Interesting read,
"Like other addicts, users experience cravings, urges, withdrawal and tolerance, requiring more and better equipment and software, or more and more hours online, according to Dr. Jerald Block, a psychiatrist at the Oregon Health and Science University in Portland.
Block says people can lose all track of time or neglect "basic drives," like eating or sleeping. Relapse rates are high, he writes, and some people may need psychoactive medications or hospitalization.Block says about 86 per cent of Internet addicts have some other form of mental illness, but that unless a therapist is looking for it, Internet addiction is likely to be missed....
According to addiction therapist John Macdonald, of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto, computer use becomes problematic when the behaviour starts affecting people's lives.
For example, is the person preoccupied with getting and staying online? "If they're not able to engage in it, is it emotionally upsetting for them?
"Are they isolating themselves too much?" Macdonald asks. "Is too much time being diverted to that activity?
Is it causing upheaval or conflict in their relationships
"The real proof in the pudding is: Is the amount that you do causing any problems in your life?"http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/story.html?id=b893e10e-b729-45ba-ba7f-663bcbd96f15