Internet Addiction

          I never thought about addictions outside of drugs but this show has really brought my attention to a topic I would have otherwise ignored. It's really frightening how many different types of addictions there are that affect people. In the show however, there were people who argued that internet addiction is not a real thing and I think that the defense against that was really believable. We can't just confine ourselves assuming that only drugs are addictive and must open ourselves to other types of addictions so that we can find a solution for them before they actually become a major issue. Besides, "It's not a type of addiction" is probably exactly what people said about drugs and look what happened. Internet addiction is a very probable threat that has already started affecting hundreds of people and with the rate at which technology is advancing, how long until all of us are effected? 

          I really feel bad for the people who are losing everything because of this but I also think that they should still show at least a little bit more self control. After all, hundreds of other people are exposed to the same games and sites, so why don't they become addicted? I think it's because of our mindset. Some people are more dedicated to their outside lives than others so they are at a lower risk of becoming addicted. And others may also have multiple other things to focus on such as school so they have like a "higher calling" that stops them from becoming addicted. I think it's the people with too much free time that are at the highest risk of becoming addicted. After all, an idle mind is a vulnerable mind- words to live by. 

          I think this issue will really make other people realize that technology, although useful on the surface, has a dark essence inside. Because of technology, people are able to work more and get more done but that also increases the demands so really, we haven't gotten anywhere near making our lives easier. And as populations grow faster than technology grows, the demand gets harder and harder to meet. Here is a report from CNN showing some of the world's happiest countries. At the top is Costa Rica. The first thing I noticed was that almost none of the first world countries are on there. The difference between these countries and us, they don't have the technology we do. It's all about perspective. What may look bleak to us, seems great to them. So technology is only as useful as we make it and so far, I don't think we have done a good job, as this addiction shows.

                                                                                                  -Jalees N.

Sources:
          http://www.cnngo.com/explorations/life/denmark-ousted-100-latest-worlds-happiest-country-             561826

Internet Addiction

I feel like everywhere you look there are people trying to make up diseases or addictions to take people’s money, whether there is an actual addiction or not. One of the doctors that spoke about this piece said “it is easy to change the definition of a psychological disorder”. I completely agree with that and this internet addiction is example A. The internet “addiction” seems to be stretching the line of addiction; however, I do believe people become obsessed and that is different.

Addictions can by psychological or physical, recently learned in depth from AP Psych. Physical addictions results in with drawl because the body is lacking or having to remake substances that the drug controlled. Psychological addictions is the user making themselves believe that they need to have the drug or else they will not be able to function, like coffee.

The one leading fact that this internet addiction could be real is the MRI scan that showed more action in the areas of the brain that controlled decision making, emotions, and self-control. These are the same areas that are affected when someone in on drugs. A drug induces the high by blocking certain types of neurotransmitters from brain receptors. There is an actual active substance controlling chemicals in the human body. This is a true addiction. Even though the scans show the same areas activated as those who are on drugs, the people are not having agonizing with drawls like those who are in drug rehab. These internet addicts don’t physically need the internet (seriously you can’t even touch it).

 I think internet addiction could be self inflicted- like a psychological addiction. We use the internet so much in our daily lives that we feel the need to use it. People convince themselves that they must play an online game or check facebook or twitter when they just checked if they had any notifications two minutes ago. Almost everyone I know will aimlessly go through their iPhone on the internet, apps, or social media when we are bored or not doing anything. The kid who was obsessed with online games and had a mental break down when his mom took away his computer- that need is all in his head. Also, that child is obviously not disciplined well if the mom and sister had to hide in a room.

Researchers say people who are addicted to the internet show the same signs as actual drug addicts in their daily lives: the inability to stop even though they claim they will, sleep deprivation, and pulling away from human relationships. These are some of the examples straight from our AP Psych book as signs of an alcoholic. This is so weird. But this also brings to my attention another example of how strong the human mind can be.

Let’s say your friend got a sweet tea and you ordered a coke. You are actually drinking the sweat tea, but it tastes like coke because that is the taste your mind was expecting. After a minute, you realize you are drinking sweet tea and your mind is blown. Trust me this happened to me the other week. I think this can apply to psychological addictions in the way people’s minds control their expectations about how much they need the internet.

