The Causes and Effects of Internet Addiction

What is internet addiction? * Internet Addiction: Destroying your mind. â€Å"Your Brain on Clicks† There are a lot of people today in the world, especially in the Philippines who may have been addicted to different kinds of vices. One of these may probably be called â€Å"internet addiction. † Men and women, even youngsters these days are being pulled out from their spiritual lives by the wickedness of this world and even, I myself have been greatly affected by this. Satan is attacking us slowly, that we didn’t notice what our lives may be doing, because we may usually think it is normal to be addicted to internet, but we know that God hates it. He is a jealous God. God has been hurt in many ways because when He calls us, we can’t hear because our eyes, and ears are focused on the world. In a world of rapidly advancing technology, it is hard to ignore that internet is becoming more and more centric to our lives, worldwide. Yet the convenience the electronic age provides come with a price. The ugly truth is that the internet is as addictive as it is useful. Internet addiction can destroy us in every way, and we find ourselves invariably and unwittingly chained by the shackles of the addictive elements of the internet. The early internet was used by computer experts, engineers, scientists, and librarians. There was nothing friendly about it. There were no home or office personal computers in those days, and anyone who used it, whether a computer professional or an engineer or scientist or librarian, had to learn to use a very complex system. Most people today rely on the web for almost anything. With just one click, one can find information within seconds when it would have taken hours, even days, poring through encyclopedias in the past. Social networking sites have made the world smaller, as we find friends we have lost touch with since childhood years. The Internet also provides online conveniences such as shopping, banking and paying bills. Indeed, it has also changed the way we live. However, technology comes with a price. With the advent of the internet came the proliferation of identity theft and  pornography and, lately, the emergence of also a new  disorder called  Internet Addiction Disorder (IAD), which has now become a subject of research among scientists and psychologists. Similar to gambling in our surroundings, internet addiction is also included in the  process type of addiction,  which is an addiction to certain mood behaviors. People who are internet addicts develop a compulsive habit to surf the net, join chat rooms, and nurture virtual characters by playing online games. People who are caught up in the net due to various reasons, are mostly for relaxation, work, or both. When their balance gets lost, more of their time becomes devoted in the virtual world, and then this is where the internet starts to become addictive. When a person is dysfunctioned, he or she jeopardizes or compromises his work, school, family, and relationships because of spending too much time on the net. If we lose track of time or if we neglect our responsibilities we are showing signs of a person who is extremely absorbed in the Internet. If we continue getting addicted to internet, we might risk our personal health because of excessive use. We might develop unhealthy habits like skipping our meals just to stay online, because we cannot stop the urge of using the net. Most people nowadays in our society are so addicted that whenever they cannot connect online, it brings them panic attacks or other disorders, feeling helpless and irritable. The Bible even tells us not to love the world or things in the world. Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides fore ver. † (1 John 2:15-17) Because of this, as Christians and children of God, we must manage or limit internet use and control the urge to stay online longer than intended, before it becomes a serious problem for us. Recognizing this signs will help computer addicts confront and deal with their addiction and if it still goes on a person should consider getting support from friends and loved ones or seeking professional help if they suspect that they are slowly becoming addicted to the net. * What are the main causes of internet addiction? A real addiction negatively affects home life, interpersonal relationships, work, and emotional health. Often an addiction will negatively impact a person's physical health as well. * A large preoccupation with being online. Often an individual will think a lot about their last session online, and be excited about the next time they can access the Web. * An individual needs to use the Internet more frequently to get satisfaction from the activity. * Feeling bored, upset, restless, moody, depressed or anxiety-ridden when they can't be online. * Becoming angry when someone needs the computer or refusing to share time – most common in households where there are shared computers. * Forgets all about time when online. * Can't stop getting online, no matter how hard they try. * Compulsive lying  to friends and family about time spent online. Puts a job, relationship, or other responsibility at risk in order to continue to spend time online. For example, a person may cancel a date, miss a family dinner, or forget a work meeting because of their computer time. * Uses the Internet to escape frequently. In some cases the Internet may be the only activity that calms an addicted and