Are you addicted to the internet?
We talk about drug addiction even sex addiction,but what about internet addiction? Therapists say it's a growing disorder, yet, it isn't actually labeled a disorder in our society.
How many hours a day do you spend online?
2...4...6?
As our technology grows our internet usage seems to go right along with it. But for some, especially the formidable young minds of teenagers, things can get a big out of hand.
"For adolescents especially, what they're looking for is instant gratification. So, you're getting attention, you're getting immediate attention, and what you're saying is either immediately responded to or heard. So that's the big draw."
Dr. Iram Kasimi is a child psychiatrist at UTHealth Medical School. We meet with her at the Harris County Psychiatric Center to talk about the sometimes overwhelming force the internet world has over teenagers.
"They are comparing themselves to people online, so they are almost comparing themselves to a fictional world," Kasimi said. "We see a lot of kids that come in with excessive use of social media. And we see problems related to that such as depression and suicide and bullying."
In 2008, China became the first country in the world to consider Internet addiction a clinical disorder with an estimated 24 million Internet addicts.
But here in the U.S. we are still far from labeling excessive internet use.
In the U.S. internet addiction is not officially included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders, but it is hinted at under gaming addiction, stating that it needs more research before it can be included in the main DSM book as a formal disorder.