Internet Addiction Disorder Linked to Health, Family, Emotional Problems -- What Are The Common Symptoms?

As one parent puts it, "You'd think I was taking heroin from an addict," CNN News reports. This is due to a study posted by BBC News, revealing that addiction is taking its toll among children and teenagers alike. According to the study, 16% of 18- to 25-year-olds are "addict" on their lives online.

As reported by Everyday Health, in 2013, Internet gaming disorder has been included for further study by the American Psychiatric Association. Since internet use addiction is sensationalized, adding up the said disease to the list will be a big leap to especially as it is being reported to affect family, health, and mental issues of an individual. 

As per the BBC News report, Digital Clarity, a marketing agency, conducted a survey among 1,300 adults. They asked the participants whether or not they are ignoring their family due to Internet usage. The study took into account certain parameters such as length of Internet usage per day, irritability due to interruption during online time, isolation from family and friends, guilt felt due to online activities and panicking when offline. The survey resulted in a significant number of respondents admitting to having been suffering the said condition.

"I'm online for most of my waking hours and feel sick and depressed if I lose access to the web," Melissa Scott, one of the respondents, told the researchers.

Internet addiction has been reportedly causing family problems. According to CNN, parents claim, "It's tearing our family apart. It's ruining our marriage -- I feel like I do not exist. I can't get my child to stop." While parents have their own sentiments regarding their sons and daughters engaged in social media, gaming and other shenanigans on the Internet, a child also claimed "My mom's addicted to her phone. My dad tells me not to drive and text, but he does it."

This kind of addiction runs from all ages but is most likely to affect children's development neurologically and physically. Judith Graham from The University of Maine says that connections are established as early as two months; a child's brain is a clean slate where anything can be written. Fewer connections, from parents to their children, may cause underdeveloped synapses among children thus making fewer connections while growing up.

As per CNN, signs of internet addiction may include "obsessive or compulsive gaming, social media or Internet activity; and heightened restlessness, irritability, anger, anxiety or withdrawal when access to it is limited or denied."

People are starting to consider internet addiction a serious condition "But then you realize you spend a whole day sitting on the couch in front of a computer doing nothing, and that didn't really sit well with me," said Scott Marshall, an individual who recently admitted to obsess over online games, told Wuft News.