Game and Technology Addiction: CIU (Compulsive Internet Use)

Statistical Data on Online and Internet Gaming Addiction

• 25% of the men and 27% of the women have been reported to be constant users of the internet. Among men, online gaming is reported to be the highest.
• The internet is being constantly used by 35% of people earning $75K (even more) on an annual basis in comparison with 24% making <$30K.

Internet & Online Gaming Addiction: Effects, Signs, and Symptoms

Time spent on the internet can be productive. But is it productive to spend it at the expense of relationships, work, and life? Internet, gaming and technology addiction has warning signs, symptoms, and effects that show how negatively your life is becoming. Some of them are,

• Negative impact on intimate relationships in real life. It's a result of compulsively using internet pornography, adult chat rooms, etc.
• Feeling addicted to online chat rooms, social networking, texting and messaging. You start to miss out on real-life friends.
• Compulsive: Stock trading, gambling, etc. This causes job-related and financial problems.
• Compulsive: Database searching or web surfing. It leads to decreased productivity.
• Lost sense of time when online.
• Experiencing problems in completing the tasks.
• Getting defensive when questioned about increasing internet usage.
• Feeling euphoric when using the internet.

Treatment, Support, Counseling for Internet addiction

There are numerous treatment methodologies for your internet, technology and gaming addiction. Learn how to use it in a controlled manner. Going back to those patterns can be easy if you have most of your work on the internet. But remember a few points,

• Pin-point the problem that passively supports your internet addiction.
• Sharpen your skills to cope
• Have a strengthened network of support.

Am I affected?

Start with keeping a record of your internet usage for nonessential activities. What do you think? Is it normal, or is it more? Did you plan it or a trigger made you spend more time than you decided?

Follow these tips to deal with Internet addiction:

• Pursue the activities that you have been missing out on due to increased internet usage.
• Give yourself a goal and get internet usage as a reward. You can also put timers to limit internet usage.
• Learn to enjoy healthy habits like yoga and meditation. The ones that are productive and not addicting. Make sure to fill your time. This way, you can control your internet usage.
• Make some goals for internet usage per day. Ensure you stick to them.
• Make friends with people or connect with friends who have little to no connection with the internet. They will teach you there's more to life than the internet.