Introduction to "Caught on the Net"

But so far, such resources are rare exceptions. Most Internet addicts who admit they have a problem and seek treatment for it aren't yet finding acceptance and support from mental health professionals. Some Internet users complain that therapists told them to simply "turn off the computer" when it becomes too much for them. That's like telling an alcoholic to just stop drinking. This lack of informed guidance leaves Internet addicts and their loved ones feeling more confused and alone.

That's where I hope this book will help. In the following chapters, you will learn why the Internet can become addictive, who gets addicted to it, what the addictive behavior looks like, and what to do about it. If you already know or at least suspect that you're an Internet addict, you likely will see yourself in many of the confessions and personal stories from Internet users who joined in my worldwide study. You will gain a greater understanding of your own experience and recognize that you are not alone. I also will outline concrete steps that will help you regulate your Internet usage and devise a more balanced place for it in your daily life, and I'll point you toward additional resources to keep you on track. I'll help get you out of the black hole of cyberspace!

If you are the wife, husband, parent, or friend of someone whose life has become fixated on the Internet, this book will inform you of the warning signs and symptoms of Internet Addiction so you can better understand the problem and find validation, guidance, and support for your loved one - and for yourself. You know that something serious has entered your life, and you will see your reality reflected in the words and experiences of the spouses and family members of Internet addicts in this book.

For mental health professionals, this book can serve as a clinical guide that will assist in recognizing the addiction and treating it effectively. When I give lectures to groups of therapists or counselors, I often discover that many don't even know how the Internet works, so it's difficult for them to understand what makes this technology so intoxicating or how to help someone manage their usage of it. For the uninformed, it's easy to dismiss the idea of Internet Addiction on the basis that the Internet is just a machine and we don't really get addicted to a machine. But as we will see, Internet users become psychologically dependent on the feelings and experiences they get while using the Internet, and that's what makes it difficult to control or stop.

Addictions counselors and directors of treatment centers recognize this psychological dependency as it applies to compulsive gambling and over-eating. Perhaps this book will encourage them to expand their addiction recovery programs to specifically address the problems of Internet addicts. And all of us as professionals can benefit from additional psychological and sociological research into the many uses of the Internet today.

This book also will help counselors and teachers in schools and universities become aware of Internet Addiction so they can spot it more quickly and effectively counsel students. As we will see, teenagers and college students are particularly susceptible to the lure of the Internet's chat rooms and interactive games. And when they get hooked and stay up late every night on-line, they lose sleep, fail at school, withdraw socially, and lie to their parents about what's happening. Counselors and teachers can help alert students and their parents to the problem and show them how to deal with it.

In the workplace, managers and employees both will benefit from reading this book to gain a greater awareness of how Internet Addiction surfaces on the job and what to do about it. Workers with Internet access will better understand the addictive pull of browsing Web pages, newsgroups, chat rooms, and personal e-mail messages that may lead them to waste hours of work time without realizing it or intending to do so. Employers will recognize the importance of limiting and monitoring their workers' on-line usage to ensure that the Internet is used properly on the job and does not become a source of diminished productivity or distrust. Human resource managers will be alerted to the need to ask employees who show a sudden rise in fatigue or absenteeism whether they just got a home computer with Internet access and whether they've been staying up late using it.

And for all those who have not yet joined the Internet generation, you probably have heard that the Internet likely will become as routine a part of your life as television - and soon. So this is the best time to become better informed and prepared on what to expect on-line and the possible danger signals that could lead you toward Internet Addiction. You are in the best position to learn how to use the Internet and not abuse it.

Let me be clear about my own position. I certainly don't regard the Internet as an evil villain that can destroy our way of life. In no way do I advocate getting rid of the Internet or stopping its development. I recognize and applaud its many benefits in searching for information, keeping up with the latest news, and communicating with others rapidly and efficiently. Indeed, when I need to begin a new research project, the Internet is often my first stop.

My goal is to help ensure that while we're still in a relatively early phase of Internet expansion, we see and understand the full picture. We're bombarded with cultural messages that urge us to welcome this new tool, and we're assured that it will only improve and enrich our lives. It has that capability. But it also has an addictive potential with harmful consequences that, left undetected and unchecked, could silently run rampant in our schools, our universities, our offices, our libraries, and our homes. By becoming informed and aware, we can best chart ways for the Internet to connect us rather than disconnect us from one another.

Clearly, the Internet is here to stay. But as we all we head out onto the information superhighway together, let's at least make sure we have a clear view of the road ahead and our seat belts securely fastened.

next: Dr. Kimberly Young's Biography