|
Internet websites entice many
people into shameful and sometimes illegal behaviors. We help people
to end internet addictions and make healthy changes for themselves.
We help people overcome online obsessions and internet compulsions.
Do you use the internet recreationally
for more than ten hours each week?
A study found that 50% of internet users
said that they spend about half of their online time avoiding productive
activities, with no difference between men and women. While the emotional,
psychological and social implications of internet addiction indicate much
suffering, there is little academic research into Internet addiction.
|
Procrastination, low productivity, social
withdrawal and relationship difficulties are common among those spending an
unhealthy amount of time on the Web
Richard Davis, York University, Toronto, Canada. |
Some people find the internet to be a stronger
addiction than drugs! We help people who spend
so much time online, especially in sexual chat rooms, viewing pornography,
gambling or playing games, that they have serious problems in their marriages,
families and at work.
|
Recent SPAM ... Do you lack money?
... Click xxx CASINO and open the door to the world of
happiness and prosperity! |
People who use virtual internet contacts as a substitute for
meaningful relationships can damage their mental health. We find that your
health, wealth and happiness generally reflects your relationships!
Symptoms of Internet Addiction
- Internet use relieves or avoids withdrawal symptoms
- Significant time spent in activities related to
Internet use
- Time using the Internet interferes
with daily responsibilities
- Internet is often accessed more often, or
for longer periods of time
- Important relationship, job, education or career
opportunities are at risk
- Important social, occupational, or recreational
activities are given up or reduced
- Withdrawal impairs functioning, e.g. agitation,
anxiety, boredom, obsessions, fantasies
Are you Addicted to Internet Pornography?
Internet pornography is a billion dollar industry.
Online pornography is an equal opportunity destroyer. Perhaps you’ve read
about the consequences - but information rarely produces transformation. You can
go deeper - into your emotions and relationships. If sexual integrity is a
struggle for you, we can help you restore your sanity and your life.
|
My boyfriend is addicted to internet porn. He said he would stop but
he didn’t. He says he has stopped but I don't trust him. He wants
to get married but I don't trust him enough.
How can I know that he is over his addiction? I feel very unloved
and hurt. Bath, UK |
We find that many internet addicts are victims of
emotional incest. We can be the
catalyst you need, and we can help you change unwanted habits. Is
it time for you to experience the transformation that can come
with our telephone coaching?
We find that people involved with cybersex may not
have sexual addictions, but use Internet pornography to explore and
experiment with sexual fantasies.
But such experiments can damage partnerships and lead to obsessions.
|
Online Sex - Internet Porn Addiction
Internet pornography addiction progresses faster
than other types of porn addiction, and can quickly leave you feeling
unclean and dirty - with fear, guilt and shame. If you are addicted to
internet porn, what can you do? Do you get rid of your internet connection?
Do you block your browser?. We offer telephone coaching for all parts of
life, including the expression of sexuality:
Internet Games
|
My teenage son is addicted to
internet games. He plays evenings and nights and skips school to
play. I tried everything I can think of to make him stop but he
doesn't care. Essex, UK
Comment from her son: I like gaming
because people accept me as my online character ...
I can be good
at something and feel like I'm an important part of a team.> Essex, UK |
We see compulsive gaming as a social
rather than a psychological problem. As 90% or so of online gamers
are over 18 - their parents have no legal right to intervene.
Our coaching for gamers helps develop social activities and
communications skills to rejoin society.
Some symptoms associated with
video game addiction:
- Headaches
- Bored with life
- Sleep disturbance
- Back or neck aches
- Poor personal hygiene
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
Internet Chat Rooms
Both men and women who spend more than ten hours each week
using the internet recreationally - have told us that chat rooms most
interfere with their lives. We have many descriptions of how compulsive or
obsessive online chatting can damage people's lives both at work
and at home.
|
My husband of seven years finally admitted an addiction to sexual chat rooms.
He's been doing it for two years. I hate this! I'm crying all day and not
eating.
All I can see in front of me is divorce!
Orlando, FL |
- Do you chat too much?
- Do you secretly chat at work?
- Does chatting interfere with your life?
- Do you feel agitated if you cannot chat?
- Do you spend longer chatting than you want?
- Do you miss important activities because you are
chatting?
Solutions for Internet Addiction
|
I have tried to get my wife offline for
over 18 months. She gets up at 5:30am and gets online until 7:30am then goes
to work. She comes home at 5:30pm then gets back on line till 10:00pm. We
hardly ever talk and when I threatened divorce, she laughed at me. |
We help people set realistic goals for Internet
use, especially at home. We work with people to set realistic and measurable
goals for Internet usage, and record their Internet usage in a log. Computer
programs can provide an accurate and objective report of surfing behavior.
We help people conform to goals by
asking for weekly progress reports, or setting up healthy rewards that people
can earn when goals have been met. Sharing online experiences in offline
relationships may discourage people from 'hiding' in the Internet.
We help people identify triggers, set realistic
goals and then stick to and monitor conformance with those goals, sharing this
data with someone to encourage honesty and sticking to the plan.
Prevention & Solutions
- Be nice to yourself.
- Gradually decline online time.
- Reward yourself for good behavior.
- Do something different to meet people.
- Ask friends for ideas for alternative activities.
- Go offline - take whole days off from the internet.
- Devise and follow a plan to work through
your problems.
- Identify underlying problems. Why do you to
want to escape?
- Try to plan fun activities that involve
meeting other people in "real time".
- Record your time at the computer (and time
thinking about Internet activities.)
Summary
The Internet is a problem if you
become enmeshed in on-line activities or an internet persona
and neglect your health, relationships, work and responsibilities.
We can help.
Do You Want Results?
Plagiarism is theft. Copyright © Martyn Carruthers 2004-2012
All rights reserved
Internet Addiction - Possible Diagnostic
Criteria
A pattern of
Internet use, leading to impairment or distress as manifested by three (or more)
of the following,
occurring at any time in the same 12-month period:
(I) tolerance, as defined by either:
(A) A need for markedly increased amounts of time on Internet to
achieve satisfaction, or (B) markedly diminished effect with continued use of the
same amount of time on Internet (II) withdrawal, as manifested by either
(A) the characteristic withdrawal syndrome
(1) Cessation of (or reduction) in Internet use that has been heavy and
prolonged
(2) Two (or more) of the following, developing
within several days to a month after Criterion 1: (a) psychomotor agitation (b)
anxiety (c) obsessive thinking about what is happening on Internet (d) fantasies
or dreams about Internet (e) voluntary or involuntary typing movements of the
fingers
(3) The symptoms cause distress or
impairment in social, occupational or other important area of functioning
(B) Use of Internet or a similar on-line service is engaged in to relieve or
avoid withdrawal symptoms (III) Internet is often accessed more often or for
longer periods of time (IV) There is a persistent desire or
unsuccessful efforts to control Internet use (V) Much
time is spent in activities related to Internet use (e.g., buying Internet
books, trying new browsers, researching Internet vendors, organizing files of
downloaded materials (VI) Important social, occupational, or recreational
activities are given up or reduced because of Internet use. (VII) Internet use
is continued despite knowledge of having a persistent or recurrent physical,
social, occupational, or psychological problem that is likely to been caused or
exacerbated by Internet use (sleep deprivation, marital difficulties, lateness
for early morning appointments, neglect of occupational duties, or feelings of
abandonment in significant others) |
