Internet Addiction: A growing problem

A recent study based out of the University of Maryland finds that many US students are suffering from internet addiction. An addiction is defined as anything that interrupts your normal daily activity. The University asked two hundred students to give up all forms of media for one day. Twenty-four hours later, many of them exhibited drug-like behavior, cravings, withdrawal, and anxiety. This study puts a whole new meaning to “Crackberry.”

It’s no wonder that students are among the first to be diagnosed with this disorder, which is currently being debated whether or not to be added to the 2012 Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. When away at college, students face a new phase of their life and keeping contact with their friends and family is an excellent way for them to keep in touch and not feel so lonely. One student at the University of Maryland said as much when her teacher asked her how she felt.

Some argue that this isn’t necessarily and addiction but rather a compulsion. The American Psychiatric Association does not currently recognize this as a true disorder. There has even been a documented court case where the plaintiff argued that he was illegally dismissed from his job due the to Americans with Disabilities Act because he suffered from internet addiction from Vietnam War triggered PTSD, or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

As the old saying goes, all things in moderation. If you are a US student suffering from internet addiction and find that the internet is taking control of your life, consult your doctor or limit yourself to a certain amount of time with the media source that you’re most addicted to.