Private Clinic for media addiction

A media addiction becomes evident when those affected can no longer control their consumption and their thoughts constantly revolve around news they feel they must not miss. Their usage behavior intensifies but can no longer be truly enjoyed—what develops is a genuine compulsion.
The internet becomes an emotional support. Loneliness, depression, and substance dependence can foster addictive behavior. That is why media and internet addiction are often linked to mental illnesses.
Other symptoms include, for example, sleep disorders, social withdrawal, and the neglect of everyday private tasks as well as professional responsibilities.

The causes of media addiction arise from the interaction of various factors such as media-related factors, individual factors, and social factors. For each affected person, these combine in a unique way.

Social factors: These include, among others, problems with family and friends, dissatisfaction at work, social exclusion, and an uncritical approach to media use shaped by upbringing.

Individual factors: These indicators include impulsive behavior, inattentiveness, low self-esteem, loneliness, as well as psychological issues such as depression and anxiety disorders.

Media-related factors: These encompass various sensations arising from media use, such as a sense of social belonging (in groups), reward stimuli from games, social media, sexual stimulation, immersion in other worlds, and the possibility of continuously acquiring new information through endless scrolling.

As a result of media addiction, users increasingly experience digital stress as well as the compulsion to always stay up to date. In this context, the term “fear of missing out”—the fear of missing something—also plays a decisive role.