Internet Addiction. Computer Games and Gambling
The effect of computer addiction and internet addiction on the mental health
The excessive use of computer, as doctors and psychologists have found, has a negative effect on the activity of systems and organs of our body: mental health, endocrine, immune and reproductive systems, sight, bones and muscles. What does all this mean for a simple person? Anything: from a bad sight to the problems with varicose vein. Frankly, all of us can gain it without using computer, just having an unhealthy lifestyle. The computer (internet or computer games) is just one of the other links in the same pathological chain: lack of rest, physical inactivity, inadequate nutrition, stress, etc.
How to identify internet or computer addiction?
The impact of the above factors affects your mental state. This article is about the impact of the computer or computer addiction that is directly related to the human psyche. If the sight or hearing may be deteriorate by the keyboard, mouse or monitor, than the psyche is influenced by more virtual things – computer games and the Internet. This is something that “pulls” from what is unreal to get rid of, thus people can not imagine their lives without it – it is a maniacal dependence on the Internet or computer games. If you prefer, you can call it Internet addiction or gambling. In such cases we talk about mental illness when you might need professional counseling and psychological counseling.
First, you should know that we talk about many hours sitting at computer. Second, we mean people who spend their time in chat rooms, “ICQ”, forums, play computer games and do not engage in professional work in the Internet. By the way, they make up about 90% of all people who stay in the network. People who live their lives on the Internet often requires social support, they have some difficult in communication, they are dissatisfied in life, they have low self-esteem, they underestimate themselves. All of these problems “decide” Internet! Internet offers them:” Go into the chat, talk to somebody, satisfy your desires and do not fear of anything!” Thus, people hurry to get away to a safe environment for them, nor the noncommittal virtual life. Thus, they exacerbate any of their traits, from which would like to get rid of, as well as acquire new ones, among which the most important is to escape from reality by changing mental state. Of course, by the time, this kind of lifestyle, way of thinking enters in our life. Such a person begins to act and think different. She decides otherwise, everyday issues, family, personal, professional and partnership issues.
The following psychological symptoms and conditions may occur if the man is at risk of computer addiction :
- excellent state of health or the euphoria of the computer;
- failure to stop;
- increase the amount of time spent at the computer;
- neglect of family and friends;
- feelings of emptiness, depression, anger if there is no computer;
- lie to employers or family members about personal activities;
- problems with work or school.
Danger signals of internet addiction are:
- compulsion to check e-mail;
- anticipation of the online session;
- increase in time spent online;
- increase the amount of money spent online;
Where internet addiction can lead to?
Obviously, all these symptoms you will meet at people with any addiction, whether alcohol, drugs or work. Over time, if we do no take any action, the conditions will aggravate turning into a mania. However, beyond this mania often hides depression. Experiencing the euphoria of the computer, the man also cultivated a lack of balance, confusion, sloppiness, self-isolation, the loss of any conventional values and internal guidelines, indifferent to the family. The biggest misconception of many people living with drunks or people suffering of internet addiction, is that the above factors are perceived by them in their personal account, trying to call “dependent” a person with morality. Once again this is misleading. These people are mentally ill and their illness leads to profound changes in personality, appearance of new, unpleasant traits.
If adults more or less consciously make their choice, than children often become hostages of their parents’ lifestyle. Unfortunately, apart from their lurking computer addiction, there are a number of other side effects from long contact with the computer. Children quickly adapt to the world and to the world of computers, also. Many of the changes may not notice the right way. For example, it can affect them emotionally: it may be increased aggressiveness and destructive outbreaks and auto-destructive behavior.
The virtual world and virtual friends
Another observation is that children cease to dream and become unable to create their own visuals, hardly generalize and analyze the information. The computer and computer games, can cause long-term impairment in mental and intellectual development of children. The so-called generation of computer memory works worse, there is emotional immaturity and irresponsibility.
The computer can become a friend or sworn enemy, can help in trouble and can resolve a lot of problems, can help you to find like-minded people and can lead to loneliness and social isolation.
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