14 DAY TRIAL // A recent study by researchers at the Stanford University found that rates of Internet addiction are on continual rise and continue to disrupt lives of millions of people worldwide. There are so many individuals whose whole lives have come to depend on them being online and 'clicking'. There are married couples who break the relationship due to the fact that the husband or wife spends too much time on the Internet, there are people who lose their jobs because they spend too much time surfing the wwws or chatting online. Even if the Internet has many benefits and positive aspects, people around the world should not forget about the fact that they live in a real world, with real people and responsibilities, not in the virtual world.
Lead author of the study Dr. Elias Aboujaude, Director of Stanford's Impulse Control Disorders Clinic stated: "We often focus on how wonderful the Internet is, how simple and efficient it can make things. But we need to consider the fact that it creates real problems for a subset of people." He also explained: "Problematic Internet use, based on my clinical experience and other published studies, is not limited to online gambling or pornography, although these venues receive the most media coverage for obvious reasons. People can also abuse chat rooms, blogs, online auction sites, special interest Web sites, etc."
Publishing their findings in this month's issue of CNS Spectrums: The International Journal of Neuropsychiatric Medicine, researchers pointed out the fact that out of the 2,513 randomly telephone surveyed US adults, 69% were active Internet users. Out of them, 6% admitted that their personal relationships have suffered due to prolonged Internet use, while 9% reported having online habits which they hide when at home or at job. Moreover, 4% of the telephone interviewed active Internet users admitted thinking about surfing while they are offline, 14% said they could not stay away from the Internet for several days and 12% reported that they stay online more than they plan too often or very often.
There is still a difficult question to be given an answer to, namely whether the Internet addiction is a new and unique type of disorder or it is just a symptom of a more 'common', traditional type of disorder. One way or the other, medical experts warn that Internet addicts should receive special attention and treatment, which involve psychotherapy and methods to limit the time patients spend online.
Prof. Aboujaoude advised and taught everyone, including doctors and therapists, how to deal with this type of addiction: "You start by carefully diagnosing them, making sure there aren't any other issues going on that should be treated, such as major depression. When it's identified as an independent entity, then psychotherapy would be the place to start. You give the patient tools to gradually limit their online activities and deal with symptoms of anxiety, restlessness and irritability as they resist going online for non-essential Internet use."