Addicts of all ages are to be counted in millions worldwide. Addiction among the younger generation - age 19-40 – is an especially large problem, both socially and economically.
We suspect the video game/internet addiction if:
- If the person has lost control over gaming and the internet usage – does it too often, too long or cannot stop
- playing games and using the internet are more important then everyday activities, hobbies and interest
- the persons tries to stop but does not succeed
According to WHO if a person lost control over their life due to compulsive usage of internet, playing video games or consuming series over the period of at least 12 months then it may be a case of the addiction. It should not be surprising as we are constantly bombarded by screens. Such stimuli activates the pleasure centre in the brain.
The addict often has an extensive system of illusion and denial. Often the denial is constructed from the negative opinions about the self: „nobody likes me”,”I do not hurt anybody”, „ I do not have a problem with stopping”, „I cannot do anything about it” as well as „everybody does it”.
There are several stages of the development of the addiction:
- Daydreaming about porn or playing games
- Gaming, surfing the internet or watching porn has a character of a ritual. E.g. A person watches porn at a certain time, in certain place, often in bad mood (tired, bored, frustrated, frightened or after an argument with the partner) or consuming the same food.
- Abandonment or neglect of everyday activities. An addict does not eat, sleep, bath or go to work/school.
- The final phase is a period of hopelessness, when the addict uses for a prolonged time (up to 30 hours), until they are no longer able to continue to addicting activity and reflects the they have just failed an exam, missed an important meeting or did not participate in a contest.
If the addiction develops then also negative options about oneself intensify: „I am useless”, „nobody understands me”, „I cannot tell who I am”, „ I can count only on myself”. With time the opinions become more acute, distorted and unfavourable.
Therapeutic work is necessary for the addict to see that those convictions are not true. In the advanced phase of the addiction there might be necessary to isolated the addict from the family environment and the opportunity to play games, use the internet or social media. Such person might be institutionalized in an addiction centre in order to enter in the abstinence phase.
Stages of healing of addiction to the internet, video games and porn
- phase: Enter into the abstinence
- phase: Working through the addiction mechanics, so that the addict gains the understanding of their addiction and need for change of behaviour
- phase: rebuilding of the life without addiction
According to clinical trials, 70% of video game, internet, series and porn addicts do not have any social relations, or close physical bonds with any person
Many parents do not see that their children are addicted, because they are too busy with professional or marital crisis.
Prolonged use of internet, playing video games or watching series changes the limbic system. When contact with other people becomes virtual, the neurotransmitters produced by limbic system during the real-life contact are not produced. This leads to the feeling of discomfort in social scenarios, which is intensified by the abandonment of the social relation.
A great difficult associated with this type of addiction is that the virtual world offers sexual stimulation and quasi-personal relationships. Addicts often have a distorted image of their sexuality. They perceive both men and women more sexually and see the human sexuality exaggerated and distorted. Many addicts have not dated in a long time or ever entered a long-lasting relationship.
The Aditus Centre offers help for those whose recognise those behaviours and parents concerned for their children.
