While the internet has brought us many conveniences, some people are unable to regulate their compulsive online behaviour. This can cause serious physical and psychological problems, as spending too much time online inhibits our ability to connect with people in the real world. While internet addiction is often seen as less serious than substance addiction, it can indeed be just as devastating. Moreover, there is a whole range of underlying factors that can lead to this behaviour. You may not even be aware of these issues, but if left untreated, they can cause severe harm. If you’re addicted to using the internet, stepping away from your computer can seem impossible. Thankfully, help is available through internet addiction treatment programmes.
Choosing the right internet addiction rehab can be challenging. Private rehabs in the West can be prohibitively expensive, and public programmes often have long waiting lists. An excellent solution is to come to Thailand for treatment. Located in Chiang Mai in the north of Thailand, Hesten Hill Rehab provides an all-inclusive programme for internet addiction. Our team of dedicated professionals is ready to guide you on your recovery journey. Moreover, you’ll get to experience the wonders of Thailand, while recovering in a safe and serene setting, surrounded by nature. If you’re ready to overcome your internet addiction, we will be there to support you through every step of your journey.
BEHAVIOURAL THERAPIES
HOLISTIC TREATMENT
RELAPSE PREVENTION
Internet addiction and abuse
Internet addiction can happen to anyone, but as with many other forms of addiction, untreated mental health issues or difficulties in one’s personal life such as losing a job or experiencing difficult family-related issues are often contributing factors.
In general, three different online elements lead to addiction: gaming and online gambling, social media and messaging, and internet porn. When users engage in these activities, dopamine levels increase and the pleasure centres of their brains are activated.
Access to the internet is all but ubiquitous, and many people aren’t even aware that they are getting into trouble. Adults and teens can abuse this technology any time of the day, almost anywhere. This can have devastating effects not only for the user, but also the people around them.
Short and long-term effects of internet abuse
Using the internet over prolonged periods can have both negative short- and long-term effects. Short term effects are mostly physical, including muscle aches and cramps, sleep deprivation, strained vision, headaches, and development of carpal tunnel syndrome.
The long-term effects of heavy internet use can be both physical and psychological, such as developing anti-social behaviour, estrangement from friends and family, losing track of time, nutritional neglect, disrupted sleeping patterns, struggling to complete tasks, and being extremely defensive of your internet usage.
When your body is deprived of the basic necessities of life, including the need to eat and sleep regularly, you put yourself at increased risk of major health problems like heart attacks and strokes.
Internet addiction treatment options
There are many different types of rehab programmes for internet addiction, ranging from medication, to private counselling, to behavioural therapy, to support groups. Both outpatient and inpatient programmes can help you overcome internet addiction. But outpatient programmes offer a less comprehensive level of support, as they tend to focus on one individual treatment method. Outpatient rehab is generally more suitable for those who can’t take time away from work or family obligations. As an outpatient, you will be able to live at home and attend treatment on a regular basis.
Inpatient programmes, on the other hand, are specifically designed to treat internet addiction and its related symptoms in a supportive environment. Internet addiction treatment centres often combine multiple different treatment methods and modalities in the same setting, giving you a higher likelihood of successful recovery.
Benefits of inpatient internet addiction treatment centres
Undergoing an inpatient internet addiction treatment programme has you stay at the facility for a minimum period of 30 days. At our rehab centre in Thailand, full-time treatment covers behavioural therapy, group sessions, individual counselling, medication, mindfulness meditation, and a wide range of additional holistic activities. Our location in northern Thailand also allows our clients to escape from the triggers of their daily lives and concentrate purely on recovery without any outside distractions.
People who become addicted to using the internet often have untreated underlying mental health problems such as anxiety, depression, and obsessive-compulsive behaviour. Porn addicts may have intimacy issues. Gambling addicts often develop suicidal thoughts. These are just two examples, but there are many other different mental health conditions that can contribute to internet addiction. Attending an inpatient programme allows our experts more opportunities to uncover these co-occurring disorders and treat them effectively.
What to expect from our internet rehab programme
Hesten Hill Rehab incorporates the best possible techniques to treat internet addiction. Our programme includes both traditional and integrated therapeutic treatments and activities.
Moderate engagement
Unlike other forms of addiction, where detox is often necessary and the harmful substances need to be completely eliminated from your life, the internet cannot realistically be avoided. Moreover, you’d be missing out on its many benefits. As such, the goal of behavioural addiction treatment will be to control your addictive tendencies and develop moderate engagement. In short, recovery means developing a healthy relationship with the internet.
Behavioural therapy
We will guide you through cognitive and dialectical behavioural therapy sessions. We want to know as much about you as possible and find out the reasons that cause you to excessively use the internet. Internet addiction is habitual and can be challenging to overcome if your trauma triggers are not dealt with and resolved effectively. We use EMDR (eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing) as well as trauma release exercises. Within these therapy sessions and treatment methods, you will learn to use the internet in a more healthy and productive manner.
12-step Minnesota model
A crucial part of our internet addiction treatment programme is the 12-step Minnesota model. Known for its association with Alcoholics Anonymous, this method is highly effective in solving addiction of all kinds. The North American National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism conducted an eight-year research project, dubbed Project MATCH, that demonstrated the model’s suitability in many different areas of rehabilitation. By following this model, we will teach you to control your internet use, prepare you for making amends to any people you might have harmed, and ready you for a life free from internet addiction.
Mindfulness meditation
The last element of our core treatment programme is mindfulness mediation. You will learn to reflect upon your emotions and thoughts so that you can exert them in a more productive manner. This will supplement the useful techniques you will get from our behaviour therapy sessions. As Thailand has a strong connection with Buddhism, we are able to provide a variety of practical mindfulness exercises such as candle-lit meditation, singing bowl mediation, walking cup mediation, and monk-led meditation.
Post internet rehab support
Lastly, our treatment package would not be complete without an after-care relapse programme. This comes in the form of group and individual therapy sessions available online. Towards the end of your stay, we will also create a relapse prevention plan, which will help you identify the regular stressors in your life and give you coping skills to manage the triggers that will inevitably come your way. The first couple of weeks and months after your departure from our treatment facility are vital to your recovery. For this reason, we are devoted to providing you with full support long after you have left our centre.
At our internet addiction rehabilitation centre, you will:
- Be far away from your everyday triggers and learn how to cope with your internet addiction in a supervised environment
- Get the chance to work on your personal problems and address any underlying mental health issues during individual therapy, which is provided four times per week
- Participate in group therapy, and share your feelings and experiences with others who suffer from addiction. This will help you understand that you are not alone in your journey.
- Receive prescription assistance from our team of medical professionals to manage symptoms of underlying mental illnesses, such as anxiety or depression.
- Receive personalised care and support from your personal counsellor and recovery coach who are trained and understand what internet addiction involves
- Experience a range of holistic activities, including spa therapy, Pilates, acupuncture, yoga, and exciting offsite excursions to tourist attractions around Chiang Mai.
Cost of internet rehab in Thailand
Our prices are highly competitive. The fees are all-inclusive and cover every aspect of your treatment, as well as luxurious accommodations, mouth-watering à la carte meals, spa treatments, offsite excursions, and much more. For more information regarding prices and payment plans, please get in touch with us directly.
Are you ready to begin the path to recovery?
Overcoming internet addiction can be difficult, but our internet addiction treatment programme will give you all the tools you need. We will provide you with the finest treatment and emotional guidance, while also ensuring that your time with us in Thailand is a memorable and enjoyable experience. Contact us today to learn more about our programme through a consultation with one of our addiction experts.