How to get rid of gambling addiction? When passion is more valuable than money

What is gambling addiction and how to treat it?

Addiction to computer gaming reality occurs in men and women due to a combination of two factors: social dissatisfaction and psychological problems. Neither the future gambler nor his entourage foresee danger at the initial stage, because this toy is a harmless pastime, a way of escaping problems and troubles. But some people immerse themselves too deeply in virtual reality, completely removing the real world.

In order to cure all the symptoms, it will take a lot of time and effort from the addict himself, his loved ones and the work of a psychotherapist.

The main treatment method for advanced gambling addiction is individual psychotherapy. Group psychotherapy also gives good results. A person must realize the problem, understand why he is running away into an illusory world, what does not suit him in real life, get rid of illusions and stop hiding in virtual reality. In particularly severe cases, treatment may take about a year and require a comprehensive solution:

• psychotherapy;
• hypnosis;
• drug support;
• help from loved ones;
• group psychotherapy;
• meetings of anonymous communities.

Computer addiction – what is it and how to define it?

Simply put, this is spending a long time playing a computer game, or simply being at a PC for a long time. In the first case, the disease is called gambling addiction. In the second case, it is called Internet addiction. In both cases, this is an unpleasant phenomenon, with its own negative consequences. Children are most often affected by gambling addiction. But Internet addiction is more common among adults.

Both types of disease can be recognized by signs such as:

• loss of sense of time;
• stopping communication with relatives;
• loss of interest in the real world;
• indifference and indifference to everything.

Such a person has only one interest in life, and it is behind the monitor screen. As a result, diseases of the musculoskeletal system, visual impairment, metabolic and digestive disorders occur. Usually only after this do people have a question about how to get rid of a loved one from computer addiction. But this cannot be done without professional help. Even in the initial stages, the disease is difficult to treat.

For your information:

More often, closed people, those who do not feel love and support from loved ones, suffer from computer addiction.

How to distinguish “gambling addiction” from a hobby?

Computer game worlds themselves do not cause harm, and in many cases are useful for individuals and society. Thus, the steadily decreasing level of violence is also associated with video games: people can throw out negative emotions, reduce stress, and take a break from routine in a way that is safe for themselves and others.

How to distinguish addiction from hobby:

Hobby doesn't cause problems

• the person controls the video game time;
• if something important arises, he is easily distracted and interrupted;
• does not sacrifice work time, study time, or time with loved ones to the computer or console;
• does not spend excessive amounts of money on video games (no more than on other entertainment);
• a person has many other hobbies - reading, cinema, walking, museums, concerts, etc.;
• virtual reality does not change the usual way of life: sleep and rest patterns, meals;
• elements of the game are not transferred (or in a minimal amount) into everyday life: fan groups, clothing with characters, posters, game paraphernalia, etc.;
• his hobby does not spoil his relationships with others.

Addiction is characterized by the following manifestations:

The American Psychological Association (APA) has developed nine criteria for diagnosing video game addiction in men and women. Check if you have these symptoms:

1. The patient thinks a lot about playing, even while doing other things, and plans when he can play.
2. Feeling restless, irritable, angry, or sad when trying to cut down on activities or in situations where there is no opportunity to play.
3. There is a desire to play more time and use a more powerful computer for this.
4. The patient understands that he must reduce the time, but cannot control himself.
5. Refusal of other entertainment (hobbies, meeting with friends) in favor of video games.
6. The patient continues to gamble even if he is aware of the negative consequences of his addiction: poor sleep, being late for school or work, spending too much money, conflicts with loved ones and neglect of important responsibilities.
7. The patient lies to relatives, friends and other people about the amount of time spent in virtual reality.
8. The game is used to avoid solving current problems and emotional states.
9. Due to addiction, there is a risk of losing your job, breaking off relationships with loved ones, or losing other opportunities.

(Part 3 of a series of articles about computer addiction)

Now that you have been able to find problem areas for yourself, try to find solutions specifically for them.
After all, in fact, computer addiction is a disguise for many more important problems.

