Internet Addiction Treatment For Teens and Adolescents

1. Internet Addiction Treatment For Teens and Adolescents Internet addiction treatment is something that should be handled by a licensed, qualified professional only. A therapist, psychiatrist, psychologist, licensed clinical social worker, recreational and other therapists often work collaboratively on a multidisciplinary treatment team to treat internet addiction in the most effective way possible. 

2. Internet addiction treatment is best handled in an inpatient setting. The reason for this is similar to other addictions. Often, there is some compelling reason for the patient to continue the behavior. This is why internet addiction treatment often begins with an intervention. Outpatient Treatment generally does not provide the intensity of therapy needed nor does it provide the level of clinical sophistication needed to treat a true addiction.

3. Additionally, without taking the addictive material away, there is little hope that outpatient treatment will be successful. Another advantage of inpatient treatment is that the patient can receive much more therapy than they would in an outpatient setting. Typically, therapist see a client once a week in an outpatient setting. For internet addiction treatment, patients should be in a secure facility where the internet and video games are removed from the environment.

4. There is a mechanical representation of internet or video game treatment in the brain.  As behaviors are practiced, neurological connections called “synapses” form and these connections strengthen the more behaviors occur. Synapses are essential to neuronal function: neurons are cells that are specialized to pass signals to individual target cells, and synapses are the means by which they do so.  In this sense, there is a real mechanical mechanism that represents the internet habit.

5. Depression is another reason why people fall into internet overuse habits and need internet addiction treatment. While using the internet or playing video games might make them feel good in the moment, ultimately, continuing this behavior prolongs the depression and takes them further away from the solution.

6. Other signs of the need for internet addiction treatment can be marathon internet or gaming sessions that last all day or well into the night. Additionally, missing meals or skipping them completely or also missing out on friendship opportunities can indicate the need for internet addiction treatment. Internet addiction treatment can also be determined if there are psychological signs such as strong feelings of frustration when unable to go online, and loss of interest and participation 

7. To learn more about specialized residential programs for adolescents needing professional help, please call the toll free number at (844) 211- 1356.