When time spent on the computer, playing video
games or cruising the Internet, reaches a point
that it harms a child's or adult's family and
social relationships, or disrupts school or work
life, that person may be caught in a cycle of
addiction. Like other addictions, the computer
or video game has replaced friends and family
as the source of a person's emotional life. To
feel good, the addicted person spends increasingly
more time playing video games or searching the
Internet. Time away from the computer or game
causes moodiness or withdrawal.
"Computer games are
ruining my life. If I'm not playing,
I'm thinking about playing. I have, like, no
real friends."
These are the words of a high school student
addicted to the online computer game, Everquest.
Addiction to the game is so common that many gamers
have nicknamed it "Evercrack." The average
Everquest player, or EQer, plays twenty
hours a week. That's the average!
"His grades are down the tubes, he skips
meals, and he spends hardly any time with his
friends." These are the words of a parent
who recently phoned the Institute, desperate
for help. When asked her to estimate how many
hours a week her son spent playing games. "Forty-three,"
she immediately replied. "I kept track
last week."
When a person
spends up to ten hours a day or more playing games,
surfing the Internet, visiting chat rooms, instant
messaging, and reading emails, it can easily reach
seventy to eighty hours a week online. Major social,
school or work disruptions may result.
Warning Signs of
Addiction
For Children:
Spending most non-school hours on
the computer or playing video games
Falling asleep in school
Not keeping up with assignments
Declining grades
Lying about computer or video game
use
Choosing to use the computer or play
video games, rather than be with friends
Dropping out of other social groups
(clubs or sports)
Irritable when not playing a video
game or on the computer
For Adults:
Computer or video game use is characterized
by intense feelings of pleasure and
guilt
Obsessed and pre-occupied with being
on the computer, even when not connected
Time playing video games or on the
computer increases, seriously disrupting
family, social or even work life
Lying about computer or video game
use
Experiencing feelings of withdrawal,
anger, or depression when not on the
computer or involved with video games
May incur large phone or credit bills
for online services
Unable to control computer or video
game use
Fantasy life online replacing emotional
life with partner
There
are even physical symptoms that may point to addiction:
Carpal tunnel syndrome.
Sleep disturbances
Back, neck aches
Headaches
Dry eyes
Failure to eat regularly or neglect personal
hygiene
Only 23% of parents have rules about computer
time - healthy rules about computers are
critical for your child. What
you can do
For the computer or video
game addict, a fantasy world online or in a
game has replaced the real world. Virtual reality
is more inviting than the everyday world of
family, school or work. With the increased availability
of pornography on the Internet and in games,
this fantasy world may be highly sexual.
The first step to healing is to recognize the
symptoms. Help from a professional is often
needed. What
you can do
MediaWise
Video and Computer Game Addiction Survey™
Are
you concerned about your child?
Think about your child's
video game playing. Look at the statements below. If you agree
with the statement, check the box.
To download this quiz in PDF form, click
here.
Agree
My child feels great while playing the
video game.
My child feels unhappy, cranky or irritable
when not playing.
My child is angry, has a temper tantrum,
when I ask him/her to stop.
My child craves more playing time.
My child spends much of his/her time
in their bedroom (with video game system).
My child thinks about the game when not
playing.
More and more of my child's friends are
"on line friends."
More and more of my child's friends are
gamers.
My child would rather play video games
than be with family and friends.
My child neglects responsibilities, such
as homework and family chores.
My child tries to cut back on playing
time but can't.
My child plays mores often than he/she
plans.
My child plays for longer periods than
planned. He/she can't seem to quit
My child sometimes lies about his/her
playing time.
My child sometimes sneaks time to play,
before school or late into the night.
My child stays (or wants to stay) home
from school to play video games.
My child spends more than twenty hours
a week playing.
My child continues to play in spite of
negative consequences.
My child has arguments with me about
how much time he/she spends playing.
The higher the number of
boxes checked, "Agree", the more likely
that video game addiction is a problem.
For the computer or video game addict,
a fantasy world online or in a game has replaced the
real world. Virtual reality is more inviting than
the everyday world of family, school or work. With
the increased availability of pornography on the Internet
and in games, this fantasy world may be highly sexual.
The first step to healing is to recognize the symptoms.
What
you can do
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Only 23% of parents have rules about computer
time - healthy rules about computers are
critical for your child.