 If this internet addiction is real, it’s all in people’s heads. There is no physical demand like the effects cocaine. I think doctors are pushing obsessions over the line to addicts. Seriously, $400 a day for an internet addiction cure? Just send those people to the mountains where there is no internet or cell service- not only is that a free fix, but also it would be funny to watch. Hey look I probably just created another reality show idea. Go figure.

Addiction?

Everyone has been affected by an addiction at some point. More commonly heard of addictions are to drugs and alcohol. These addictions start with the intake of one of the two which triggers a release of serotonin in the brain. Serotonin makes you feel good and so it leads to an ongoing battle between people and their desires until the body becomes reliant on the substance. That’s the beginning of the worst case scenario. However, recently, researchers have found that addiction to the internet may be just as real as these addictions. On Rock Center with Brian Williams, resident professional Dr. Nancy Snyder interviewed many people with this new “disease”. However it seems that new addictions are popping up every day and “we didn’t always call them addictions”. The report was supported with MRI scans of addict’s brains. The areas that are affected include “decision-making, emotions, and self-control”.  It’s hard to grasp that an activity as simple as getting on the internet, where no form of physical intake is involved, can have the same effect on your brain as drugs or alcohol. Dr. Snyder interviewed a woman who said her son was addicted and it changed his entire personality, but it also affects the addict’s social skills. Many researchers think that more research needs to be done in order to officially diagnose this addiction. Like I said, it’s a hard addiction to grasp because it seems like “goofy science”, but for those who are experiencing it themselves and living it, it is a real addiction. Restart is the name of a rehab center that was created to help people who are addicted to the internet turn their lives around. Ironically named, they restart their lives rather than restarting computers or gaming systems. The problem with Restart is that it costs about $400 a day and by the end of an average stay $40,000. However, if you are spending all of your time on the internet and don’t have a job, paying for your treatment could be really difficult. It’s hard to say whether or not being addicted to the internet is a real addiction. In this day and age, people come up with so many “diseases” when really we are all just different. We all learn differently and have different tolerances to substances and activities but I guess we cannot say that an internet addiction isn’t real when we don’t feel like we or our loved ones are experiencing it.  

internet addiction

Today i watched Rock Center on internet addiction and i have mixed emotions on it. It's funny because sometimes i believe my mom is addicted to the internet constantly checking her emails and playing card games. However, I do not think that internet addiction is a disorder. A disorder to me is a sickness or a mental illness which one can not overcome. Internet addiction is definitely something someone can overcome and get rid of. The boy that was talked about in that part of the show was a great example on internet addiction can affect someone's life. However, most teen boys now a days do not play games on the internet as much as they play xbox or other devices in that category. I feel as if internet addiction is simply something stupid that people who have nothing else to do with their lives get brain washed into. The older man that was interviewed on this topic during the show believed that he was a loser in real life, but a winner on the internet. That in itself is just sad. These people need to go out and do something with their lives in my opinion and stop acting like they have to have the internet. The fact that the kids mom had to call 911 because her son was being violent after she took his computer is beyond me. The way society is today is just that though technology is everything to us kids and it sickens parents. Even though i hate being without my phone and without my computer i would never get to the point that someone would need to call 911 on me. It all just seems stupid in my opinion. I honestly don't even think it was worth talking about on television.

Internet Addiction?

Internet Addiction?

Internet addiction isn't real. 

NBC News' Rock Center delivered a news segment only pertaining to a few individuals who have suffered this problem. Internet addiction, as the NBC News anchor asserts, is actually real. However, her justification is not acceptable. She cites a few individuals who have suffered through this, but a handful of people with "internet addiction" does not justify this to be admitted as a medical condition. 

The act of accusing the internet for addiction is ludicrous. Society has underwent a transformation where the internet is now our most important communication medium. This communication medium now serves us in unimaginable ways. Work is now shifted towards the internet and emails, entertainment is now being shown on the internet, families can communicate in closer ways with the internet. This is merely just a change in medium that the press decides to overhype about as an addiction. Just because more people decide to spend time with their internet connected devices to finish work does not justify them as "addicted." 