So let's look for ways to solve the problems themselves - then the time you usually spend at the computer will decrease.

Causes of gambling addiction among children and adolescents

Often parents themselves become a source of addiction for children and adolescents.

1. If they set an example by spending too much time on the computer and game console, they do not pay attention to the child and do not teach him to organize his own time.

2. Trying to “get rid” of the child: in order for him not to get in the way and not interfere, they themselves give him a phone, a tablet with “useful” programs downloaded into them. Many people do this from the age of one, and are even proud of the fact that “my child understands these technologies better than me,” but in the child’s fragile brain, excessive digitalization produces a bomb effect. He does not learn to live in the real world, does not notice its beauty and complexity, and has difficulty communicating with other people.

You can talk about gaming addiction in teenagers when you notice that they are losing interest in all areas of life: their academic performance is declining, their relationships with peers and teachers are deteriorating.

Symptoms of teenage gambling addiction include:

• aggressive protests to requests to leave the computer;
• anger and irritation when you still have to take a break from the gameplay;
• demanding money for game updates, improvements, for a more powerful computer/console;
• inability to determine and control time for hobbies;
• violation of sleep and rest patterns: the child does not sleep all night while playing;
• violation of eating habits: does not eat with the family at the table, eats sandwiches, chips, and other unhealthy “fast” food during the game;
• neglects hygiene;
• the mood improves only during the game, if you have to spend time with your family, demonstrates irritation and dissatisfaction;
• all his “friends” are interested in the same thing as him; he cannot or does not want to communicate with peers who do not play computers;
• neglect of household duties, studies, sports training.

How is computer addiction treated in adolescents?

When ridding children of computer addiction, everything is done in almost the same way as for adults. But it must be taken into account that the child’s psyche is weaker and more easily susceptible to outside influence. That is, addiction can develop faster and stronger in children than in adults. The treatment process in this case should be carried out in stages, and parents play an important role here. The final result depends on them.

Basically, to treat computer addiction in a teenager, it is enough to have a conversation about the dangers of spending a long time at the computer. But this must be done before the child gets involved in games, otherwise a positive result may not be expected. Mostly, immersion in the virtual world occurs due to problems in the real one. We need to find out what is bothering the child, provide him with all possible support, and help him cope with all the problems.

You can remove the computer from the child’s room and put it in the living room, where it will always be under the control of the parents. In severe cases of gambling addiction, it would not hurt to set a password on the PC so that the child can play only during the allotted time and does not have access to it in the absence of adults. But at the same time, you should not show obvious aggression - nothing can be solved by force. The player must understand that this is necessary for his own good, and the parents are helping him, and not just trying to control him.

Causes of gambling addiction in adults

Statistics say: these three factors, individually or several in combination, lead to addiction:

The main factor influencing the occurrence of computer gaming addiction in adult men and women is the personal (psychological) factor: unstable psyche, inability to cope with stress, lack of self-control skills, dissatisfaction with real life and reluctance to take responsibility for failures, inability to communicate and build relationship.

Also, the formation of addiction is influenced by mental disorders: anxiety disorders, tendency to depression, social phobias. For such people, games provide an opportunity to escape from a society that frightens them, relieve stress from having to cope with difficulties, protect themselves from reality and achieve a sense of well-being at least for the time that the game lasts.

A disrupted reward system is a hormonal imbalance. In such addicts, dopamine, the neurotransmitter responsible for pleasure and motivation, is produced in smaller quantities, and an additional strong stimulus is required in order to get vivid emotions. The same disorders are caused by other similar (non-chemical) addictions: gambling addiction, addiction to sports betting, addiction to the phone, etc.

Important The cause of computer addiction is the desire to escape from reality, which is a consequence of a state of deep stress and intense fear that a person cannot cope with.

How long can you spend at the computer?

