Ciberdependência

Mudam-se os tempos...
...mudam-se as patologias.

Há cada vez mais indivíduos a relatarem a sua dependência da internet e estudos que procuram perceber melhor esta dificuldade em lidar com o ciberespaço de forma saudável. Embora não seja consensual a classificação da ciberdependência como patologia, devido à sua forte associação com outro tipo de problemas psiquiátricos, importa conhecer melhor o que se entende por "adicto da internet" ou "ciberdependente".
No meu caso, infelizmente, são cada vez mais os conhecidos e amigos que padecem deste problema. Apesar de admitirem que não conseguem relacionar-se com a internet de forma saudável, ou seja, usar a internet como ferramenta de pesquisa, de lazer,de comunicação com outros, ou como instrumento de trabalho, não evitam o dispendio de inúmeras horas em que navegam obsessivamente por blogues(muitas vezes voltando ao mesmo diversas vezes numa tarde), sites, e outras ligações que de alguma maneira considerem associadas às páginas virtuais pelas quais se encontram obcecados.
Na minha opinião, é possível que não tenha sido dada grande atenção a este problema (em Portugal), não só por ser algo recente (funcionalidades da internet,velocidade, etc)mas também por ser um "vício" aparentemente inofensivo. Se calhar é um pouco difícil ouvir notícias em que um ciberdependente assaltou a dependência de um qualquer banco ou ouriversaria para poder actualizar o seu Myspace ou como a Judiciária desmascarou um importante líder do cibertráfico, apreendendo dezenas de passwords, chats e blogs.
Fora de brincadeiras... de facto, não sei até que ponto o "vício" da internet pode ser constituído como verdadeira patologia ou se serve apenas de canal e engrandecimento para os já identificados problemas psiquiátricos. O que sei é que este tipo de dificuldade não é de modo nenhum inofensivo e muito menos passível de ser ignorado.
Eis alguma informação:

"1.What is Internet Addiction?
Internet addiction is defined as any online-related, compulsive behavior which interferes with normal living and causes severe stress on family, friends, loved ones, and one's work environment. Internet addiction has been called Internet dependency and Internet compulsivity. By any name, it is a compulsive behavior that completely dominates the addict's life. Internet addicts make the Internet a priority more important than family, friends, and work. The Internet becomes the organizing principle of addicts' lives. They are willing to sacrifice what they cherish most in order to preserve and continue their unhealthy behavior.

2. How do you know if you have Internet addiction (IA)?
No single behavior pattern defines Internet addiction. These behaviors, when they have taken control of addicts' lives and become unmanageable, include: compulsive use of the Internet, a preoccupation with being online, lying or hiding the extent or nature of your online behavior, and an inability to control or curb your online behavior. If your Internet use pattern interferes with your life in any way shape or form, (e.g. does it impact your work, family life, relationships, school, etc.) you may have a problem. In addition, if you find that you are using the Internet as a means to regularly alter your mood you may be developing a problem. It is important to note that it is not the actual time spent online that determines if you have a problem, but rather how that time you spend impacts your life. To learn more, you can take our Internet Addiction Test.

3. What causes Internet addiction?
Internet addiction can be understood by comparing it to other types of addictions. Individuals addicted to alcohol or other drugs, for example, develop a relationship with their "chemical(s) of choice" -- a relationship that takes precedence over any and all other aspects of their lives. Addicts find they need drugs merely to feel normal. In Internet addiction, a parallel situation exists. The Internet -- like food or drugs in other addictions -- provides the "high" and addicts become dependent on this cyberspace high to feel normal. They substitute unhealthy relationships for healthy ones. They opt for temporary pleasure rather than the deeper qualities of "normal" intimate relationships. Internet addiction follows the same progressive nature of other addictions. Internet addicts struggle to control their behaviors, and experience despair over their constant failure to do so. Their loss of self-esteem grows, fueling the need to escape even further into their addictive behaviors. A sense of powerlessness pervades the lives of addicts.

