wassell, M.S., LPC, CEAP
Director, Solutions EAP
213 Court Street
Middletown, CT 06457
800-526-3485
fax: 860-704-6221
http://www.solutions-eap.com