To properly treat computer gaming addiction, it is necessary to determine how strong it is. It is also important how the patient spends time at the PC and what he does. There is no need to worry if a person spends time searching for useful information and does not do anything illegal or useless. Studying will only bring benefits, unlike games. In this case, he can be praised if he does not spend the whole day doing this activity.

Even useful activities should alternate with rest and not disturb the general schedule of life. The easiest way to control children is to set a limit on the time they can spend on the computer every day. Adults must control themselves. There are no specific standards, but it is not recommended to spend more than 2 hours in front of the monitor at a time. If a child has a limit, there is no need to monitor it, he must follow it himself. Thus, he will learn to control himself, and gambling addiction will bypass him.

Features of computer games

Computer games of the latest generation are very different from everything that came before and from other games, for example, gambling, in that they are built in such a way that a person looks at the virtual space through the eyes of the hero and identifies as much as possible with the character. This allows a person to lose touch with reality and completely immerse himself in an illusory world. For the addict, this becomes a trap.

The game allows a person to do everything and a little more: to die and come back to life, to fly, to kill, to love beautiful drawn women and men, but in reality, for some reason, you cannot pause the conflict, replay the problem, return to the beginning, or use a cheating technique to solve a difficult situation.

Thus, according to psychologist M. S. Ivanov, role-playing games pose the greatest danger, since the mechanics of the game itself consist of a person “entering” the game, merging with the computer, losing individuality and identifying oneself with a computer character.

Ivanov identifies the criteria for especially harmful games: the strength of immersion (how well-developed the game universe is) and the absence of an element of excitement or its insignificance for completing the game. In other words, a person simply “lives” in the game, not trying to win anything or defeat anyone, and this virtual reality completely replaces the real one for him.

Note! Addicted gamers need psychological therapy; their problems are an undeveloped personal life, dissatisfaction with themselves, loss of the meaning of life and ordinary human values. Statistics indicate that they are subject to serious psychological difficulties: reduced emotional background; low activity; increased levels of anxiety and stress; social maladjustment.

Stages of gambling addiction

A gamer goes through four stages of addiction:

1. Adaptation process. The person is only slightly interested in a new game.
2. A period of rapid growth. A person already plays every day, for a long time, and returns to the game mentally more and more often throughout the day.
3. Dependency stage. The addict can no longer live without playing; most of his mental energy is directed there.
4. Attachment stage. The addict may even suffer from his addiction, but is unable to cope with it.

The decisive factor in gaming addiction is the inability to give up the game, despite the awareness of the uselessness and/or harmfulness of the gaming process.

How long does it take for the pathology to develop?

No one becomes addicted to a computer game overnight; sometimes addiction can take years to develop. At first, the problem is not obvious to anyone, including the patient himself, but as the addiction grows, the person becomes more and more impulsive, irritable, self-control is greatly weakened, relationships with family and friends deteriorate, and the mood always remains depressed except for periods of gambling.

Stages of development of gambling addiction to casinos and slot machines

People of the addicted type are susceptible to gambling addiction; they just encountered not alcohol, not drugs, but a “one-armed bandit.” Addiction develops gradually, like others. The patient moves from one stage to the next, not noticing anything bad at first, and then it becomes too late and cannot be done without a specialist.

The following stages of disease development are distinguished.

1. Winning stage.

   Having felt the taste of success and winning, the gambler finds himself in a hormonal loop. He wants to experience euphoria again and again - the mechanism of addiction formation has been launched. It is now that it is easiest to help the patient, but it is at this stage that no one thinks about the impending disaster.

2. Losing stage.

   Since it is impossible to win all the time, and the only winner is the casino, the gambler begins to lose more and more often and larger amounts. In an effort to recoup, a person begins to borrow money wherever possible: he takes out loans, takes things to a pawnshop, and resorts to microloans. Other topics fade into the background, the main thing becomes the process of the game and the hope of winning back. He tries not only to return the money, but to feel again that feeling of triumph and euphoria when winning, but it fades and eludes him.

