Idiopathic Multi-Streaming Addiction Disorder (IMSAD) is a psychological illness of addiction to the supernormal stimuli provided by advanced forms of digital entertainment. Failure to cope with the temptations of digital hedonism is inevitable for certain portions of the population when they are up against the design of boundlessly gratifying interactive media.
Symptoms
- Permanent damage to the serotonin and dopamine systems
- Anhedonia
- Stimulus-seeking behavior
- Increased use over time
- Legal or social ramifications secondary to illegally acquiring the means to feed the addiciton
- In controlled economies, acquiring multiple sources to evade restrictions on consumption volume
- Cravings
- Withdrawal symptoms
Withdrawal
- Anhedonia
- Agitation
- Anxiety
- Muscle pains
- Increased tearing
- Insomnia
- Yawning
- Fast heart rate
- High blood pressure
- Cravings
Treatment
Complete and immediate severance from the source(s) of hedonic supply can cause severe withdrawal symptoms in patients.
In extreme cases, complete abstention is not a long-term treatment option. In libertarian systems, addicts have little hope of ever recovering from their hunger as their object of addiction is generally the drug of choice of the populace at large. Many IMSAD sufferers find that the only recourse against their addiction is to move to a Luddite society where access is impossible.
IMSAD in Culture
IMSAD is normalized and even incentivized in certain cultures. In the most devoted circles of Goon Culture, one might be embarrassed to lack symptoms of the disorder.
In other (much more gooderer) cultures, IMSAD is cause for concern or even disgust. Incidence is lower here, possibly due to social pressure. But the effect is weak, as the social nature of much media allows addicts to easily find a community of enablers.