NBC also aired a few clips of interviews of families who have suffered through a "victim" of internet addiction. However, this segments are not convincing at all. The word addiction goes way too far for these interviews to support. These unlucky individuals are just obsessed with the internet, not addicted. NBC also cited a few neural studies with sections of the brain, but the study itself is incompetent to show any credible results. NBC cites this as a "small study" that compares brain sections with "internet addicted" individuals and everyday people. First, this study was a small study which obviously did not include a majority of people to be credible. Second, this study was the only study NBC cited; this shows that either this study was the only one of its kind, or they are much more competing studies which proves internet addiction is a hoax. 

Though NBC, I believe, did not air this segment to change opinions, they have certainly not provided a convincing argument for internet addiction.

Internet Addiction IS NOT A MENTAL DISORDER

Internet Addiction

 

 

                I don’t understand where this reasoning that “being addicted to the internet is a mental disorder” came from, but it does not make sense. Professionals are claiming that the continued use of the internet is similar to those of substance abusers. I do not see why or how that is true. The internet is a device that connects you to the world. It helps you interact with anything that is happening. Maybe it is just me, but I do not see how being away from the internet can cause the same effects as being at rehab to get over an addiction for heroin for example.

                “The addiction to the internet” can certainly not be classified as a mental disorder. If you spend countless hours on the internet or playing video games then it does not make you crazy. You are just a teenager. Teen lives are consumes by computers and video games. We are under a lot of stress and these are ways to handle it. It may seem bias because I am a teenager, but to me, hearing about someone being addicted to the internet just sounds like a person that needs to get out more.

                Unless someone has actual evidence that the internet produces the same effects on the brain as mind-altering drugs then I refuse to believe there is a thing as internet-withdrawal becoming a serious problem. Some people can fit in better online then in real person. I don’t think they should be denied what makes them comfortable or happy. I don’t think they should spend all their day on the computer or playing games, but just healthy moderation can make an easy fix. Having constant access to what the internet has to offer, I do see the internet as time consuming. I have a problem seeing how it can affect how you live your life.

bull

          There's a huge controversy over the arbitrary lines of psychological disorders/issues. There really is no place where we mark "this is where all problems are labeled medical concerns". So to argue that internet addiction is an actual addiction, underneath our definition of an addiction, sure. Yeah. Fine. It's an addiction. Even scientifically proven through MRI scans, the brains of internet addicts contain abnormal connections just as those of any drug addict would have. I'll admit, it's a real mental problem, because your mind gets messed up when something foreign and unfamiliar is administered to you.

Addiction is defined as "a state of being enslaved to a habit or practice or to something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming to such an extent that its cessation causes severe trauma". I could be in love with my dog, brush it every minute, and the APA would probably label me as a dog-brushing addict underneath the dictionary.com definition.

I think it's acceptable to be screaming about how internet addiction is real and is a growing problem. But it should not be addressed the same way we treat drug addicts. Drug addicts have a serious physiological problem that ties them to certain drugs, and they require serious medical attention. An internet addict shouldn't be taking opioids to curb his/her cravings.

Sometimes mental problems are just issues that you have to face. At best, these addicts should be given a support system. From thereon, I really don't see much more we can do for them. When the dust hits, just deal with it. Your life's falling apart because Mists of Pandaria has just been released and you just can't help yourself. My sympathies will only go so far.

The same goes for other psychological addictions such as gambling or sex. When you start thinking that drugs are the cure for every psychological issue,  you've dug yourself into some deep...


poop


Because that's where all psychological problems are headed, aren't they. Once we've labeled it as a "medical problem", we will begin treating it with "medicine". For some bizarre reason, this keeps the general public happy, as if all these pills provide some sort of sense of security.

It's the same thing as the ADHD epidemic for me. I'll admit that it's a problem. But is it a problem that requires a chemical to "fix" us? Nah. That's bull. Jake can tell you all about how pharmaceuticals try to sell that stuff.

The rehabilitation center the show focuses on is decent. Cool stuff. But I worry where this is going - we need to draw the line where psychological addictions/problems do not require medical attention. Sometimes, you just need to deal with it.

Your life blows because you gave up your friends for a keyboard, mouse, and Dell computer? You're depressed because you haven't showered and your life is going nowhere? Get your mouse together dude. You really don't know what the meaning of pain and worthlessness is. My dad sees flying ghosts and tries to hurt himself because he thinks the FBI is going to take him away and torture him. That's called psychological. That needs medication.

all you need is a pair of nice shoes.

edited by Theo Economos...