3. The stage of recklessness.

   At this stage, the gambler no longer has any money or close connections. Anything that prevents him from playing becomes absolute evil. At this stage, he may even kill to get money for the game. Occasionally, he may have thoughts of stopping and quitting, but even if he tries to fight, he is not able to hold out without playing for more than a couple of days.

4. Stage of despair.

   This is a dead end for a gamer. He is disappointed in the game, he realizes that it is ruining him, but he is unable to stop. The addict is depressed and desperate, and often suffers from concomitant diseases - alcoholism or drug addiction. He has thoughts of suicide, and according to statistics, for a gambling addict, this is a frequently chosen way to end the craving once and for all. Now the patient may be ready to be treated, but it is very difficult to help him.

Quote - Tell me, do you intend to quit the game? - Oh, to hell with her! I’ll quit right away, if only... - Just to get even now? That's what I thought.

F.M. Dostoevsky "The Player"

Consequences of computer addiction

Gambling addiction negatively affects all aspects of a person’s life:

• Sleep and rest patterns suffer.
• Eating habits change: the patient eats fast food so as not to be distracted from the game.
• Relationships with loved ones suffer.
• Work and educational processes are disrupted.
• The range of interests is limited.
• The character deteriorates, the patient becomes irritable and aggressive.
• Financial problems may arise due to unrestrained spending on upgrading your computer, purchasing the latest game console, various gadgets and programs.

Important According to neurologist Baroness Susan Greenfield, games are the cause of dementia, since modern means of entertainment lead to increased excitability of the nervous system. Over time, a person gets used to this condition, dependence occurs, and as a result, the risk of developing dementia increases.

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Signs of addiction

1. Constant manipulation of PCs, tablets, phones (searching for devices with your eyes, checking their functionality, charging, carrying with you in transport, on the street, setting loud alerts in games or chats). 2. Absent-mindedness or irritability (in severe cases, anger, aggression) when distracted from games, network communication (in children - when using a computer is prohibited). 3. Neglect of studies, household chores, and professional responsibilities. 4. Narrowing the circle of interests, reducing the number of friends and acquaintances, the desire to be alone with a tablet or phone.

The physical health of computer addicts also suffers - immunity and visual acuity decrease, inflammatory eye diseases, cervical and lumbar osteochondrosis occur more often, and aches and pain in the fingers and wrists can be bothersome.

In addition, they also experience psycho-emotional disorders - sudden mood swings, indifference to loved ones, sleep disorders, lack of vital activity and motivation for real achievements.

How to get rid of gambling addiction as an adult

Despite the various causes of addiction, according to statistics, all patients are united by a weak ability to adapt, impaired socialization, the desire to avoid decisions and avoid problems, and low stress resistance.

To cope with the problem, you need to solve these difficulties:

1. Increasing stress resistance and increasing coping strategies (techniques that help cope with stress) will reduce the discomfort experienced in everyday life.
2. Develop positive thinking and combat negative cognitive patterns.
3. Increase self-esteem.
4. Work on regaining control of your own life and accepting responsibility.

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Support from loved ones

If you have a loved one who is a gambling addict who has decided to deal with the problem, then here is what you can do for him:

• provide him with full support;
• help develop new life guidelines;
• if you are passionate about something, introduce him to your hobby;
• if he breaks down and starts playing, don’t blame him, continue to support him;
• offer him help in monitoring the playing time, remind him that it is time to take a break;
• try to get him interested in spending time outside the home;
• suggest contacting a psychologist to treat gambling addiction.

Help from a psychologist

Treatment of gambling addiction should be comprehensive, and depends on the stage of addiction and the “experience” of the addict. An experienced gambling addict will have to be treated with the help of a specialist and a set of measures; only an experienced psychologist can save him from pathological attachment.

Psychologist

- will identify the causes of gambling addiction and help generate motivation to get rid of addiction,

- will help reduce the craving for games, replacing it with a rational hobby (at this stage, medications may be prescribed),

— will teach coping strategies and help you begin to solve real problems that led to leaving for the virtual world,

- will help develop skills of self-organization and self-control.

