Internet Addiction in Teenagers: Assessment and Treatment in Lahore
Assessment and treatment for problematic internet and social media use in adolescents, addressing impact on wellbeing, sleep, and relationships.
Excessive or problematic internet and social media use can significantly affect a teenager's sleep, mental health, academic performance, and in-person relationships, particularly when used as a primary way of coping with difficult emotions.
Dr. Muhammad Shoaib Zafar provides thoughtful assessment and effective treatment for problematic internet use in adolescents, helping families find a healthier, more balanced approach.
Signs of Concern
- Significant time spent online at the expense of sleep, schoolwork, or in-person relationships
- Distress or irritability when internet access is limited
- Using social media or the internet to escape difficult feelings
- Negative comparison to others online, affecting self-esteem and mood
- Decline in offline social connections and activities
The Link to Underlying Mental Health
Problematic internet use is often connected to underlying anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, or social difficulty, and effective treatment addresses these underlying factors rather than focusing solely on screen time itself.
Treatment
A collaborative approach — combining reasonable, agreed limits, addressing underlying emotional difficulties, and actively rebuilding offline interests and relationships — produces more sustainable change than restriction alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How much internet use is too much?
There is no single universal number; the key concern is whether use significantly disrupts sleep, schoolwork, mental health, or relationships, rather than time alone.
Can social media really affect a teenager's self-esteem?
Yes, frequent social comparison on social media is linked to increased anxiety and lower self-esteem in many adolescents, and this is directly addressed as part of treatment.
Expert Care
Dr. Muhammad Shoaib Zafar provides balanced, practical support for families navigating problematic internet and social media use in adolescents.
This page is provided for general educational purposes and does not replace an individual psychiatric assessment.
Common signs & symptoms
- Excessive time spent online relative to other activities
- Distress or anxiety when unable to access the internet
- Sleep disruption due to internet or social media use
- Decline in academic performance
- Withdrawal from in-person relationships and activities
- Using the internet to escape difficult emotions
- Comparing oneself negatively to others online
Treatment approach
- → Assessment of internet use patterns and impact
- → Structured, collaborative limit-setting
- → Treatment of underlying anxiety, depression, or low self-esteem
- → Family-based strategies
- → Building healthy digital habits and offline interests
Frequently asked questions
How much internet use is too much?
There is no single universal number; the key concern is whether use significantly disrupts sleep, schoolwork, mental health, or relationships, rather than time alone.
Can social media really affect a teenager's self-esteem?
Yes, frequent social comparison on social media is linked to increased anxiety and lower self-esteem in many adolescents, and this is directly addressed as part of treatment.