REHAB FOR INTERNET ADDICTS

The Internet has taken over just about every aspect of daily life. From computers to tablets to mobile devices, the online universe is always just a click away. For most people, it's an extremely useful and manageable medium that makes it easy to do everything from conducting extensive research for work or school to watching a full season of a favorite television program in one sitting. However, for some people, the Internet has become the place where they spend most if not all of their time. Their Internet use has spiraled out of control and has negatively affected their personal and professional lives. Many people claim they live their lives online, but Internet addicts really do live online. People suffering from Internet addiction find it extremely difficult to log off. Online addiction can manifest itself in a variety of ways. Some people are addicted to Internet porn, while others have heavy online gambling problems. Still others are addicted to gaming, often spending hundreds of hours a week in front of their monitors. When going online means that you are no longer able to function normally
Although it has not yet been officially recognized as a psychiatric disorder, many psychiatrists and psychologists note that people who are "addicted" to the Internet may actually be suffering from other underlying psychological issues that are manifesting themselves in obsessive Internet use.
Internet addiction is often called Internet Addictive Disorder (IAD). People with this condition have several symptoms, including:

• Internet addicts have an intense need to spend an increased amount of time online. As that amount of time increases, they become less and less satisfied, so their tolerance levels increase.
• Internet addicts experience intense withdrawal symptoms if they are forced to get offline. They'll experience things such as overwhelming anxiety, obsessive thoughts about what they're missing online and dreams about being online.
• Internet addicts will often ghost type, moving their fingers in a typing motion even when not on the computer.
• Internet addicts withdraw from all other aspects of their lives. Their social interactions with family and friends suffer as they pull away from interacting with people offline.
• Internet addicts have a difficult time focusing on their careers and often quit their jobs or are fired.

How Serious Is This Condition?

The fact that inpatient Internet recovery centers even exist means the condition can be extremely serious and disruptive to someone's life. As recently reported by Time, a new study shows that Internet addicts suffer withdrawal symptoms similar to those experienced by hardened drug addicts going through withdrawal. The study compared the withdrawal symptoms of some of the participants to those suffered by people withdrawing from the drug ecstasy. If trying to get offline is akin to trying to detox from a drug, a top Internet recovery program can make all of the difference in helping people deal with their compulsions.