At all stages, psychotherapists help to get rid of such mental and psychological disorders as low motivation and self-esteem, a tendency to addictive behavior, problems with loved ones, and low stress tolerance.

Computer game addiction in adults: signs, how to fight, prevention

In adults, computer addiction is not limited to games - just like in adolescents, there is also an addiction to virtual communication or types of addiction typical for adults: online shopping, auctions, online casinos, studying information pages, watching movies. All this, no less than games, takes people away from reality into the virtual world. Computer addiction develops in 58% of cases within a year, in 25% - within six months, in 17% - after a year of active computer use.

The essence of addiction

Computer addiction is an obsessive need to use a computer and the Internet, accompanied by social maladaptation of the individual and psychological symptoms. A dependent person is characterized by an inadequate perception of himself and the world around him.

American psychiatrist Ivan Goldberg introduced the concept of “Internet addiction”, but preferred to use another term – “pathological computer use”. This is a broader term and is still used today. This concept includes all possible situations of using a computer, and not just communication on social networks or online games.

There are three stages of development of computer addiction:

1. Familiarity with the Internet and interest in its possibilities. Their application in relation to your life.
2. The computer is gradually replacing the main areas of life: working online (some people even know how to make money from games), online dating, buying and selling things, ordering food, virtual excursions, etc.
3. Almost complete or complete escape from reality into the world of the Internet and computer.

Regardless of the expressed signs of addiction or behavioral characteristics of the individual, it is customary to focus on losses in real life, and not on the time spent at the computer. And losses usually occur in the areas of family relationships, daily responsibilities, sleep and rest, playing sports, communicating and walking with friends, reading printed publications, hobbies, and sex life.

Risks

Gaming or computer addiction in adults threatens problems in family relationships, including divorce. Financial problems often arise, such as unreasonable spending on a computer and the Internet (computer upgrades and fees for Internet services), due to taking out loans and going into debt (especially relevant for casino games).

Losing access to the Internet or failure in a game can cause a state of distress in an individual, leading to nervous breakdowns and emotional disorders. There have been cases of death due to chronic lack of sleep.

In the course of real communication and social interaction, a person learns social norms and values, gains experience and knowledge. With computer addiction and the accompanying social isolation, the individual loses the ability to interact with people.

A person can communicate and assert himself in a circle of similar addicts, but in other respects he becomes untenable.

For him, categories such as reflection, empathy, self-identification disappear, the ability to put oneself in the place of other people and imagine how others see the individual himself is lost.

For those people whose profession involves working on a computer (programming, writing articles, creating videos and photos, etc.

), addiction borders on workaholism, that is, one addiction turns into another and vice versa. You don't have to just play on the computer to feel disconnected from reality.

In terms of health consequences, all types of computer addiction are equally harmful.

Features of computer games

Most games are built in such a way that a person looks at the virtual space through the eyes of the hero, that is, maximum identification with the character occurs. It is this entry into the role that causes the loss of connection with reality and with one’s true “I”. A conflict gradually develops between the virtual self and the real self.

Real life is rich in conflicts, communication with both pleasant and unpleasant people, disappointments and defeats, but there are also pleasant sides. In the virtual world, you can create your 100% most comfortable reality. There is a disguise of fear of society.

Signs of addiction

Signs of pathological computer use in adults include:

• feeling good or euphoric while spending time at the computer;
• inability or unwillingness to stop working or communicating on the Internet (in the real world there is nothing more interesting, more valuable or important);
• a systematic increase in time spent at the computer (increasing tolerance), the inability to plan a session at the computer, and, accordingly, other elements of life;
• unsuccessful attempts or unrealized desire to control spending time at the computer;
• a lot of time is spent not only on work or play itself, but also on computer-related activities (searching for programs and browsers on the Internet, increasing computer power, distributing information into folders, communicating on thematic forums);
• neglect of family, friends and work;
• irritation, feelings of emptiness and signs of depression outside of computer work;
• lying or concealing real activities (computer activity);
• ignoring physiological needs, skipping meals or eating irregularly;
• sleep disorders;
• neglect of personal hygiene;
• using a computer despite a pronounced deterioration in health, problems in the family or professional sphere, or the care of loved ones.

