IAD Disorder: The Hidden Impact of Excessive Screen Time

IAD Disorder (Internet Addiction Disorder) is a recognized behavioral condition whereby individuals spend excessive time on the internet, to the detriment of everything else. This condition affects all ages but is especially prevalent amongst children because of their developing brains and easy access to digital devices. IAD Disorder is the act of constantly surfing the net to the detriment of everything else. This often results in neglecting schoolwork and reduces social interactions, leading to isolation and depression. Other symptoms could include mood changes, escapism, and feeling agitated when forced to disconnect.

What is Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD)?

Internet Gaming Disorder is another serious condition linked to technology. The symptoms of this condition are the same as IAD Disorder.

Nowadays, parents often work long, stressful hours, which minimises the amount of time and energy available for children. However, effective measures can be implemented to establish healthy boundaries, which could include:

1. Limit Screen Time: establish a maximum amount of screen time per day and ban devices from the dining room and dinner table. 

• Offline Activities: Encourage activities such as reading a book, or sports. Reading enriches the mind, broadens horizons and sparks curiosity. Children must have a good diet and be physically active for both physical and mental development. Every child has a talent, but the challenge is to find and develop it.

3) Internet Usage: Control and restrict access.

Playing with other children is vital because this is how we learn to consider others, moderate behaviors, and develop emotional intelligence. Emotional intelligence is the ability to understand other people’s viewpoints, cooperate and seek solutions that benefit everyone. Research shows that emotional intelligence is an essential component of a successful life. There will always be difficult people but learning how to cope with these challenges is the key to a great future.

How does IAD Disorder affect mental health?

The internet is a wonderful tool in moderation, but overuse can adversely affect mental health for several reasons. For example, it can lead to low self-esteem and unrealistic expectations when comparing oneself with others. Research shows that overuse can affect emotional control resulting in impulsive behaviors, driven by immediate emotions and desires. Actions have consequences and without control, unfortunate situations can easily happen. Furthermore, too much time scrolling negatively impacts academic performance and reduces attention spans, in search of the next hit. Scrolling was designed to be addictive and that’s why it’s so easy to get hooked, and such a hard habit to break.

Mental Health Effects

This condition can cause physical health problems, such as obesity, eye strain, poor posture and poor sleep. Obesity is caused through a lack of exercise and eye strain is the result of too much time spent staring at screens. It’s very easy to develop poor posture when slouched for many hours in front of a screen, leading to serious back problems in later life. Blue light from computer screens impacts melatonin production, essential for good quality sleep.

Traditional games for children

For younger children board games such as Monopoly, and Scrabble teach strategy, spelling and how to interact with others. Stackable dolls can also be useful, as they teach eye/hand coordination and size differentiation. Furthermore, the act of taking the dolls apart and putting them together again, strengthens young hands. These muscles are essential for keyboard skills and using tools in later life.

IAD Disorder is a debilitating condition with serious negative consequences for children. However, with careful thought, children can get all the positives of living in the modern age, without any pernicious downsides.