Professional Treatment for Internet Addiction

Signs and symptoms of internet addiction

Signs of internet addiction can appear emotionally, behaviorally, and physically.

Common symptoms include:

• Loss of control over online activity
• Neglect of responsibilities
• Sleep disruption due to screen time
• Withdrawal from in-person relationships
• Irritability when offline
• Failed attempts to cut back
• Secretive or avoidant behavior

Many individuals experience guilt or shame about their habits, but feel unable to stop.

What causes internet addiction?

Biological, psychological, and environmental factors influence Internet addiction.

For many individuals, online activity becomes a coping strategy for managing difficult emotions or unmet needs.

Mental health conditions that increase risk

Internet addiction often coexists with conditions that impact impulse control, emotional regulation, and stress tolerance.

These may include:

• Depression
• Generalized anxiety disorder
• Bipolar disorder
• Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

When these conditions go untreated, compulsive online behavior may intensify.

Trauma, stress, and environmental factors

Trauma, loneliness, and chronic stress can make online environments feel safer or more predictable than real-world interactions.

Additional risk factors include:

• Lack of social support
• Academic or performance pressure
• Exposure to online content that encourages compulsive engagement
• Easy access to digital platforms

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, stress and loneliness significantly increase vulnerability to behavioral addictions, including compulsive digital behaviors.

The real impact of compulsive internet use

Compulsive internet use can affect emotional well-being, physical health, and interpersonal functioning.

Common consequences include:

• Anxiety and depression
• Low self-esteem
• Social withdrawal
• Academic or professional decline
• Sleep disturbance
• Relationship conflict

Over time, internet addiction can limit opportunities for connection, growth, and fulfillment.

How The Raleigh House treats internet addiction

Treatment for internet addiction focuses on helping clients understand the emotional and psychological roots of compulsive online behavior while building healthier coping skills and daily routines.

Evidence-based behavioral addiction treatment

We use trauma-informed, evidence-based therapies that support long-term behavioral change, emotional regulation, and healthier digital habits.

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helps clients identify unhelpful thoughts related to online behaviors and replace them with healthier, more balanced coping strategies.
• Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) teaches skills for managing intense emotions, reducing compulsive urges to go online, and improving tolerance for distress or boredom.
• Motivational interviewing supports clients in strengthening intrinsic motivation to change, breaking attachment to compulsive internet use, and setting meaningful goals for recovery.
• Experiential therapies provide hands-on, holistic experiences that help clients reduce anxiety, build self-awareness, and practice healthier habits away from digital distractions.

Together, these specialized therapy services help clients understand why compulsive internet use occurs, challenge negative beliefs, and build emotional resilience that supports long-term recovery.

Therapy for compulsive online behaviors

Alongside evidence-based therapies, individual and group therapy provide a structured space to explore how compulsive internet use develops and how to shift toward healthier patterns.

Therapy helps clients:

• Understand underlying emotional and psychological motivations
• Reduce shame, self-blame, and secrecy around online behaviors
• Develop healthier daily routines and coping strategies
• Strengthen interpersonal and communication skills
• Build tolerance for discomfort, boredom, and stress without turning to screens

Through internet addiction treatment, clients learn practical strategies to replace compulsive online behaviors with meaningful activities, supportive relationships, and more balanced habits that support long-term emotional well-being.

Trauma-informed therapy and dual diagnosis support

Many individuals with internet addiction also experience co-occurring mental health conditions. This is known as dual diagnosis, and it requires treatment that addresses both compulsive online behaviors and the underlying emotional drivers that sustain them.

To support dual diagnosis, treatment may include:

• Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) helps clients process traumatic memories or negative self-beliefs that may trigger compulsive internet use as a form of escape or numbing.
• Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) helps clients identify how trauma-related thoughts influence behavior and build healthier thought patterns to reduce compulsive digital habits.
• Medication support may help stabilize mood, reduce anxiety or depressive symptoms, and make it easier for clients to regulate behavior without turning to constant online stimulation.

This approach emphasizes emotional safety, self-worth, and long-term stability—helping clients reduce dependence on the internet and build healthier ways to cope with stress and discomfort.

Nutrition, wellness, and whole-person care

Excessive internet use can affect sleep, appetite, and physical health.

Our team supports:

• Nutrition stabilization
• Sleep hygiene
• Stress management
• Life skills development

These areas support sustainable behavioral change.

Residential and intensive treatment options

At The Raleigh House, clients can access multiple levels of care based on need, including:

• Residential treatment
• Partial hospitalization
• Intensive outpatient programs

Structured care provides accountability, community, and skill-building support.