In addition, they will hint about Internet addiction:

• the urge to check your email or web page or game profile every minute;
• anxious anticipation of a new access to the Internet, which happens, for example, immediately after work and against the backdrop of ignoring the individual’s everyday responsibilities and physical needs;
• complaints from others that a person spends too much time on the Internet;
• complaints from others (family members) that a person spends a lot of money on the Internet (many modern games require investment).

Physiological symptoms include dry and red eyes, blurred vision, muscle spasms and pain, joint problems, headaches, and back pain.

The diagnostic criteria are two: computer use causes distress; causes damage to the physical, psychological, family, economic, social and interpersonal status of the individual.

The fact that we are talking specifically about the problem of addiction is also evidenced by the withdrawal syndrome, which is observed from a couple of days to a month after the individual has stopped “communicating” with the computer. Manifestations of withdrawal syndrome include:

• psychomotor agitation and anxiety;
• obsessive thoughts about what happened during this time on the Internet;
• finger movements simulating computer activity (voluntary or involuntary);
• fantasies about what is happening on the Internet or what awaits a person when he returns.

Symptoms disappear as soon as the person returns to their previous computer activities.

Personal characteristics of addicts

It has not yet been established exactly what comes first: personal characteristics or computer addiction, that is, the question remains open as to whether the computer causes the following personal changes or whether these characteristics are prerequisites for the development of computer addiction:

• perseverance and perseverance in achieving goals;
• high intelligence;
• disregard for social norms;
• developed abstract and creative thinking and a penchant for creative activity;
• focus on the process of activity, not on the result;
• coldness and unemotionality in communication;
• lack of empathy;
• conflict;
• egocentrism;
• lack of responsibility.

It should be noted that these traits are considered not only in the context of gaming or network addiction, but also in conditions of dependence on a computer for the sake of self-realization and self-development.

If we assume that these traits are primary, then it is not surprising that computer addiction arises - in real life, it is difficult for an individual to fully socialize with such a very contradictory set.

Then a person finds work online, friends online, educational courses online, etc.

Often the development of addiction is preceded by the individual’s discovery of the opportunity and ability to regularly increase knowledge and master new types of activities, which serves as a source of self-esteem. Along with this, an unexpected awareness of the individual’s own intellectual potential, new interests and hidden abilities or forgotten talents occurs.

For more information about what attracts people to the Internet, read the article “Pros and cons of Internet communication.”

Causes of addiction

There are several reasons for pathological computer use:

• low self-esteem, anxiety, tendency to depression;
• inability to independently plan free time and life;
• dependence on the opinions of others;
• feelings of insecurity, loneliness and incomprehensibility;
• the hardships of work, study, family, that is, dissatisfaction with one’s life;
• search for new sensations and feelings, something new;
• the desire to receive support, to be understood and accepted, the opportunity to speak out, the desire to get rid of real troubles;
• the desire to stand out from the crowd and improve your computer skills, to become a “guru” in the world of technology and the Internet.

How to fight

Whatever activity a person does at the computer, if we are talking about addiction, then the purpose of such activity is the same - escaping reality, creating the illusion of safety and security, restoring balance and inner harmony. The more a person gets bogged down in the computer world, the weaker his ability to exercise volitional regulation becomes.

Thus, getting rid of computer addiction involves complex work, starting with identifying the specific reasons for leaving reality. These problems are individual, but all addicts are united by a weak ability to adapt, impaired socialization, the desire to avoid decisions and get away from problems, and low resistance to stress.

