How to Test for Internet Addiction

Internet addiction, also termed internet addiction disorder (IAD) by psychologists, is a disorder involving a disrupting and unhealthy amount of Internet usage. This disorder is classified as including strong withdrawal symptoms and interruption of social relationships. The disorder is most common among college students and those who have computer-related jobs. Other similar negative factors that have been included in this disorder are online role-playing video-game addiction, gambling and pornography.

Instructions

How to Test for Internet Addiction

• 1

  Have a close friend or family monitor the amount of time that you spend on the internet. If you're concerned that someone else may be addicted, try to have them record the amount of time of internet use, and try to get them to go do more outside activities with you. Take an online evaluation if you can't get away from the computer to socialize.

• 2

  Take the common internet addiction test (AIT) from any website that includes the application. Question range from the time you spend with friends or your partner, your job performance and how comfortable you are with being online during specific times of the day.

• 3

  Review the result of the AIT, which should give a strong idea of the seriousness of your internet addiction. Print out your results, so you can use them as an example of things you should work on to avoid your internet addiction. Some websites will give you helpful tips to correct the problem.

• 4

  Seek professional help if the problem persists with your internet usage by make an appointment with a psychologist. If you can't control the problem yourself, you should be diagnosed by a professional, so you can determine what can be done to control your addiction.

• 5

  Be diagnosed by the psychologist by going through tests to see if you meet three of eight of criteria as described by the American Psychiatric Association. Such criteria in the conducted questionnaire tests look for your tolerance levels, the extent of your withdrawal symptoms, if use the internet to avoid life problems and how much your usage puts you at risk of hurting relationships.