Internet Addiction

On Sunday 10 June 2018, the Daily Mail reported that a 9-year-old girl become so addicted to the popular video game Fortnite that her parents found her with a “red-raw” bottom, after soaking in her own urine, because she refused to go to the toilet during her 10-hour sessions.

Initially, she became unruly and aggressive and they were called in by her teacher because her grades were dropping and she was falling asleep in class. She’d lost interest in gym and ballet and they started noticing £50 purchases every month to Microsoft.

After contacting professionals, the young girl is now receiving therapy for her addiction.

In 2018 a psychotherapist Steve Pope, who specialises in addictive behaviours, stated that, "Over the last two months I’ve been ­contacted by dozens of parents with children as young as 8 showing signs of addiction to Fortnite. I’ve been working in this field for three decades and never seen anything like it, how widespread and potentially damaging this is. I know bright kids who will fail their exams this summer because of Fortnite, kids who are stealing from their parents and friends to pay for the extras, kids who urinate in bottles because they can’t bear to leave the game.”

• The Internet provides us with access to some valuable tools etc. but when used in excess, the Internet has the ability to interfere with our work, our life, our relationships and our daily routines.

• Internet addiction is not an official disorder. Nevertheless, it can be a serious problem for some people.

• Internet addiction causes you to prioritise your Internet use above everything else.

• In 2005, Dr. Keith W. Beard published an article in which he proposed 8 characteristics that describe having an Internet Addiction (Use Disorder). He suggested that if five or more of these characteristics applied to you then you may be diagnosed with an Internet addiction. The characteristics are as follows:

  1. Is preoccupied with the internet (thinks about previous online activity or anticipates next online session).

  2. Needs to use the internet with increasing amounts of time in order to achieve satisfaction.

  3. Has made unsuccessful efforts to control, cut back, or stop internet use.

  4. Has stayed online longer than originally intended.

  5. Is restless, moody, depressed, or irritable when attempting to cut down or stop internet use.

  6. Has jeopardized or risked the loss of a significant relationship, job, or educational or career opportunity because of the internet.

  7. Has lied to family members, therapists, or others to conceal the extent of involvement with the internet.

  8. Uses the internet as a way of escaping from problems or of relieving a dysphoric mood (e.g. feelings of helplessness, guilt, anxiety, depression).

• Excessive Internet use has been shown to release dopamine in the brain.

• Internet addicts can suffer from a form of cold turkey when they stop using the Internet

• Their withdrawal symptoms are similar to the symptoms of cannabis, alcohol, and opiate withdrawal.

• Symptoms can include:

  • Restlessness

  • Irritability

  • Sadness

  • Moodiness

  • Rising feeling of anxiety

  • Craving for Internet Use

  • Depression and suicidal thoughts

For these reasons: experts advise to not eliminate your Online use entirely but to set boundaries around Internet use and to reduce it to normal levels

• AddictionCentre.com

• Healthyplace.com - Symptoms of Internet Addiction

• Primroselodge.com - Internet Addiction

• Article - Study finds quitting the internet is as hard as quitting drugs

• Everydayhealth.com - Internet Addiction Guide

• News24.com - Story on 9year old fortnite addict