Jump to content

Hooked on the Web: Help Is on the Way


Texsox

Recommended Posts

Hooked on the Web: Help Is on the Way

By SARAH KERSHAW

 

REDMOND, Wash.

 

THE waiting room for Hilarie Cash's practice has the look and feel of many a therapist's office, with soothing classical music, paintings of gentle swans and colorful flowers and on the bookshelves stacks of brochures on how to get help.

 

But along with her patients, Dr. Cash, who runs Internet/Computer Addiction Services here in the city that is home to Microsoft, is a pioneer in a growing niche in mental health care and addiction recovery.

 

The patients, including Mike, 34, are what Dr. Cash and other mental health professionals call onlineaholics. They even have a diagnosis: Internet addiction disorder.

 

These specialists estimate that 6 percent to 10 percent of the approximately 189 million Internet users in this country have a dependency that can be as destructive as alcoholism and drug addiction, and they are rushing to treat it. Yet some in the field remain skeptical that heavy use of the Internet qualifies as a legitimate addiction, and one academic expert called it a fad illness.

 

New York Times Link

 

Instead of heading to the Doctors office, I wonder if we could just web cast a session, form a message board to discuss treatment, maybe post some links to addiction recovery sites . . .

Link to comment
Share on other sites

QUOTE(Texsox @ Dec 1, 2005 -> 09:28 AM)
New York Times Link

 

Instead of heading to the Doctors office, I wonder if we could just web cast a session, form a message board to discuss treatment, maybe post some links to addiction recovery sites . . .

 

And then have an extended discussion thread about how this is George Bush's fault for underfunding internet addiction research because he is an anti-semite.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Dec 1, 2005 -> 10:32 AM)
And then have an extended discussion thread about how this is George Bush's fault for underfunding internet addiction research because he is an anti-semite.

Why was that necessary?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

QUOTE(Texsox @ Dec 1, 2005 -> 08:28 AM)
New York Times Link

 

Instead of heading to the Doctors office, I wonder if we could just web cast a session, form a message board to discuss treatment, maybe post some links to addiction recovery sites . . .

 

I think there are actually websites out there for this exact reason.

 

It's pretty much like having an AA meeting in a bar...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Dec 1, 2005 -> 08:32 AM)
And then have an extended discussion thread about how this is George Bush's fault for underfunding internet addiction research because he is an anti-semite.

 

I believe this belongs in the political thread. Besides, it is really Al Gore's fault, he invented the internet. But of course conservatives want to make everything about Bush.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Dec 1, 2005 -> 09:32 AM)
And then have an extended discussion thread about how this is George Bush's fault for underfunding internet addiction research because he is an anti-semite.

Southsider,

 

It's not cause he's an anti-semite. It's cause he hates black people.

 

Doesn't anyone listen to Kanye West anymore? Seriously...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...