The Addiction Help .com

Yahoo was posting a lot of stories about World of Warcraft and all of the shrinks switching their practice to video game addiction counseling a while back. I personally have never played WOW, but one of my friends is a total crackhead about it. He's cool - holds an awesome job and blah blah blah, but I could see how it could turn into a real problem for some people. So has anybody been through one of these programs to ween themselves off? What happened, what was it like?

There were stories about psychiatrists who tried to get the AMA to acknowledge video game addiction as an actual addiction. Given how limited his research was, the AMA declined to accept his findings.

I play it myself. Personally, I refuse to believe that WoW is addictive. It is not a drug, it is a video game.

The game can fill a void that you may have in your life. You have too much free time, no girlfriend, World of Warcraft can fill in the vacuum. But if you have anything more important to you, then WoW takes a back seat.

2008-01-24 09:02:56 by Daniel P. Truxell

Segment 4 of my video game documentary. This is Kenia/Zelda. and her roommate.

Counseling, groups, e.t.c? Okay here's the story...
My son loves video games. In fact. He's addicted. It's gone to the point where my husband or I has to push the power button on his computer. The entire family(except for him of course) thinks he's mentally retarded. Why? Here: He almost fell down a cliff(into the 2nd tallest waterfall in the world). He has trouble RE-dialling on a cell phone(which he's had over a year). This morning, when he wants waffles, he actually had to FIND the toaster and then figure out how to operate it! Also: Zoning out when people are talking to him, staring at random objects: packs of gum, cups, shoes, paper, e.t.c), singing very odd songs(like cult-type songs). Once, he even took $20 out of my purse and bought a video game WITHOUT telling me. When I confronted him, he lied and said it was only $10. I can't lock him out of the computer room, because I need the computer for stocks, emails, and other things. I've done everything I can! What should I do?!?!?!?!?!?! He can't find a job, has no girlfriend(did I mention he drools?), and is 18(nearly 19). Today, when we were watching the Olympics, he yelled, drooled, and called everybody a "failure, disgrace, and moron" He has no allowance, so I can't take that away. HELP. By the way, he can barely get dressed, cusses at every person in his life, made my sweet 8-year-old daughter cry(to sobs and sniffling)! When he said sorry, it was SO fake! He says more sincere sorries to his friends when they're playing games! He never helps around the house and blames it on me and my husband for not asking him(he's 18! even my 8 year old girl helps without being told to!). WHAT SHOULD I DO?!?!?!?!?!?! If I take away all his games, he'll just find them, or worse, buy more games! Another critical thing is he's leaving for college in September(late September, thank god), and laughs and calls me and my husband an retard for even warning him. When I am forced to shut down his computer, He yells at me" WHAT THE F*CK ARE YOU DOING, U B*TCH?!" ...sorry about that, but it's true. Please help before everyone hates him

I don't necessarily have a great answer. I had to recover from video game addiction. I eventually woke from my dazed pathetic life that I created and realized that I had to STOP PLAYING! I finally conceived that the rest of my life was great, so why keep playing games?? I know that doesn't sound great since it is a self realization but if he comes up with the idea himself, perhaps he will change his ways. Until HE realizes how stupid it is to be playing games all day, he will likely not be able to completely get away. My best advice is to try to strongly persuade, not force, him to do other things that will occupy his time. If he can get into doing something else there will not be the amount of time to play games like he used to. Good luck!

2008-08-17 17:37:25 by Chunky Funky Monkey

It's for my english class. I need a book where the character has a gaming addiction; doesn't have to be video games, just some game. It doesn't have to be the main topic in the story but there has to be something about the addiction in it. Any help? I can't find anything
Just looked at the "No Limit" book, it looks perfect for the project that I'm doing, but no one around where I am sells that book. I need it soon, any other suggestions?

"No Limit" by Pete Hautman is about a teenager who plays poker and discovered that he likes it. Worse yet, he likes it, he's good at it, and he wins. But in the winning, he loses his girlfriend, his best buddies, and his relationship with his divorced parents. In the end, he wins big. And he sits there with his winnings, alone.

It is a great book. My sophomore class read it and then did some research on teenage gambling. With the Tribal Casinos in our state, many students want to go and play tournament poker. This books shows the dark side of playing. There is more to lose than money.

2008-06-01 12:02:32 by george m

Couldn't believe this story...apparently two 21 and 23 year old parents of two children of age 11 and 22 months severely neglected their children due to an internet addiction of the online RPG Dungeons and Dragons. The children were near death before they were taken by social workers.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070716/ap_on_re_us/neglect_internet_addiction


I thought maybe the chick would have a myspace since they're so internet savvy, and I was right.

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=90738735

Pretty sad. Prettay-prettay-prettay sad. White trash are embarrassments to caucasians everywhere. And where was the Reno Sheriff's Department? Officer Jones and Garcia should have been all over that.

It really is sad! Those poor babies! But I just don't understand how a couple can become THAT ingrossed in the internet and gaming?! It doesn't make any sense to me. I mean, I love the internet as much as the next addict.. but really... take care of your kids first!!!!

2007-07-16 10:00:13 by Caesarion

Hello. I am a producer on a new show for a major cable network that emphasized Entertainment, the Arts and Education. We are doing a show in conjuncture with a well-established, world-famous OCD Center here in Los Angeles.

We are looking for people for our show with addictions, OCD, anxiety, hoarding or extreme fears. We specifically need people who are at the end of their rope, and need help soon or their lives will be negatively affected.

By offering these people free therapy (for 12 weeks and then follow up treatment) we hope to help them, and hopefully help others that will be watching our show.

Please email us your story at therapycasting@tijuanaent.com or call us at 310-341-2500
No, we are not associated with Intervention. This a new TV Pilot. It is a group therapy situation.

I would, but I have a guild raid planned every day for the next two months!

;)

2008-03-04 14:08:18 by Therapy C