With the enormous increase in popularity – and affordability – of computer games and equipment, addiction to computer games is becoming more and more widespread. Added to the facts mentioned above, high-speed Internet connections and the reliability of these connections mean that Internet games can be played continuously without loss of connection and this can also contribute significantly to addiction.
It is becoming more and more common for online game players to spend more time in front of their computer, building their characters and virtual environments to higher levels, thus competing with other online gamers. This addiction is a way for the person to escape their normal life in the real world. Often, fantasy outweighs reality.
We, as parents of these teenagers, or even young children, often find it difficult to find methods that will return our child to a normal life. This is because treating this is not like treating other addictions because you usually can’t completely eliminate the computer from their lives. Schools, Internet cafes and your friends are areas where the source of your addiction can be found: the computer. In extreme cases, this can work with young children, however with teenagers or adults, it’s not really an option because they can usually afford a computer themselves.
There are several ways to determine if a person is addicted to computer games. The first warning sign, and the most significant, is if they spend more than 6 hours a day in front of the computer playing games. Any change in personality, eg irritability, angry outbursts, social withdrawal. These are usually good indicators that the addiction is taking hold. Treatment for this addiction should begin immediately as soon as the warning signs are noticed.
It may simply be that the computer game addict loses track of time when playing their games. You can combat this sign of this by placing a simple timer near your computer. Set it up for a set amount of time (usually two hours is a good start). Suggest to the addict that once the timer goes off he should take a breather and do something else. Suggest that a walk in the sun and fresh air will clear their minds and thoughts.
Think about this!! Addiction to computer games could be fatal. I have read a report that a young man was obsessed with playing a computer game. He lost his job because he took time off to play his game. His girlfriend, who was also addicted to gambling, broke up with him because she was spending too much time in the game. He spent 50 hours playing non-stop in an internet cafe. He collapsed from exhaustion and dehydration and went into cardiac arrest. He died before reaching the hospital.
This is just one way in an attempt to reduce the amount of time the addict spends playing games on their computer. There are others and a little ingenuity will do wonders. While there is no quick, overnight cure for computer gaming addiction, one should keep in mind that it is a long-term project that needs to be worked on day by day without fail.