Your son doesn’t know how lucky he is to have a parent that is aware and concerned with the downfalls of gaming addiction.

There are specifc ways to handle a child that is inherently different than dealing with an adult. Kids’ views tend to be tunnel vision and you have to learn to talk in their terms or try to widen their vision. Your son lacks the foresight and adult experience that you are trying to guide him with, do not give up the parental guidance for your son.

My advice is to look for support from a professional child counselor or psychologist how to deal with your son. If one professional’s methods do not work, try another. There are many ways to solve a problem and finding a solution that fits your situation may take more than one professional’s advice and it may take you to create a mutated solution of several methods to make it work.

My friend had parents that put limits on his gaming habits when he was young and as an adult, he practices those same limits and does not allow it to interfere with his adult responsibilities and is quite successful in life. I was pretty awed to see this. After a few hours of gaming with him he’d say “Time for a break…I need to go outside and run” or “I need to go outside and ride my bike, I’ve been online too long.” I believe that was an example of his parents instillation of limiting his game play even though he no longer lived with them.

G’luck in your parentage. Unfortunately, kids do not come with a personal manual how to operate or care otherwise parenting would be so easy. :p

I salute you in the love you have shown for your child. Keep at it, he’ll thank you later. :)

Sara

I was addicted to a hard drug and recovered. Yes there are your body chemicals that make your life hell for a little bit but I think in general, if your will is strong enough and believe me, this is what stubborness is made of so just admit it already; it generally takes only 3 days and maybe some medication to overcome for most drugs withdrawal symtoms to subside (except alcohol I believe is a bit more severe.)

It’s the psychologically dependency that I believe the author was referring that game addiction has in common with drug addiction. This is what I believe is the tougher of the two to overcome in regards to battling the body addiction versus mind addiction.

The void, the changing of habitual entertainment and being honest to self with awareness of what one is doing when are concepts I think are fundamental in rehabiliting oneself for any type of addiction. I am glad this blog was here for me to read as I am trying to rid myself of a 10 year gaming addiction to fortify my will and solidfy my awareness of what to do.

One thing that Jeff hasn’t mentioned is that procrastination can also be one of the reasons why gaming is so attractive to people (and me in particular.) My real life is a mess atm and thinking about putting it straight is overwhelming and scary. Farming an item or gaining a level instead of doing something production irl is so much easier and retains my sense of worthiness….is something I have come to realize. Knowing this, I am able to reprioritize the need to log on.

Thank you Jeff, your post was good for me. Wish me luck in surviving day one of abstainence in lieu of real life productivity.

thanks for postin this.

Things finally began to change a few months ago, when my interest in gaming started to fade. I would still game, but not as much. Then one week ago, my gaming PC broke down. I really wanted to fix it, but I knew that would only lead to more gaming. So I tossed it and switched to my old laptop. I feel that I have finally broken the addiction, and when I look back at all the time I wasted on gaming, I am ashamed of myself.

I do not regret the 5 years I spent gaming; it was a new adventure for me. Like you, I quit because I had other goals in my life to achieve; writing being the main one.

And Jameson, gaming can be as difficult to quit as alcohol–I have been sober now since the same Oct 09; I still crave both, but I will not go back. I will add that I believe (from personal experience) that both additions serve the same end: escape from reality.

Substitution does seem to be the best way to kick the habit. What is substituted, though, is a personal preference. I have no idea what to suggest to distract a child away from gaming; for me, though, it was shifting my focus, like Jeffery, on what I really want to do with my life.

I have continued with this through the new year and we are already two weeks into January. I have lost 15 pounds and only missed one day in my six day regimen. I put in a minimum of two hours in each workout, four of those days I alternate upper and lower body weight training.

I must admit I did have some frustrating moments when my weight would get stuck, but I resolved to go to the gym anyway as I was forming a healthy lifestyle nonetheless. I have also had to give up on things that two hours in the gym takes away from the end of a long work day. Such as being exhausted and just relaxing with a book or a movie. I also have to make a point of making a solid dinner before leaving for the gym (I work out in the evenings) instead of grabbing what is easy and convenient.

Nobody said it would be easy. It's about creating habits and your article really made a point of making that clear. What works for one person, may not work for another. Each person has to find their own way and adjust their lifestyle to make it happen.

Good luck on your gaming addiction. You will find some really great opportunities out there that you never had before now that you have freed yourself from the monkey on your back.

Smiles,
Layne

I think not all game playing is bad. The recent trend is games that help people to exercise or engage in more physical activities such as those on Wii. Such games may be less addictive since they tire you physically and they are great for both the young and old.