Addiction to internet 'is an illness'

UK Observer ^ | March 23 2008 | David Smith

[Aristotelian]

Tense? Angry? Can't get online? Internet addiction is now a serious public health issue that should be officially recognised as a clinical disorder, according to a leading psychiatrist.

Excessive gaming, viewing online pornography, emailing and text messaging have been identified as causes of a compulsive-impulsive disorder by Dr Jerald Block, author of an editorial for the respected American Journal of Psychiatry. Block argues that the disorder is now so common that it merits inclusion in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, the profession's primary resource to categorise and diagnose mental illnesses. He says internet addiction has four main components:

· Excessive use, often associated with a loss of sense of time or a neglect of basic drives;

· Withdrawal, including feelings of anger, tension and/or depression when the computer is inaccessible;

· The need for better computers, more software, or more hours of use;

· Negative repercussions, including arguments, lying, poor achievement, social isolation and fatigue.

A primary case study is South Korea, which has the greatest use of broadband in the world. Block points out that 10 people died from blood clots from remaining seated for long periods in internet cafes and another was murdered because of an online game.

[Aristotelian]

another was murdered because of an online game.

Didn't anyone tell him that the idea of virtual reality is to simulate death and destruction?

[CindyDawg]

Hey,Doc. Some of us don’t want to be “cured”

[kingattax]

[doc1019]

Amen!

[Clintonfatigued]

Does this make FR a drug?

[cripplecreek]

Ask me again at 4AM.

[cardinal4]

LOL, I guess Im an addict! Between FR and the blogs Im always online..

[Rudder]

When everything is an addiction the word has lost its meaning. The article is B.S.

[Colonel_Flagg]

Addiction to internet 'is an illness'

Achoo! :D

[Battle Axe]

Is it ok to leave my computer on all the time???

[cripplecreek]

If it weren’t for the laptop I’d never leave the house. During the summer I sit at the picinic table and FReep by the lake.

[rlmorel]

Hi.

My Name is Bob.

I’m a Freepaholic.

[JennysCool]

Anytime I see one of these sorts of articles, I think of my still-TV-addicted friends simply sitting there ingesting what the cable company is feeding them. The internet allows people to make their own entertainment / information choices, from an almost-unlimited menu, and a whole lot of people don’t like that.

[Rocky]

Freeper Madness. It’s an addictive drug.

[Bahbah]

When everything is an addiction the word has lost its meaning.

What a great comment, and insight.

[ThomasThomas]

We are fully warned on the home page.

Jump right in!
Most visitors to Free Republic are attracted to our very popular (and, warning: addictive) conservative news and discussion forum which can be found by clicking here or following any of the forum links in the sidebars.

[Lijahsbubbe]

Good news! Now we can collect SSI and sit online all day!

[cardinal4]

During the summer I sit at the picinic table and FReep by the lake.

I freep with my blackberry..*hangs head in shame*

[mamelukesabre]

I had to look up “facebook” on wikipedia because I never heard of it. You know what? After reading all about it, I still don’t understand it.

What the hell is facebook?

[SandRat]

Hi.

My Name is Bob.

I’m a FReepaholic.

[Content Provider]

(the alt text is the kicker)

[STE=Q]

OK. I’m busted.

Where do I go for rehab?

Take your time with the answer, I’ll be on line for at least another six hours.

[ErnBatavia]

it’s a drug, and JimRob is our dealer. He’ll be going down soon - probably to Pelican Bay.

[doc1019]

I’m not addicted to the Internet, anytime during my 12 or 14 hours “surfing” on an average day, I can walk away. I just choose not to … no addiction here. ;-)

[devane617]

guilty

[rlmorel]

Come on.

Yer supposed to say: “Hi Bob”.

:)

[monkeycard]

The very idea that someone on the Internet is able to easily uncover the lies of the MSM obviously makes the very practice an illness.

[mylife]

So you’ve found a tongue and it is taken from you and you feel frustrated by that. Thats addiction?

The internet is a communication tool

[rlmorel]

[Bob]

I wonder if there’s an on-line help site for this. :=)

[ErnBatavia]

[barker]

Most visitors to Free Republic are attracted to our very popular (and, warning: addictive) conservative news and discussion forum .....

Wonder why FR has the sign off option. I never log off here. FR is the first place I go when I'm online.

[Fiddlstix]

In the early days of IRC there were a lot of jokes about being "addicted".
IRC was laughingly called by high school and college (mostly) students "I Repeat Classes" (IRC)
Somewhere around here I still have a list of those old "You might be Addicted to the Internet IF:" jokes going back to the early-mid 1990's.

I Am NOT Addicted!

LOL

[Content Provider]

Here’s where I’m getting them from:

http://www.xkcd.com/

It’s seriously nerdy... a lot of totally off-the-wall stuff.

[Rocky]

Warning: The Internet General Has Determined That Excessive Freeping Is Dangerous to Your Health

Just say no.

[cardinal4]

Good news! Now we can collect SSI and sit online all day!

Yay, Im a victim!

[ThomasThomas]

It is not that everything is an addiction, but that anything can be an addiction. This link is a great example of this fact of life.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYKuirTH6cI

[Professional Engineer]

I remember reading that about 8 years ago. I can quit any time I want. Really.

[meanie monster]

I am addicted! lol

[doc1019]

ROFL!

[CindyDawg]

Exactly’) Besides I still get stuff done. I just take the lap top with me. The best toy I have ever had.

[mylife]

I have made some good friends here on FR.
More readily than with my neighbors. Here I find folks of like mind (for the most part) I suppose that allows us to fixate to some extent and not engage folks who are different.

But we do that in life all the time.

[MaxMax]

I'm never wrong!

[DCPatriot]

That was great! Thank you.

[CindyDawg]

Sign off? That’s an option? I wonder if we can get a handicapped parking permit now. Surely this is covered under the ADA.

[rlmorel]

This is my new kitten...I think he is an addict as well.

[CindyDawg]

You think Freepers are a special sub category?

[Content Provider]

And right back at you...

[stylin19a]

I agree. I realized i was addicted to the Internet.

I found an Internet 12 step group that deals with Internet addiction.

It was ok in the beginning, but it's not going so well now.
Meetings are lasting 10-12 hours a day.

[Perseverando]

Don’t worry Freepers, there is help for Free Republic addiction. It’s a 12 “click” program. And keep coming back.