agitated person down. * When online, or after an online session a person may feel a sense of  manic depression, guilt, anxiety, or hopelessness. * Social Causes * Some people become addicted to the Internet because of the social connections they make online. Some online relationship activity can be useful and healthy, and many people utilize forums for advice or chats for relaxation, but when a person has many close online friends and no one to count on in the real world, problems can develop. * An Internet addicted individual though, will develop highly emotional attachments to online pals or even online dates. Online relationships are attractive to some because it can feel less risky than meeting live people in person. Online friends allow people to escape their real lives and possibly fulfill their needs for emotional contacts that they don't get in real life. Some who are addicted to online relationships may even create pretend personalities or personas of themselves. This is actually a dangerous practice because often the people who create these fake lives are already low on self-esteem or desperately seeking the approval of others. Instead of seeking real help, say from a counselor, these individuals just re-make themselves online, while changing nothing about their real offline lives. This can lead to increased symptoms of depression and feelings of inadequacy. * Personality Trait Causes One  interesting paper  on Internet addiction notes that some people may be predisposed to online addictions; much like one can be predisposed to an alcohol addiction. What the paper points out is that someone with the right mix of an addictive personality, life stressors, and poor emotional health could get addicted if the Internet happens to also fall into their life during this time. * Along with the previous example are people who may become addicted because the internet reinforces a positive feeling. For example, a wife not getting her emotional needs met by her husband, may hop online and find friendly sites and people willing to talk. Each time she has an issue with her husband there are positives to getting online. This reinforces the hold the Internet can have on someone. The Effects of Internet Addiction With most teens and adolescents, there is a thin line between casual Internet use and addiction. The Internet has become a portal to knowledge and digital adventure for many, but some parents fear the negative effects of the unlimited access to all forms of content. Parents specifically take issue with the easy access their children have to explicit material, and the compulsive behavior that can stem from it. Here are the facts on Internet addiction and its effects. Read more:  The Effects of Internet Addiction | eHow. com  http://www. ehow. com/about_5247242_effects-internet-addiction. html#ixzz1gVsf1UIn Definition * According to Helpguide. org, Internet addiction can be defined as compulsive use that interferes with the natural flow of one's daily life, relationships or work. The organization also notes that Internet addiction is not yet formally identified as a psychological disorder. The concept of Internet addiction has gained popularity due to prevailing evidence that shows compulsive use can have a detrimental effect on the lifestyle and health of the individuals who are connected to it. Signs of Addiction * People who have Internet addiction tend to have mixed feelings of both joy and guilt while on the computer. They generally lose track of time and neglect responsibilities. They uncontrollably use the computer to relieve stress, cheer up or for sexual gratification. They feel anxious or irritable when away from the computer and are more likely to alienate themselves from family and friends, generally preferring to make their social connections with strangers online. Social Effect * Internet addiction can be a significant threat to one's health and social well-being in that it enforces antisocial behavior. The addiction can lead to the inability to communicate in the real world by depriving the addict of the daily practices involved with interpersonal communication. The act of using facial expressions or certain gestures to relay intended emotion or emphasize meaning decline as the addict substitutes keystrokes resembling smiley faces, or avatars. Socially, subjects become more inclined to develop personality disorders in which they identify more with their Internet representation than their real-life persona. Ultimately, an addiction to the Internet can cripple one's ability to maintain a healthy social life. Sexual Effect * There is a popular belief among promoters of Internet censorship that overexposure to the type of explicit material available online can lead to a deluded view of real-life sexual interaction and to sex addiction. Helpguide. org defines sex addiction as compulsive sexual behavior that creates negative legal, emotional, career or physical consequences. This behavior is considered a common psychological disorder stemming from Internet addiction. Addiction Candidates * People who are most susceptible to Internet addiction are teenagers, people who already have anxiety attacks or issues with anxiety, those who have undergone recent trauma that has made them home-bound and less active, people with prior addictions and those with a lack of support from their peers or family. People coping with depression are the biggest candidates to find solace in excessive computer and Internet use.