SPOUSAL INTERNET ADDICTION

Is your spouse on the Internet 24/7 and they have no time for you? If so, your spouse may be addicted to the Internet. Internet addiction, which is sometimes called compulsive Internet use, is an addiction where people have a craving to perform one or more activities online (Internet Addiction). This can include playing games, using social media sites, gambling, or simply browsing. This behavioral disorder may see people become addicted to online use (Internet Addiction). Internet addiction affects an adult's life in three ways: Socially, Mentally, and Physically.


Humans are social by nature and naturally cooperate, care for one another, especially family, and compete with one another (DeMichele). With the rapid global spread and growth of the Internet, there are few people that do not use it regularly. Because of this, some new social events, which includes Internet addiction, like cyberbullying, grooming through social networks, social isolation and racism are becoming more and more common (Social and Psychological Effects of the Internet Use). Internet addiction can cause social problems for people because some sites show material that is inappropriate and misleading, and gives ideas that may show suicide as a solution to some peoples problems (Social and Psychological Effects of the Internet Use). This can be very harmful to someone that is already depressed or going through a hard time. With an unhealthy amount of time spent away from real people because of Internet use, it can affect relationships with others, like spouses or children, and even lead to divorce.

For these people that are addicted to the Internet, it can also affect them mentally by reading too many stories about tragedies that can cause depression and even lead to anxiety disorders, or reading social media chat boards where people talk negatively about their posts which can cause irritation, depression or anger (Can the Internet affect your mental health?). People are proud, and when they read a negative comment by someone on a post or picture they posted, it can have negative effects.
Internet addiction can be so bad that people don't eat or sleep for fear of missing out on something. Without proper nutrition, exercise and sleep it can start to affect people physically. The human brain and body needs food, exercise and sleep to function properly to fight infections, keep blood pressures in a healthy area and more. It can lead to weight gain or weight loss, carpal tunnel syndrome, dry eyes, headaches, poor personal hygiene and neck and back pain (Cocke). 






Whether social, mental or physical, the negative effects of addiction to the Internet can sometimes go unnoticed by the other partner, sometimes until it is too late (Samantray). Addiction can happen slowly over time or quickly within a very short time and affect different people in different ways. Some people are so obsested with the endless possibilities available on the Internet that they forget about or don't even realise the consequences. Regardless of the consequences that Internet addiction has on people, without a doubt it has a tremendous social, mental and physical hold over an individual, causing a disconnection from the real and virtual worlds, where the addict slowly loses grip with reality (Samantray). If you think your spouse has an Internet addiction, help is available through lots of places, including your family doctor.

Ethan Ritchie                                                                                              Wed. March 18th 2020 

Works Cited

“Can the Internet Affect your Mental Health?” www.mentalhealthguide.com. Web. 15 Mar. 2020.

Cocke Anna.”Internet addiction and health effects” www.howtoadult.com. 28 Nov. 2018. Web. 15 Mar. 2020.

DeMichele Thomas. “Myth/Fact. Humans are Hardwired to be Social Beings”. www.factmyth.com. 22 Sep 2016. Web. Sun 15 Mar. 2020.

“Internet Addiction”. www.addictions.com. 15 May 2019. Web. Thu 12 Mar. 2020.

Rasa Candice. “3 Guidelines for Spouses Affected by Partner’s Addiction” www.gottman.com. 27 Jan 2017. Web. 4 Mar. 2020.

Samantray Snigdha, ResearchGate. “Internet Addiction and Relationships: The Psychology behind It”. www.researchgate.net. Feb 2015. Web. 4 Mar 2020.
“Social and Psychological Effects of the Internet Use”. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. 2 Feb. 2016. Web. 15. Mar. 2020.