To cope with the problem, you need to remove the roots of computer addiction:

1. Eliminate the discomfort experienced by the individual in everyday life, that is, increase resistance to frustration and stress resistance.
2. Work on increasing responsibility and determination. As a rule, computer-dependent people are endowed with increased sensitivity to life's difficulties, do not know how to withstand the blows of fate, and deny their own importance in the development of life.
3. Achieve a change in mental state and mood from negative to positive. That is, find interesting activities for the individual in the real world and form positive thinking.
4. Develop coping strategies for overcoming difficult life situations.

It is impossible to cope with the problem of addiction on your own - the patient himself has an altered consciousness, those around him rarely have the appropriate competencies. To determine the true reasons for the desire to escape from reality and work through them, I recommend seeking a personal consultation with a psychologist.

Prevention

The goal of prevention is to help a person realize responsibility for his own health and life, to make the individual informed in matters of decision-making and their consequences, as well as in matters of risk in the computer world. It is easier to prevent computer addiction; every person can do it. Prevention of gaming and computer addiction involves:

1. Formation of media culture and development of personal resistance to the aggressive influence of the computer environment (more about this in the article “Security on the Internet”).
2. To hone practical skills and abilities, socio-psychological trainings are suitable to increase psychological stability, reduce anxiety levels, increase self-confidence, correct self-esteem, develop communication skills, and overcome difficult life situations.
3. Self-realization and satisfaction of needs in the real world, respect for yourself as an individual, following your interests.
4. The ability to express and regulate your emotions, relieve tension.
5. Improving self-organization skills. Start small - making a plan for the day and sticking to it.
6. Ability to rest and turn off the computer on time. At first the computer becomes a means to an end, but gradually it becomes the end itself. Set your daily computer limit and turn it into something meaningful for you. If the work involves a computer, then indicate your daily earnings, which will be sufficient. If you are addicted to networks and games, then translate this into the damage they cause - you missed dinner with your family, you don’t have time to read a book. At the prevention stage, you can still cling to this; at the addiction stage, no “translations” will help.

The main rule for preventing gaming and computer addiction is to live the life you want. Of course, there are generally accepted social norms that must be observed. But where you have the right to choose and vote (work, relationships, hobbies, self-realization), you need to use it.

And, of course, it is important to accept yourself. People run away from themselves much more often than from reality. Actually, this is why reality does not turn out the way we would like - there is no self-love and understanding of oneself.

Source: https://psychologist.tips/2809-zavisimost-ot-kompyuternyh-igr-u-vzroslyh-priznaki-kak-borotsya-profilaktika.html

How to get rid of gambling addiction on your own

At the initial stage, self-healing is quite possible. If you realize that games are taking up all your time and are starting to negatively impact your real life, here's what you need to do:

You should stop playing completely!

Yes, it can be difficult, which is why we recommend limiting your play time to begin with:

• set yourself a daily gaming limit of 2 hours;
• Before starting the game, you must turn on the timer;
• Once the timer goes off, exit the game, no matter what stage you are on.

Be patient and disciplined, and if your willpower is not strong enough, ask someone close to you to intervene. They should ask you to stop when the timer goes off, and you should keep your promise.

Come up with a punishment for yourself for each limit broken: 10 push-ups, or learn 5 new words in a foreign language, it is important that the “punishment” is positive and brings you benefit, and also helps you form a new useful habit.

To finally get rid of computer mania, do the following:

• Each week, reduce the timer by 15 minutes until you reach an hour of play.
• After a month of playing an hour a day, you can give yourself one free day when you can play up to 4 hours. This can be done once a month.
• If there is a deadline ahead, you need to completely remove the hobby for this time.
• After finishing an important task, reward yourself with a game. Return it to its rightful place: “Game is not an end in itself, but a way of spending time and relaxing after work”

You need to strive for results - play no more than 2 hours in a row no more than 1-2 times a week

Also try to communicate with people as much as possible, meet them in real life and not in a game, play sports, find new hobbies, if this doesn’t work and obsessive thoughts about virtual reality do not go away, contact a specialist.

