Sometimes you are in front of the computer, sometimes you have a tablet or phone in your hand. You reduce your sleep time and eating, limit your offline communication with people as much as possible, and even miss being online when you are offline. You welcome into your increasingly lonely world people you met online and with whom you chat and message over the internet. While you try to communicate with them and socialize, you don't realize how you increase your loneliness. Since it is easier to express your opinions online and you can hide your identity at times, the connections you establish here make you feel more comfortable. Despite all this, life starts to feel boring. You realize that you have no plans for the future, and you despair. However, depression is at the door along with addiction, help is needed...
The benefits that internet use offers us in our age are undeniable. It provides us with many opportunities, especially when used to access information. However, in recent years, we have seen that internet use can have psychologically and physiologically harmful effects on individuals. One of the most important of these is "internet addiction". Whether an individual has internet addiction or not is determined by the duration of internet use and the purpose of using the internet. We understand that the quality of life deteriorates when daily activities are restricted, work and education performance is disrupted, relationships between friends and family are disrupted, and internet use is at a level that physically harms the individual, and we talk about addiction. We see that the risk of addiction increases in those who use the Internet, especially in areas of interaction such as gambling, chatting, games and pornography, compared to those who use the Internet for information and news purposes. However, we can say that the need for internet use to reach pathological levels is also parallel to the need for socialization.
In the online space, the individual can hide his true identity and express whatever he wants, We see that it isolates the individual, while it is supposed to serve his need for socialization by putting him in environments where he is not alone. Individuals with pathological internet use may apply to us with depressive complaints. In particular, ideas of reluctance, loss of interest and worthlessness may be at the forefront. Additionally, patients with depressive complaints can take internet use to pathological levels. In other words, we see that depression is both one of the causes and the result of internet addiction.
In order to understand addiction, it is necessary to understand the individual's personal characteristics, interpersonal communication skills, and whether social support is at a sufficient level. The risk of addiction is especially high in people who are phobic, have intense anxiety levels, and are depressed. We can encounter these people with a basic belief that they are flawed, impulse control problems, and low self-esteem. The addiction risk of individuals with stronger social support decreases. When dealing with internet addiction, it is important to understand the basics of addiction. If there is a problematic family structure, family therapies are applied. However, it is necessary to focus on the individual's communication skills and treat depressive complaints, if any. Internet addiction is a social problem. Let's not forget that the inevitable outcome of this disorder, which prevents people from establishing necessary and real emotional bonds, is loneliness.
Let's take precautions before addiction develops...
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