A 2020 Statistics Canada Study found that 20% of Canadians say they lose sleep or are less physically active because of social media. 12% to 14% of Canadians also report experiencing mental health and other negative symptoms as a result of their social media use.
Feeling bad about social media use can indicate a bigger problem. Excessive Internet use can lead to addiction, and Internet addiction has major implications for mental health.
How does Internet addiction affect mental health, and who is at risk? We will explore the answers to these questions in this post. Plus, we’ll talk about the symptoms to look out for and treatments that can help.
What Is Internet Addiction?
Internet addiction is a type of behavioural addiction featuring excessive and uncontrollable internet use. Also known as internet addiction disorder (IAD), internet addiction can cause significant impairment and distress. Upon stopping internet use, people with IAD may also experience withdrawal symptoms.
Older surveys of people in the US and Europe have found that IAD is prevalent in 1.5% to 8.2% of the population. Other reports have found prevalence rates of over 38%, depending on the diagnostic criteria used.
Like substance use disorders (SUDs), IADs can impact people’s mental health, relationships, and daily lives. Experts have also found a link between IADs and mental health symptoms. These symptoms are more common in people under age 30, especially 15 to 24-year-olds with high-intensity internet use.
Diagnosing Internet Addiction
Internet addiction may not be recognized by the DSM-5 or ICD-11, two major mental illness classification systems. Still, it is a very real medical condition.
Some experts have come up with their own to make up for the fact that there are no agreed-upon diagnostic criteria for IAD. For example, some professionals use the following eight criteria to diagnose internet addiction:
- Constantly thinking about using the Internet
- Needing to use the Internet for increasing amounts of time to feel satisfied
- Trying to cut back on or stop using the Internet but not being able to
- Feeling restless, moody, irritable, or depressed after stopping or cutting down on Internet use
- Staying on the Internet for longer than intended
- Losing relationships, jobs, or educational or career opportunities due to Internet use
- Lying to loved ones about the extent of one’s internet use
- Using the Internet to alleviate guilt, anxiety, depression, or other negative feelings
It is crucial to find a provider that understands the seriousness of this behavioural addiction when seeking IAD treatment. Otherwise, individuals may not get the compassionate and comprehensive treatment they need.
Why Is Internet Addiction Linked to Mental Health?
Internet addiction is linked to mental health because it changes the way the brain functions and is often used as a maladaptive coping mechanism. There may be other ways IADs and mental health are connected, but we need more research to know for sure.
Brain studies have found that excessive internet use changes multiple brain areas. These brain areas are involved in attention span, language development, and cognition, among other functions. Excessive internet use causes a decline in the function of these brain areas.
Scientists have also discovered that IADs, like substance addictions, impact the brain’s reward system. Internet use is rewarding to the brain, explaining why many people go online during times of stress. However, the brain becomes less sensitive to the Internet’s rewarding effects over time, leading to addiction.
How Does Internet Addiction Affect Mental Health?
Internet addiction affects mental health by leading to feelings of guilt, shame, hopelessness, failure, rejection, fear, and anxiety. Recent research has also found that IAD is linked to serious mental health symptoms, such as:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Mood disorders
- Low self-esteem
- Impulsivity
- Insomnia
IAD is a risk factor for suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, and death from suicide. If you or someone you know is experiencing these symptoms from excessive internet use, call 988 for the 24/7 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
What Are the Warning Signs of Internet Addiction?
The warning signs of internet addiction include mental health symptoms, as well as losing track of time, feeling bored, procrastination or unproductiveness, and social isolation. IAD can also lead to uncomfortable physical symptoms, including withdrawals.
Learn more about internet addiction warning signs next.
Losing Track of Time
There is some truth to the saying, ‘Time flies when you’re having fun.’ Also known as time blindness, the brain loses track of time when stimulated by something pleasant, like browsing the Internet.
This IAD symptom may manifest as an inability to keep track of a daily schedule. Some people may fail to prioritize work, school, or home obligations.
