Addiction to internet 'is an illness' - Empty Closets - A safe online community for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered people coming out

tehnathan · 24th Mar 2008, 08:06 PM

New evidence shows that heavy users suffer isolation, fatigue and withdrawal symptoms

David Smith, technology correspondent
The Observer,
Sunday March 23 2008

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.

clicky for more

CrimsonThunder · 24th Mar 2008, 08:55 PM

David Smith is a bit behind the times, this has been going around for ages.

Micah · 24th Mar 2008, 08:59 PM

Addiction or esculated dependancy on anything, whether it be a substance, activity or physical object is an 'illness' or psychological problem.

pirateninja · 25th Mar 2008, 05:23 AM

I am now officially clinically ill

Alexander · 25th Mar 2008, 05:43 AM

There's a big difference between addiction and spending a lot of time online. If you can spend hours and hours online, but you can get up to use the bathroom and eat food and grab the mail, and then get off when you need to do something, you're probably fine. But if you find yourself mindlessly visiting sites just because you have nothing else to do online, then you might need to turn off the pc

sexyalex · 25th Mar 2008, 07:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by applovr

There's a big difference between addiction and spending a lot of time online. If you can spend hours and hours online, but you can get up to use the bathroom and eat food and grab the mail, and then get off when you need to do something, you're probably fine. But if you find yourself mindlessly visiting sites just because you have nothing else to do online, then you might need to turn off the pc

hewww, that drove me scared!

i thought that applied to me

seriously, i spend 346 hours monthly online....is that allot of time?

Psychedelic Bookmarks · 25th Mar 2008, 10:41 AM

You can get addicted to anything, as Micah says. And it's never good.

divadarya · 25th Mar 2008, 10:57 AM

There are also College Professors addicted to creating meaningless studies to randomly frighten people
Just sayin...

HalfInsane · 25th Mar 2008, 01:53 PM

What, addicted? Me? I don't have a problem... AHAHAHA!!!! *runs away*

Quote:

Originally Posted by divadarya

There are also College Professors addicted to creating meaningless studies to randomly frighten people
Just sayin...

Too true.

Steam Giant · 26th Mar 2008, 04:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tehnathan

New evidence shows that heavy users suffer isolation, fatigue and withdrawal symptoms

I couldn't agree more. Since my financial situation has always been unstable, there have been quite a few times where we can't afford to have internet access, and every time I go through major withdrawal, like, physically. So yeah, I believe it.

26th Mar 2008, 07:57 AM

I've been excessively addicted to gaming, and it almost ruined my life!
this is serious.

24th Mar 2008, 08:06 PM	#1
tehnathan Aspiring Student Full Member Gender: Male Orientation: That way. Over there. Or is it that way? Out Status: It's not a big deal. If people want to know, yes. Location: Ottawa, Canada Age: 35 Posts: 264 Join Date: Aug 2007	Addiction to internet 'is an illness' New evidence shows that heavy users suffer isolation, fatigue and withdrawal symptoms David Smith, technology correspondent The Observer, Sunday March 23 2008 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. clicky for more __________________ "I like to tell people I have the heart of a small boy. Then I say it's in a jar on my desk." - Stephen King

24th Mar 2008, 08:55 PM	#2
CrimsonThunder Seventh Son of a Seventh Son Full Member Gender: Boy Orientation: Bi Out Status: Friends, Work, Whoever knows Location: South Australian! Posts: 3,536 Join Date: Jul 2007	Re: Addiction to internet 'is an illness' David Smith is a bit behind the times, this has been going around for ages. __________________ Biggest car buff around.

24th Mar 2008, 08:59 PM	#3
Micah ^_^ Full Member Gender: Male Orientation: Gay Out Status: Out to All Location: Melbourne, Australia Age: 23 Posts: 2,532 Join Date: Feb 2005	Re: Addiction to internet 'is an illness' Addiction or esculated dependancy on anything, whether it be a substance, activity or physical object is an 'illness' or psychological problem. __________________ 　／l、（ﾟ､｡７　l、 ~ヽ　じしf_, )ノ

25th Mar 2008, 05:23 AM	#4
pirateninja EC's Sailor Uranus Full Member Gender: Biologically Female Orientation: Heterosexually Challenged Out Status: Most people Location: Bath, England Age: 21 Posts: 5,853 Join Date: Sep 2007	Re: Addiction to internet 'is an illness' I am now officially clinically ill __________________ Holly the Pirateninja Ars Longa, Vita Brevis.

25th Mar 2008, 05:43 AM	#5
Alexander EC Addict Full Member Gender: Male Out Status: Out to everyone Location: Red Hook NY Age: 19 Posts: 2,736 Join Date: Dec 2007	Re: Addiction to internet 'is an illness' There's a big difference between addiction and spending a lot of time online. If you can spend hours and hours online, but you can get up to use the bathroom and eat food and grab the mail, and then get off when you need to do something, you're probably fine. But if you find yourself mindlessly visiting sites just because you have nothing else to do online, then you might need to turn off the pc

25th Mar 2008, 10:41 AM	#7
Psychedelic Bookmarks Helena Full Member Gender: Female Orientation: Bisexual Out Status: Close family and quite a few friends Location: UK Age: 18 Posts: 2,195 Join Date: Oct 2007	Re: Addiction to internet 'is an illness' You can get addicted to anything, as Micah says. And it's never good. __________________ "I refuse to recognize the terms hetero-, bi-, and homo-sexual. Everybody has exactly the same sexual needs. People are just sexual, the prefix is immaterial." (Morissey)

25th Mar 2008, 10:57 AM	#8
divadarya Warrior Princess Full Member Gender: MTF Transsexual Orientation: Trans/heteroish(I like men) Out Status: Some people Location: Native Los Angeleno, California Age: 60 Posts: 321 Join Date: Jan 2008	Re: Addiction to internet 'is an illness' There are also College Professors addicted to creating meaningless studies to randomly frighten people Just sayin... __________________ "I was as pure as the driven snow, but I drifted...." Mae West I am more than my Gender, or the clothes that I wear....

26th Mar 2008, 07:57 AM	#11
Bader Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Addiction to internet 'is an illness' I've been excessively addicted to gaming, and it almost ruined my life! this is serious.

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