When online gaming becomes an obsession for teens

Gaming addiction, also referred to as tech addiction or technology addiction refers to teens who become obsessed to online games is becoming a common problem that families face.

With the advance in computer graphics and technology, online video games are increasingly more visually enticing to children and teens that are spending more time in front of computer screens playing games.  Mental health experts are noting a trend in problems among these teen gamers.  Among the problems observed include a detachment from the reality of life around them at the expense of school success, development of a social life, physical activity and family responsibilities.  Some teen gamers forego eating and sleeping as they interact with screen characters such as enemy soldiers, zombies, aliens, wizards and monsters.

Video game addiction isn’t just limited to children and teens.  The trend has even been noted in young adult gamers and even married men who spend hours daily engaged in on-line gaming.

Common behaviors among teen and young adult gaming addicts include staying online gaming for seven or eight hours at a time, staying up most of the night playing video games and choosing gaming over social and recreational activities.

Tech addicted teens argue that they are socializing while gaming because they play online with other gamers around the world and suggest that their online friends relate to them more than kids at school or in the neighborhood. They suggest that having relationships with characters in the game is an adequate substitute for face to face interaction with others. For many teen gaming addicts however, the game provides an escape for their struggling social life.  A characteristic of some gamers includes struggles to make and maintain friendships in real life.

Skeptics argue that obsession with video games doesn’t constitute a genuine addiction disputing whether the dependency exhibited is the same type of physical craving triggered by drugs or alcohol.  Parents of video games addicts would offer a differing opinion as the behaviors manifested by their children including lying, arguing, defiance, school failure, negative attitude and laziness are similar to behaviors noted in teens addicted to drugs or alcohol.

The types of games to which teens addict vary from shooter games to sci-fi adventure journeys.  Many agree however that "massive multiplayer online roleplaying games"(MMPORG) as the most addictive. A gamers success in these types of games is entirely dependent on the amount of time the game is played. Occasional gaming playing in MMPORG leaves the gamer behind those who put in more time.  This drives many teen gamers to revolving their life around playing the game.

For parents who are struggling with a teen obsessed with gaming, help is available.  Family Bootcamp is an ideal intervention to assist both the addicted teen and the parents with the implementation of a family plan for managing teen gaming addictions.

A Christmas vacation your teen will never forget!

Are you worried about the Christmas break and the family problems that this time of year can bring? If you are like many families, the holidays can be a difficult period of time. In fact, some studies show an increase in family conflicts during the holiday season.  These problems range from kids who spend days at a time glued to a computer screen developing a gaming addiction while ignoring all other aspects of life, to parents subjected to the whining complaints of an entitled teen that is ungrateful for their Christmas gifts.

 Whatever your situation may be, consider giving your teen a holiday present they will never forget—five days in the wilderness of Southern Utah!  Come to warm and sunny St. George with your teen and spend five days of your Holiday season with us at Family Bootcamp.  The next expedition is scheduled for December 26th through 30th and slots are still available!  

Your teen will spend five days learning how to survive in the remote, high desert of Southern Utah with only the supplies they can strap to their back.   Being unplugged from ALL technology and outside communication provides a strong "wake up call moment" for the youth to focus and take responsibility for the simple day-to-day tasks of their  well-being including cooking, caring for their supplies and learning to use only the elements of the desert to live.

While your teen is experiencing the wilderness, you remain in St. George and participate in an intensive two day "Parenting Boot Camp."   Under the direction of “Doc Dan”, parents engage in two days of comprehensive parent training sessions focused on the discovery and disruption of unhealthy family dynamics.  Dr. Sanderson's trademark theory of Developmental Vacation provides the underpinnings of the instruction.

Time is of the essence as the next expedition begins next Thursday, so call us today at 800.584.4629 and give your teen a Christmas vacation they will never forget!

Assessing the parents role in a child's gaming addiction

In our work with children and teens it is rare to encounter a young person who does not play video games.  While the research varies on the percentages, a common estimate is that 90% of children play computer games while 10% of them are addicted.  While many youth are able to effectively juggle the demands of school, family life, social life and technology, those who are unable to do so experience problems that often times lead to a variety of mental health issues.  In this cases, it is important for the parents to become proactive in disrupting the formation of an addiction.

Internet computer games have an addictive dimension to them for which some young people are very vulnerable. Those children and teens impacted by gaming addiction often become depressed, their school work suffers, they drop other interests such as sports and the level of their social interaction decreases.

Experts suggest that video games fall into 3 motivational drives for teens:

Social: games include Minecraft and Farmville, where players can hang out with ‘friends’ and control their world.

Pleasure: games include Black Ops Call of Duty, World of Warcraft,  and World of Tanks; these games reward the player intermittently so they are motivated to keep playing to get the next pleasure hit. These games are often Massive Multi Player online games and are played against opponents all over the world.

Pain: games include World of Warcraft. They punish players who log off by threatening to take away any rewards or points that have been gamed so the players keep playing to secure their position and avoid loss.

How do parents know when their child needs help for a gaming addiction?

-Large amounts of time spent in Gaming: They spend more time on the computer than physically hanging out with their friends.

-Emotional Dependency on Gaming: The teen feels content when they’re online or playing games, but as soon as they have to stop, they become depressed, grouchy and irritable.

-Sleeping Problems: They go to bed very late and have trouble sleeping.

-Preoccupation with Gaming: They think about going online or playing when they are supposed to be focusing on other things, like doing school work or participating in other social activities.

Ideas for parents for helping a child overcome gaming addiction.

-Confront it: Help the child recognize they have a problem by engaging them in discussion about their struggles in school, in participation in social activities and lack of interest in other outside activities.

-Take Control: Manage their use of media and technology.  You are the parent and you need to set the rules for the use of technology in your home.  This may include limiting internet/computer time, taking away the use of hand held devices and rewarding good behavior and punishing bad behavior through technology privileges.

-Prioritize your child’s time: Computer games should be played in free time so help decide when free time is and what other commitments they might have (e.g. chores, homework, other activities).

-Enforce bed time rules: Train your child to go to bed at a reasonable hour. Often, someone addicted to computer games will stay up late. Get them to go to bed earlier each day, so instead of the early hours of the morning it is a reasonable time in the evening.

-Arrange recreational and social activities: Replace computer time with more productive activities. They can exercise, play sports, participate in community activities, read or do something else that stimulates and interests them.

-Encourage daily face to face interaction with peers: Encourage them to go out with their friends more. Provide opportunities for healthy peer interaction and activities ou