Internet addiction may be considered as a mental illness

Bad news to people who can't get enough of their internet hours: psychiatrists urge that internet addiction be classified as a form of mental illness. According to the March issue editorial of the American Journal of Psychiatry, internet addiction is a common compulsive-impulsive disorder and should be included to the psychiatry's official guidebook list of mental disorders.

So how do you know that you need internet addiction? You get emotionally upset when you are not able to go online. Internet addicts, according to psychiatrists, can also lose track of the time and neglect basic needs like eating and sleeping just to stay online. They also have cravings for better software, computer equipment and more hours that they can spend online. Assess if you are an internet addict by clicking on this link.

While introvert males were originally thought to comprise majority of what may be considered as internet addicts, studies have shown that the condition occurs most to middle aged women who use home computers.

Korea already has the Centre for Internet Addiction Prevention & Counseling and China already recognized internet addiction as a legitimate problem.

Feature image by: husin.sani