Prevention of gaming addiction

Like any other disease, computer game addiction is easier to prevent than to treat:

1. Increase your self-esteem.
2. Learn to work with stress and negative emotions.
3. Notice your needs and meet them in a healthy way.
4. Lead a healthy lifestyle - it reduces stress levels.
5. Learn self-organization skills.
6. Rest on time, do not bring your psyche to exhaustion.
7. Do not neglect family communication and friendship.

GuruTest

The virtual world has a lot of advantages: it can help a person relax, lift his spirits, feel significant, take on an unusual role, try on the role of the savior of humanity, and so on. However, any “medicine”, even if it is just for melancholy and boredom, must be taken in moderation. Those who do not comply with this measure in games sooner or later develop addiction. But any addiction does not lead to good: a person turns into a slave to his habits, therefore he is ready to sacrifice a lot to satisfy his desires. Game addiction is no exception; it can also completely and completely concentrate a person’s attention on himself, making him completely forget about the world around him. And this, at the very least, is not useful either for work or for relationships. Therefore, if you are worried that your loved one is developing an addiction to games, take a closer look at how well your loved one’s behavior corresponds to the “symptoms” listed below.

"One more minute"

You ask a man to help you with something, and he replies that he can’t do it right now: he needs to get to the save point, or all his efforts will be in vain, but it’s okay, it won’t last long, he will help you in a couple of minutes. Of course, this is true, not all games have the ability to pause everything right away, and since people really invest a lot of time and effort into the gameplay and no one wants to lose progress, you agree to wait a little. But in vain - the man was so carried away by completing the next level that he completely forgot about your request and the fact that you even approached him. This can sometimes happen - people tend to get lost in their thoughts and feelings and forget, but if this happens all the time, it means that your man has developed a real addiction and he has stopped perceiving you as an important aspect of his life. And such emotional signals cannot be ignored.

He doesn't leave the house

A normal person’s life cannot revolve around a computer, tablet or game console: he wants to take a walk in the park or forest, get out of the house, and breathe fresh air. A sign of your lover’s addiction to his favorite games may be that he has completely stopped getting out of his “den”: he does not invite you anywhere, not to a concert, not to a cafe, not to a sporting event. In addition, he refuses all your offers to go for a walk. He wants to devote all his free time to the most expensive thing he has, namely his gaming console or computer, and not at all to “useless” walks along the street.

He stopped helping you

Men addicted to games most often stop doing anything other than entertainment in their free time. If your man immediately after work sits down to play and spends his weekends in the same way, and he hasn’t wiped the dust for a long time, hasn’t prepared food for himself, doesn’t vacuum or wash the floors, then you’re either a complete lazy person or a dependent person. In the second case, as in the first, do not expect help: you will have to do all the housework - the gambling addict is absolutely indifferent to the world around him. All he cares about is the virtual world.

If you are sure that your man is literally obsessed with computer games, the first thing you should do is understand why this happened. Most likely, there is so little joy in his real life that he is trying to somehow compensate for this with the help of virtual reality. Psychologists say that addiction to computer games is most often caused by unfulfilled dreams and goals: your man is simply hiding from a world where he does not feel happy. And to help him cope with addiction, it is necessary to ensure that he has an incentive to return to the real world. Try to pay more attention to him, invite him to an event that he would like to attend, maybe you should buy a new set of underwear for yourself and show yourself to your chosen one. Only by opening his eyes to how beautiful reality is can you wean your loved one from the world of games. And if you realize that you cannot do this alone, you will have to turn to a psychologist - there is nothing wrong with that.

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02.08.2018 04:24

conclusions

Gambling addiction exists and it is a serious problem that can and should be fought. Statistics say that on average, treatment takes about 9 months and most patients achieve lasting results.

As a result of treatment, the patient’s mental and physical health is restored, the emotional background and relationships with others improve, self-esteem increases and the person begins to look to the future with confidence. Reality ceases to frighten, and real life turns out to be more interesting and richer than any virtual reality.

The information presented in this material is for informational purposes only and does not replace professional advice from a physician. If you notice signs of depression, consult a specialist!

Author: Editorial staff of the Help-Point.net portal