Bengaluru: Like many people, who now have fallen victim to the Netflix addiction (a subcategory of screen addiction), have you also thought of watching the entire season of your favourite sitcom once at a stretch? If not, you may count yourself lucky. Whether it's a drama, romance, or something silly, this stunning website (Netflix) has something to match every mood. Perhaps, Netflix has become the new opium of the masses as many people are now obsessed with it. But the consequences of binge-watching shows on video-on-demand platforms and streaming services like Netflix can be deadly, taking a toll on your health, social life, emotions and more. Sitting for long stretches of time is linked to an increased risk of various health issues, including heart disease, diabetes, obesity, cancer, etc.
It has been shown that addiction can have a serious negative impact on a person’s life. Recently, the Service for Healthy Use of Technology (SHUT) clinic at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (Nimhans) in Bengaluru received its first case of ‘Netflix addiction’, as per a report in The Hindu. Netflix addiction may provide users with a sense of relief and in some cases, even a type of high. The victim, a 26-year-old man, turned to Netflix to stay away from reality for more than six months, said the report.
According to Manoj Kumar Sharma, professor of clinical psychology, Nimhans, who heads the SHUT clinic, apparently, the man, who was also unemployed, started spending more than seven hours a day binge-watching films and shows on Netflix, which helped him feel good. “Whenever his family pressurised him to earn a living, or when he saw his friends doing well, he would watch the shows on offer continuously. It was a method of escapism. He could forget about his problems, and he derived immense pleasure from it,” Dr Sharma was quoted as saying by the Daily.
The report added that the first thing he did as soon as he woke up was to turn on the TV. But the pleasure was temporary as he could not exercise any form of self-control. This has resulted in eye strain, fatigue, and disturbed sleeping patterns. To help the young man overcome his addiction problem, doctors are treating him using therapy, prescribing relaxation exercises, said the report.