How to deal with an addiction to online video gaming
An internet gaming disorder, a type of behavioural addiction, can be characterised by a persistent and recurrent use of the internet to engage in games, to the extent that the individual is typically preoccupied with the gaming, either thinking about the previous gaming, or anticipating playing the next game. As a result, the individual tends to lose interest in previously enjoyed hobbies and sources of entertainment and may continue to excessively play online despite of being aware of the consequent social isolation and withdrawal. In addition, the per- son is likely to get irritable or sad when internet gaming is taken away, along with unsuccessful attempts of the individual to control such an excessive behavioural indulgence in gaming. In addition to the mental fatigue associated with such an excessive amount of screen-time, such online gaming addiction is also likely to jeopardize the individual’s social and interpersonal functioning especially.
PROFESSIONAL HELP
By nature, online gaming could also be addictive, and therefore a multimodal professional treatment involving both psychopharmacology to help work on impulse control, as well as psychological interventions targeting behaviour modification as well as cognitive restructuring are essential.
HAVE A ‘TECHNOLOGY-FREE ZONE’
As a family, you could allot certain technology free zones, which are applicable not just to the children but to all members of the household. For example, meal times could be set aside as time for the family to sit together, and all technological devices need to be put away during this time zone.
SET AN EXAMPLE
Often, we as adults might make rules for the children, but ourselves be over-indulgent with technology. While work and personal demands might make it seem difficult, however it is important for us to practice what we preach. It is not a bad idea for instance to delegate your child to remind you to put away your phone at the dinner table!
SET REALISTIC LIMITS
It is important for you to be reasonable while setting limits. As parents, we can find that children are likely to compare themselves with their peers, and while you can discourage it to an extent, it is important for you to also make some allowances for the child’s preferences as well.
LIFESTYLE MANAGEMENT
In addition, lifestyle management can in itself lead to significant changes, including setting realistic limits for time spent online, and maybe even having a technology free zone for the entire family together.
INVEST IN NON-TECHMEANS FOR RECREATION
And lastly, as a preventive approach, we can create nontechnological opportunities, if we want our child to be spending less time in front of the television sets or laptop screens, it becomes our responsibility to help the child find alternative sources of entertainment. In fact, such options need to be encouraged in the early years itself.