Internet Addiction is an impulsive-control problem and five subtypes have been defined:

Cybersexual Addiction – Individuals who suffer from Cybersex/Internet pornography addiction are typically engaged in viewing, downloading, and trading online pornography or involved in adult fantasy role-play chat rooms.
Cyber-Relational Addiction – Individuals who suffer from an addiction to chat rooms, IM, or social networking sites become over-involved in online relationships or may engage in virtual adultery. Online friends quickly become more important to the individual often at the expense of real life relationships with family and friends. In many instances, this will lead to marital discord and family instability.
Net Compulsions – Addictions to online gaming, online gambling, and eBay are fast becoming new mental problems in the post-Internet Era. With the instant access to virtual casinos, interactive games, and eBay, addicts loose excessive amounts of money and even disrupt other job-related duties or significant relationships.
Information Overload – The wealth of data available on the World Wide Web has created a new type of compulsive behavior regarding excessive web surfing and database searches. Individuals will spend greater amounts of time searching and collecting data from the web and organizing information. Obsessive compulsive tendencies and reduced work productivity are typically associated with this behavior.
Computer Addiction – In the 80s, computer games such as Solitaire and Minesweeper were programmed into computers and researchers found that obsessive computer game playing became problematic in organizational settings as employees spent most days playing rather than working. These games are not interactive nor played online.

Based upon the DSM, Dr. Kimberly Young developed eight criteria to diagnose Internet addiction:

Do you feel preoccupied with the Internet (think about previous online activity or anticipate next online session)?


Do you feel the need to use the Internet with increasing amounts of time in order to achieve satisfaction?


Have you repeatedly made unsuccessful efforts to control, cut back, or stop Internet use?


Do you feel restless, moody, depressed, or irritable when attempting to cut down or stop Internet use?


Do you stay on-line longer than originally intended?


Have you jeopardized or risked the loss of significant relationship, job, educational or career opportunity because of the Internet?


Have you lied to family members, therapist, or others to conceal the extent of involvement with the Internet?


Do you use the Internet as a way of escaping from problems or of relieving a dysphoric mood (e.g., feelings of helplessness, guilt, anxiety, depression)?
Answering "yes" to five or more questions may mean you suffer from Internet addiction over a six month period and when not better accounted for by a manic episode. Internet addiction is a global problem and according to studies at the Center for Internet Addiction Recovery:

71% of office workers abuse the Internet during work hours visiting social networking sites, shopping online, reading personal email, or visiting pornography, gaming, or gambling sites.


Individuals who suffer from depression, anxiety-disorders, social phobia, and other compulsive disorders are more likely to develop Internet addiction.


Cybersex addiction, online affairs, and online gaming are the most common forms of Internet addiction.


Cognitive-behavioral therapy is the most effective form of treatment for Internet addiction.


Internet predators are twice as likely to suffer from Internet addiction.


Children who suffer from Internet addiction are more likely to suffer from depression, experience academic and social problems at school, and are at greater risk to develop physical illnesses, obesity, and carpel tunnel syndrome.

According to the Stanford University School of Medicine Study, 1 out of 8 Americans suffer from Internet Addiction, 14% of respondents found it hard to abstain from Internet use for several days; 5.9% said excessive Internet use affected their relationships; 8.2% said the Internet was a means of escape from the real world.

According to the Chinese Government, approximately 13 % of Chinese teenagers suffer from Internet addiction and they have banned the opening of Internet cafes for the year 2007.

The Government of China funded a military-style boot camp to combat the disease. Patients are males between 14 and 19 years old. This China boot camp reports a 70% recovery rate and over 1,500 young who have received treatment at this facility operating since 2004.

In Germany, estimates suggest that close to 1 million people are addicted to the Internet, or about 3 percent of the German online population. In 2003, the German social security services instituted the first camp in the seaside town of Boltenhagen, northern Germany. It is the first camp of its kind in Europe and aims to wean children off computers.

In Amsterdam, the first Detoxification Center to treat video game addiction opened in 2006.

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Mumbai adopted a measure to cut the students' use of Internet in the school dormitories after the suicide of an IIT student in October of 2005 due to Internet abuse. "

Retirado de http://www.netaddiction.com/

(imagem: AreYoU in deviantart.com)