Digital addict is used to refer to a person who compulsively uses digital technology, which would manifest as another form of addiction if that technology was not as easily accessible to them. Along with advances in digital technology, an increasing number of people are suffering from Digital Addiction Disorder (DAD) or the inability to stop looking at smart phones or other devices.
Manfred Kets De Vries, Distinguished Clinical Professor of Leadership Development & Organisational Change at INSEAD, illustrates the disorder with the example of a participant at one of his workshops.
This person kept on excusing himself regularly from the room. Initially, De Vries thought that the person had a weak bladder or upset stomach. It was only later that the professor discovered that such behaviour was because the person felt compelled to check up on the messages and send responses. With texting addiction, there is an added element of waiting for a response. It is the anticipation that hooks us.
Writing in the INSEAD Knowledge blog, De Vries said since the workshop was a reflective one, he had requested not to be use electronic equipment in the class.
Later, on talking to him, the professor found that he was addicted to watching YouTube video clips. And also he spent “an extraordinary amount of time” on social networking, online gaming and visiting online bidding sites.Asked why he spent so much time on the internet, the person said “being connected” had a relaxing effect on him.
However, like many DAD sufferers, Phil’s excessive computer use had become uncontrollable and seriously interfered with his daily life.
Is this A Mental Disorder?
The symptoms of DAD may resemble impulse-control disorders or even obsessive-compulsive disorders. Also there is no agreement among researchers whether DAD is a disorder in its own right or a symptom of other underlying conditions. However, as in the case of any other addiction, this disorder can completely take over the addict’s life.
Surveys in the U.S. and Europe have noted alarming prevalence rates, ranging between 1.5% and 8.2% of the general population.Though not yet officially recognised as a mental disorder, it is becoming a significant health threat. The time has come to recognize it as a separate and distinct behavioural addiction.
The estimates are even higher in Asia where 30 % or more of the population are experiencing problematic internet use.
However, using the internet intensively does not mean that you are an addict. It only becomes a real disorder when it begins to seriously interfere with healthy functioning in your daily life.
As is the case with all addictions, they influence the brain – both in the connections between the cells and in the brain areas that control attention, executive control and emotional processing.
It triggers the release of dopamine, providing a temporary “high” on which addicts become dependent. Levels of dopamine and serotonin (another neural transmitter that helps to regulate mood) vary from person to person.
On the molecular level, Internet addiction is characterized by an overall reward deficiency that entails decreased dopaminergic activity. Internet and gaming addiction led to neuroadaptation and structural changes that occur as a consequence of prolonged increased activity in brain areas associated with addiction. On a behavioral level, Internet and gaming addicts appear to be constricted with regards to their cognitive functioning in various domains.”
Who Becomes an Addict
Those with relationship issues may use digital “connections” to boost their spirits and to escape from their problems. Stressed out people or those suffering from from anxiety and depression could develop such addictions along with alcoholism, drugs, sex or gambling.
The time devoted to cyber-relationships comes at an expense of time spent with real people in their lives. In connecting with a virtual fantasy world, they have replaced the complexities and richness of real-life human connections.
Children Becoming Early Addicts
Studies have shown that children’s technology use has greatly increased over the past two decades. Children as young as one year of age are using technology, such as tablets, iPhones, and computers. Although these devices can be a good learning tool as it teaches children how to use these technologies, it can also harm them in various ways.
Researchers have found that the use of these devices can cause or contribute to child obesity because children spend so much time on their devices. It is also common for these children suffer pain because they are looking at their screens for long period of time. Moreover, children in the future may experience having poorer muscle tone because of being hunched over while using the devices.
Addiction Fallout
Addicts may become restless, moody, anxious, depressed or irritable if blocked from their digital activities. They may suffer from physical symptoms such as upset stomach, headaches, eating disorders, backaches, poor personal hygiene, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, neck pain, dry eyes and other vision problems along with sleeping disturbances.
With increased time spent in front of the screen, children spend less time playing sports, exercising or participating in other activities, such as reading or engaging with other children. This is not only having a physical effect, but it also is affecting the children’s social development.
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Face-to-face interactions are highly crucial in a child’s development so that they can learn social and communication skills but increased technology time limits this and can impede learning. Because of the technological age that children are growing up in, this is becoming an increasing problem due to its accessibility to children but taking away digital devices would also have a detrimental effect.
Find a Cure
As in the case of eating disorders, the addicts cannot hope to quit the habit all of a sudden. Since internet has become a part of life, they have to learn a balanced approach.
DAD addicts can learn to replace damaging thought and behaviour patterns that trouble them with healthier, more productive ones. In addition, mindfulness-based stress reduction training and group psychotherapy have proven to be helpful.
Others suggest a multimodal treatment approach, implementing several different types of treatment (pharmacology, individual and group psychotherapy and family counselling) simultaneously.
In some cases, the use of anti-depressants is recommended. From a psychological point of view, cognitive-behavioural forms of therapy are frequently the treatments of choice.