Boredom With Daily Tasks
Boredom is a common symptom in people with addictions, whether behavioural or chemical. The brains of people with IADs become used to the Internet’s highly rewarding effects, leading daily tasks to feel mundane.
Learning to tolerate boredom can be a good thing. However, frequent boredom may also lead people online for entertainment, creating a vicious cycle.
Procrastination and Lack of Productivity
IADs can significantly reduce someone’s capacity for attention and concentration. Combined with boredom, this symptom may result in procrastination and lack of productivity at school or work.
Chronic procrastination and productivity can wreak havoc on one’s career or academic prospects and, ultimately, their life.
Social Isolation
A case study of a 21-year-old in treatment for an IAD reported that the patient used the Internet as a way to self-isolate when feeling depressed.
Over time, self-isolating may take a toll on people’s relationships. They may become uninterested in real-life social interactions, preferring parasocial relationships online instead.
Physical Symptoms of IAD
Excessive internet use does not just take a toll on the brain. It may increase someone’s risk of high blood pressure, obesity, insulin resistance, and other chronic conditions. Too much screen time also causes physical symptoms like:
- Backaches
- Neck pain
- Numbness or weakness in the hand, wrist, and arm used to hold a device, type, or move a mouse
- Headaches
- Sleeplessness
- Malnutrition
- Poor hygiene
- Eyestrain
- Dry eyes
- Weight changes
- Fatigue
- Digestive issues
Withdrawal symptoms are also possible after cutting back on or stopping Internet use. Some of the most common ones include anger, tension, depression, boredom, moodiness, nervousness, and irritability.
How Does Excessive Internet Use Contribute to Anxiety and Stress Levels?
Excessive internet use contributes to anxiety and stress levels in many ways, from reading too much negative news to constantly comparing oneself to others online.
Reading too many news articles, especially negative ones, is also known as media overload. Media overload is a common cause of stress, anxiety, PTSD symptoms, and other forms of emotional distress.
Comparing oneself to others online is also known as social comparison. It is also linked to poor mental health and low self-esteem. In one study of 236 people in South Korea, participating in social comparison had a significantly negative impact on psychological well-being.
These are not the only ways excessive Internet use contributes to anxiety and stress. The bottom line is that people experiencing negative mental health symptoms from their Internet use should seek help for addiction.
Treatment Options for Internet Addiction
The good news about internet addiction is that it is treatable. Residential facilities and outpatient programs are available to help people overcome their addiction and better manage their Internet use.
These programs may include individual therapy, integrative therapy, and peer support groups. Learn more about each of these treatment modalities next.
Individual Therapy
Individual therapy involves talking about the reasons for one’s IAD and finding new coping mechanisms to use in place of internet use. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is one of the most commonly used therapeutic techniques in Internet addiction treatment. CBT has also been used in combination with medication for IAD.
Studies have found benefits of CBT and bupropion for people with IAD and depression. People with IAD and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) respond better to CBT, plus atomoxetine and methylphenidate. Alternative medicines like acupuncture have also been used to help people with IADs.
Integrative Therapy
Integrative therapy is another effective evidence-based treatment for Internet addiction. Specifically, researchers have found benefits of combining yoga and mindfulness for IAD recovery.
Peer Support Groups
Peer support groups are common treatments for all types of addictions. They allow people suffering from addiction to get support and advice from people who are on the same recovery journey.
In-person peer support groups can also be beneficial for Internet addiction. However, the in-person component may be crucial, as online peer support groups could worsen IAD symptoms.
Get Internet Addiction Treatment in Ontario
How does Internet addiction affect mental health? Internet addiction can increase the risk of anxiety, depression, mood disorders, and even suicide. Many people go online to escape these symptoms, making matters worse.
Getting treatment for an IAD is the only way to stop this vicious cycle. In treatment, individuals can learn new coping mechanisms and develop ways to manage their excessive Internet use.
Do you or your loved one need help with excessive Internet use? Simcoe Addiction and Mental Health is a treatment centre in Ontario specializing in behavioural addictions like IAD.
Contact us for a free consultation to learn more about enrolling in our comprehensive treatment program.