The 20 -step therapy of Internet addiction, the disease that does not exist on paper, but is ravaging

Four professors from the “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University in Iași elaborated the first scientific guide in Romania for the treatment of Internet addiction among young people. The work, which was also published in an American specialty magazine, addresses the therapy in a unique way, introducing the concept of “green area”. It allows treatment without imposing total abstinence.

Internet addiction is not considered a disease in itself, although it comes with the most serious consequences. In the world, only Asia specialists have been concerned about the elaboration of true treatments. Otherwise, the condition is regarded as a certain addiction and treated in the same way: by abstinence. But things are not so simple, the Romanian experts believe.

The authors of the guide, the psychotherapists Luisa-Diana Antoniac, Tudor-Daniel Huțul, Andreea Huțul and Adina Karner-Huțuleac, elaborated the work starting from the experiences encountered over time in their own psychological offices. Specialists believe that the problem of young people addicted to the Internet is not treated very seriously almost anywhere in the world, although the consequences of the condition are extremely serious. “Depression, anxiety, irritability, sleep problems, academic difficulties or low socialization skills”, Explains Adina Karner-Huțuleac, lecturer at the Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences at the University of Iași.

“In the case of these types of addictions, a very complex intervention was required, which concern the emotional aspect. Therefore, we need to develop emotional adjustment skills. In this kind of emotional disorder It is very important to get to change the dysfunctional thinking of this type of person who reaches a point where he says that he cannot without the respective substance or without the respective behavior ”, explained the specialist.

Why did the young Romanian dependent on the Internet become

According to Eurostat data, almost 95% of households in our country have access to the Internet. Almost everyone has a subscription, a computer, a laptop or a mobile phone, but this has come to the pack with a lack of digital education. We have devices, but we do not know how to use them correctly, so as to protect our health. And the figures do not stop here: starting at 5-10 years, children in Romania begin to spend more and more time on social networks, according to another study. The research, carried out by Save the Children Romania, shows that 32% of parents with children of this age say that their son or daughter uses Tiktok, 21% Instagram, 19% stay more than two hours on social networks, and 18.5% spend more than three hours.

Romania is also the only country in Europe where the use of social networks exceeds the “utility” consumption of internet such as sending emails, instant messaging, video calls, etc. Consequence? The internet addiction of young people and children from the most early age can be rightly called one of the mental diseases of the century to Romanians.

“I checked the statistics and are worrying. Unfortunately, this addiction affects the mental health of young people. They lose their mental ability to choose for their own lives and can no longer focus on the goals they would like to have in their lives. I think a very important thing is that we do not have enough education in this perspective, in helping young people to understand what healthy consumption means. Awareness is a very important thing ”, added Adina Karner-Huțuleac.

But this internet addiction includes, by default, a social networks, and Tiktok is the most dangerous platform, and other specialists also consider. “First of all, it allows, as other social networks do not do it, approaching the image with zoom by simply sliding with two fingers on the screen of any uploaded video.”explained to the “truth” the psychologist Radu Leca. “Basically, users can increase the video, while it is running, becoming dependent on details. Neither Facebook nor YouTube allow this zoom ”, said the specialist.

The running speed of the uploaded videos also creates addiction. “The speed of the images on Tiktok is clearly superior, if we compare with what happens on the other networks. Here is another addiction parameter. Both Facebook and YouTube have a delay called Lentor Video. And, at one point, the user gets bored. This is not the case on Tiktok. On the contrary. The information flows at a dizzying speed, precisely not to get bored, not to lose the user, to prevent them from turning to something else ”, explains the specialist.

Internet addiction, serious disease that does not exist

Despite these dangers, the internet addiction is not diagnosed, Dr. Andreea Huțul, another author of the study, also says. Therefore, there is no guide to help doctors treat internet addiction in teenagers. Most of the currently proposed treatments recommend, as in the case of alcohol addiction or gambling, total abstinence. And just that. But things are more complicated, the team of Romanian specialists not agreeing with such an approach. The reason? Adolescents may need internet for educational purposes, not just relaxation. Therefore, treating the addiction should be done taking into account the so-called “green area” in which the teenager must be brought. “It is a neutral area in which the use of the Internet is harmoniously interwoven with the specific needs of the educational environment, but also specific time,” also clarifies Dr. Tudor-Daniel Huțul.

