1eegrims1ey's Blog

From today's London Telegraph:

Internet addiction is a 'clinical disorder' By Andy Bloxham Last updated: 2:44 PM BST 20/06/2008 Obsessive internet use is a public health problem which is so serious it should be officially recognised as a clinical disorder, according to a leading psychiatrist.

They suffer four symptoms: They forget to eat and sleep; they need more advanced technology or more hours online as they develop 'resistance' to the pleasure given by their current system; if they are deprived of their computer, they experience genuine withdrawal symptoms;

And in common with other addictions, the victims also begin to have more arguments, and to feel isolated from society.

Gadget addiction: The symptoms

Early research suggests it is now  more of a problem for middle-aged women who are spending hours at home on computers.

Psychiatrist Dr Jerald Block said some sufferers were so addicted to the internet that they required medication or even hospital treatment to curb the time they spent on the web.

He added: "It's much more acceptable for kids to talk about game use, whereas adults keep it a secret. Rather than having sex, or arguing with their wife or husband, or feeding their children, these adults are playing games."

Dr Block, of the Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, in the USA, first made the claims in an editorial for the American Journal of Psychiatry.

Does this remind you of any female bloggers?

Just askin'