As technology weaves its way further and further into our lives, it is inevitable that new emotional issues will arise from its use and misuse. The Internet has become a household name and millions of people are accessing it daily. Access is the key word. There has never been a time when so much information and interaction was so readily available, often with complete anonymity, to so many, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, from one's own home or office. Its amazing, educational, convenient, cheap and potentially dangerous to those with emotional issues or difficulty controlling compulsive and addictive tendencies.

Everyone can recount a story about a friend or relative who got a new computer, logged onto the Internet for the first time and stayed up all night surfing the WWW. For some, that first day has turned into countless hours of obsessive behavior causing a great deal of suffering to both the addict and their loved ones. Some have gone so far as to have criminal charges brought against them for neglecting their children. Marriages have been destroyed by cyber-affairs. Others are getting lost in chat rooms, online games, auctions, stock investing and gambling. The internet is bringing instant access to things people ordinarily would never expose themselves to in the real world.

Causes and Symptoms
What has led as many as 9.6 million Internet users per month, or about 15% of all Web users, to log on to web sites with sexually related themes? Why are so many people spending more and more time in chat rooms and playing games that create extensive virtual worlds?

The Internet is the perfect place to learn, play or escape from one's real life problems. A place where one can portray oneself as someone else, with reduced fear of rejection and without placing oneself in physical danger. The technology generates multi-sensory stimulation that can be exhilarating, enjoyable and addictive. A sort of pseudo-intimacy can be developed very quickly and without the usual risks. Fear of rejection, the desire to experiment, the possibility of meeting long unfulfilled needs, a place to escape from life's problems and stresses, all contribute to the attraction and addictive quality of the Internet. Usually, if one becomes addicted to the Internet, there were underlying emotional issues present prior to the development of the addiction. Poor self-esteem or body image, lack of intimacy, excessive stress, financial problems, other forms of addiction, all increase the potential for internet addiction.
Symptoms can include;

• A sense of euphoria while online.
• Inability to stop an online activity.
• Cravings for more time at the computer.
• Neglect of and withdrawal from family and friends.
• Feelings of emptiness, depression and irritability when not online.
• Secrecy about activities and time spent online.
• Increasing problems with school or work.
• Withdrawal symptoms when unable to get online.
• A host of physical symptoms including, dry eyes, headaches, back aches, changes in appetite, sleep disturbances and poor personal hygiene.