Internet addiction counseling is a specialized therapeutic approach designed to address and alleviate problematic or compulsive internet usage. It offers individuals a structured and supportive setting to delve into the root causes of their excessive online behaviors, which may encompass activities like social media and gaming.
Internet addiction therapists at Thriveworks in Richmond, VA collaborate with you to identify and alter thought patterns and behaviors that drive your dependence, often employing cognitive behavioral techniques. The primary objective of this counseling is to assist you in regaining control over your internet use, establishing healthier online habits, and addressing any underlying emotional or psychological issues, ultimately fostering a more balanced relationship with the digital world and enhancing overall well-being.
The length of internet addiction counseling can differ depending on the person’s particular requirements and the seriousness of their addiction. Typically, this form of counseling includes multiple sessions spanning from several weeks to several months. The precise number of sessions and overall therapy duration are determined through discussions with the counselor.
Counseling for Internet Addiction in Richmond, VA
For many, they struggle to control what they do online and how long the spend there. Compulsive Internet use is a growing mental health challenge, but there are treatments available.
Thriveworks Richmond offers therapy for Internet addiction, and we have helped a number of clients regain control over dependent and compulsive Internet use. Reach out today for help.
Signs of Internet Addiction
Dr. Kimberly Young outlined internet addiction criteria, and she suggested that an individual who displayed a minimum of five of the following symptoms may be addicted to the Internet:
- The inability to stop internet use or control when one goes online.
- Risking one’s professional or personal life because of Internet use.
- Increasingly spending longer time online in order to feel satisfied with one’s use.
- Going online for longer than one planned.
- When one cannot be online, feeling irritable, moody, or depressed.
- A preoccupation with being online or the Internet.
- Lying to loved ones about how much one uses the Internet, when one goes online, or what one does there.
- Regulating one’s emotions with the Internet.
Physical and Emotional Effects of Internet Addiction
What happens on the Internet can have difficult effects in real life. Just like other addictions, compulsive Internet use can cause challenges for an individual and for their loved ones. Physically, people who are dependent upon the Internet may experience…
- Headaches
- Poor personal hygiene (e.g., not changing clothes, bathing, et cetera)
- Weight gain or loss
- Backache
- Insomnia
- Dry eyes and other vision problems
- Neck pain
- Poor nutrition (forgetting to eat or eating excessively)
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Emotionally, people who are dependent upon the Internet may experience…
- Depression
- Loneliness
- Avoidance of work
- Feelings of guilt
- Isolation
- Defensiveness
- Agitation
- Losing a sense of time
- Fear
- Feelings of elation when using the Internet
- Mood swings
- Dishonesty
- Boredom
- Procrastination
- Anxiety
- Inability to keep to a schedule
Scheduling Internet Addiction at Thriveworks Richmond
As you read about compulsive Internet use, did you recognize anything in your own life? If you did, you are not alone. Many others are struggling, and there are many resources available for healing. At Thriveworks Richmond, we are committed to helping our clients find the personalized care they need.
Our therapists form an individualized treatment plan for our clients that accounts for their unique needs and circumstances. If you are ready to reach out for help, we are ready to meet with you. When you contact our office, your first appointment may be the following week. We accept many different insurance plans. Weekend and evening sessions are also offered. Let’s work together. Call today.
