Internet addiction isn’t something new or particularly uncommon. It is now a global issue, one of the defining challenges of our digital era.
Being unable to go even just a few hours without going online, or connecting as you soon as you wake up is not a good sign. It’s not good for your mental or physical health. But when so many aspects of our lives demand us to be permanently connected to devices, or can only be done through an app, what can we do? How do we know when it’s time to switch off – or seek help if it is taking priority over our daily lives.
An addiction that started in childhood, through gaming
One former addict shared her story, confessing that her fixation with the screen turned into an obsession after becoming hooked playing videogames on the Nintendo 64 console.
“It just felt like this kind of living nightmare,” Lauren VB explained. “I felt like I had no quality of life. I was miserable the whole time, and I couldn’t really explain to people why I was so unhappy. I was very confused why I seemed to just keep blowing off the things that were important to me.”
Lauren would spend hours scrolling though webpages, her social life suffered as a result and so did her homelife. She neglected cleaning her apartment, even after a flea infestation. She developed insomnia – her mind unable to switch off and relax, making it impossible for her to sleep.
In 2018, the World Health Organization (WHO) officially included “gaming disorder” in its International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11). But internet addiction isn’t just about how many hours someone spends online, it’s about how that use use interferes with daily life to the point of causing distress.
When to ask for help
Lauren VB sought help from Internet and Technology Addicts Anonymous, (ITAA), which offers free help to anyone suffering from social media addiction, phone addiction, video addiction, television addiction, gaming addiction, news addiction, pornography addiction, dating apps, online research, online shopping, AI addiction, or any other digital activity that becomes compulsive and problematic.
“I didn’t understand that I was suffering from an actual addiction,” Lauren, who shared her story with ITAA, concludes. “I thought that maybe I had an anxiety disorder or it was depression. But none of that ever seemed to really explain what I was experiencing, which was that every morning I would get up. I would have a plan for the day, goals that I wanted to accomplish. But then, it was really not up to me. It just was always up to my addiction.”
People of all ages and from all walks of life attend ITAA support meetings – which are held online via Zoom, by phone or in person with a 12-step workshop.
How do I know if I have an internet addiction?
The ITAA encourage users to faithfully answer these 10 questions:
- Do I ever go online to quickly check something and then discover that hours have passed?
- Do I ever swear off or set limits around a particular app or online activity, and then break my commitments?
- Do I have internet and technology binges that last all day or late into the night?
- Do I reach for my devices whenever I have free time?
- Does my internet and technology usage lead me to neglect my personal hygiene, nutritional needs, or physical health?
- Do I feel isolated, emotionally absent, distracted, or anxious when I’m not online?
- Does my internet usage contribute to conflict or avoidance in personal relationships?
- Have the negative consequences of my internet usage jeopardized my studies, finances, or career?
- Do I hide or lie about the amount of time I spend online or the kinds of digital content I consume?
- Do I feel guilt or shame around my internet use?
Identifying sites that trigger addictive behavior
ITAA insist that their aim isn’t to get addicts to completely abstain from the internet or technology – something that would be impossible in today’s world. But to encourage their members to identify their “bottom lines” – the particular websites or devices that spiral them into addiction, and cut those out. Those could include: Youtube, Instagram, TikTok, Reddit, Google, Fan fiction, pornography…
It’s taken Lauren three years to curb her habit with ITTA’s help but she says her life is a million times better for it: “Now, in recovery, I understand that I can use my computer and I can use the internet and technology in a way that really serves my life and my recovery from addiction. There’s no reason for me to avoid computers. I’m able to use them in a way that supports my life.”
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