Addicted to Netflix? Here's why you should be worried

Seven hours of nonstop Netflix wont immediately set the alarm bells ringing mdash most viewers will confess to spending a good part of their weekends bingewatching their favourite series with some even planning elaborate watchparties with likeminded friends In fact the videostreaming company has long encouraged bingewatching often releasing all episodes of its original shows at one go for fans to lap upBut as a 26yearold in Bengaluru recently found these binge sessions can easily become frighteningly regular and bring about serious physical social and occupational consequences This individual who is currently being treated at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences NIMHANS has been called Indias first Netflix addict But if mental health experts are to be believed he is definitely not the only oneWith the World Health Organisation recently recognising gaming addiction as a mental health disorder there is growing awareness about the longterm consequences of the manner in which people spend their screen time However since these types of addiction dont have any physical symptoms or dependencies its easy to brush them off as inconveniences or indulgences that can be addressed at a later time explains Dr Nahid Dave psychiatrist at Insight Clinic And while other types of addictive substances such as cannabis or tobacco arent a mainstay of our daily routines and can hence be cut off completely it is impracticable and quite untenable to advise Netflix addicts to completely stay off their computers or mobile phones she adds This she says makes treatment slightly complicatedDr Kanan Khatau ChikhalIn April 2017 Netflix sought to address some of these concerns by broadcasting to users in the US UK Canada and Ireland specially designed announcements warning against the perils of bingewatching However India which is a more recent entrant to the online streaming boom is still in the early throes of coping with the impacts of easy connectivity and the longterm consequences thereofWho is at riskEspecially vulnerable are those who seek the mindless state that Netflix binge sessions bring about which helps them get their minds off an unpleasant emotional state or to procrastinate on a scenario that generates anxiety says Dr Dave In fact the Bengaluru gent says that his addiction was spurred by environmental stress and that watching the popular streaming service played an important role in helping him to relaxOthers who may succumb to such addictions are individuals with a lot of spare time or those working on projects such as writing a book or creating a painting with no fixed deadlines As is the case with other types of addictions this one too is linked to your brains reward system mdash it stimulates the release of dopamine a feelgood neurotransmitter thereby generating a psychological dependence says clinical psychologist Dr Kanan Khatau Chikhal These types of addictions are therefore as common among schoolgoing children as they are in our countrys geriatric populations Dr Dave says listing it among the top concerns of the patients she treats every dayDr Nahid DavePointing out that series focusing on detective work or forensic science are typically the most addictive she adds that viewers often experience a false sense of accomplishment of having learned something they did not know before Also with episodes being carefully designed to end with cliffhangers viewers find it hard to resist the urge to keep watching subsequent episodesHow is it addressedThe first and most crucial step is for the addicted viewer to accept that there is a problem Here Dr Dave advises asking the person to write down both the advantages and the disadvantages of their viewing habits While the person may try to explain away the disadvantages helping them understand that any perceived gains are both shortterm and invalid and that they have more to do with impulsive instant gratification can help them gain some perspective she saysEven if the individual is able to balance their viewing habits with their professional consequences their social life and the time they spend towards familial obligations may be compromised At the same time having the person make a note of the time of day the place and their state of mind while bingewatching over the last week for instance could help them to identify whether their dependence can be attributed to them not realising when things inadvertently went too far or whether they are using this addiction to mask any latent anxiety or depressionFrom binge to obsessionDr Nazneen Ladak psychiatrist at Axis Hospital Andheri recalls treating a 23yearold who reported increased feelings of restlessness irritability anger outbursts and negativity towards his friends and family members Closer examination revealed that these were linked to his habit of watching movies on his cell phoneDr Nazneen LadakWhat began as a stress buster gradually became a preoccupation as the movie binge sessions became longer and more frequent As a result he had begun procrastinating on other important work His behaviour began changing too mdash while once an extrovert he became shorttempered and irritable especially when confronted by familyHis job and relationship began to suffer and his family finally sought professional help she says Treatment included getting him to refrain from using his cell phone for a certain period of time every day by setting shortterm goals His attention was diverted to other more meaningful tasks such as spending time with friends and family He was also taught relaxation techniques including breathing exercisesAre you at riskIf your answer to any of the following questions is yes its time to take a closer look at your viewing habitsDo you find yourself regularly increasing the amount of time you dedicate to viewingWhen not watching an online streaming channel do you find yourself craving the experienceDo you plan your entire day around your viewing habitsDo you forsake other commitments including your social and familial obligations to satisfy your cravingIs your sleep routine affected by your viewing patternsGiven that it is usually very difficult for those affected to accept that there is a problem with their viewing habits any aberrations are usually pointed out by close friends or family members In these cases Dr Dave advises getting a second opinion from a mental health professionalCatch up on all the latest Crime National International and Hatke news here Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get the latest updates