Specifically, the green area does not count the hours a teenager in front of the computer, but analyzes the young man’s motivation

Therapy in 20 steps. How to treat the addiction to the Internet

The guide offers 20 psychotherapy sessions, after which the teenager can reach a green area consumption. “A teenager can learn to use the internet for both his educational objectives, for the development of general culture, but at the same time, he will have time to communicate with friends, to stay on social networks, to relax ”, said Dr. Tudor-Daniel Huțul.

Specifically, the first five sessions focus on evaluation, explaining the most important concepts related to Internet addiction and drawing that “green areas”. At this initial stage, therapists work with both teenagers and parents to understand the difference between healthy and problem use. The next five sessions focus on developing practical skills and alternatives to the excessive use of the Internet. These sessions introduce stress management techniques, including mindfulness exercises and relaxation strategies. Meetings 11-15 include work on emotional regulation, communication skills and family relationships. Settles 16-20 focus on maintaining progress and preventing relapse.

These final sessions help families develop long -term strategies for a balanced use of the Internet.

“I think this study can help young people. The study is written including by an open, free manner, in the sense of anyone. Any student who reads or any teenager with English skills could detach certain very important ideas that can reduce the Internet consumption and can reach that green area, the equilibrium area. The problem I am most often facing in teenagers is social anxiety. Adolescents come, stay on the Internet, close and, when they get to interact in their daily lives with another teenager of their age, it will be very difficult for them ”, said Tudor-Daniel Huțul.

Scientific experiment: Mobile phone creates addiction just like alcohol and drugs

An experiment conducted by German researchers at the University of Heidelberg and the University of Cologne has shown how the brain reacts when we give up the phone for three days. The conclusion? This break produces changes in the brain activity similar to those observed in the case of substance addiction, says Science Alert.

The research was attended by 25 young adults, between the ages of 18 and 30, who were asked to restrict their smartphone to use as much as possible for 72 hours. The only allowed activities were those related to essential communication and service tasks. Before and after this experiment the volunteers were subjected to a magnetic resonance imaging test and psychological tests. The conclusion? During the scans made after the 72-hour digital abstinence, the participants were presented with various images, including pictures of phones started and stopped. When these photos were displayed, changes were observed in the parts of the brain associated with the processing of rewards and lust, similar to the brain signals associated with substances. This suggests that smartphones can have an addictive effect similar to nicotine or alcohol.

Daniel David, about the prohibition of mobile phones in schools

Internet addiction and gadgets that allow young people to use the Internet can be fought not only in the family, but also in school. He said it firmly even the Minister of Education, Daniel David, when he spoke about the ban on mobile phones in schools. He stated that the use of these devices is prohibited and there are clear regulations in this regard. However, the rules must be respected. “Things are very clear. There is a law, beyond the law there is a government decision, beyond the government decision there is a minister’s order, you have all the levels you want, in which you are told that the phone and connecting on the phone can only be used during educational activity. Otherwise it is forbidden ”, said the minister.

This is what “Each school should take measures, when you enter the classroom to leave your phones, for example, at the entrance, in a drawer, in a closet and then you can take it in break. But these things are regulated, only they should be applied. Let’s take responsibility, because you can’t give a law to respect a law. This is very important. So with the phones we have nothing to discuss. There are the necessary levers. Not even levers, there are very clear regulations. And I told the inspectors and directors to make sure that the legislation is implemented ”added Daniel David.

Sport, return to reality

In addition to monitoring the time spent on the Internet by adolescents, in addition to the prohibition of the use of gadgets during the hours, spending time outdoors, movement and physical exercises are essential for snatching from the parallel life that young people live online. This is why the National Sport Agency proposes to double the number of hours of physical education in high schools, from one to two per week.

The project is waiting for the opinion of the ministries, said ANS Vice President Gabriel Toncean. “If we are to take the World Health Organization, adolescents need at least 60 minutes of moderate or intense physical activity. We, as we know, at the moment in high school we have an hour of physical education and sometimes that time is overlooked. Right at the moment, we work on a project to increase the number to two hours a week ”, Toncean explained. which gives example other European countries. “In Finland there are 3-4 hours of sports a week, plus active breaks, in France there are at least 3 hours of sports, in Germany between 3 and 4 hours of physical education, and in the UK there are at least 2 mandatory hours, plus many extracurricular activities. In Romania, only one hour ”, Gabriel Toncean said.