How to get rid of computer addiction. About computer addiction

Content:

Factors contributing to the development of computer addiction.
Forms of computer addiction:

2.1. Online surfing. 2.2. Online gambling and exchanges. 2.3. Online dating. 2.4. Games.

Consequences of computer addiction.
Diagnosis of computer addiction.
Principles of treatment.

Undoubtedly, now it is difficult to imagine your life without a computer. This is work, and study, and a “window” into the world of diverse information, and relaxation. But at the same time, many do not notice when a much-needed gadget gradually displaces other life values. Instead of household chores, spending time with family members, walks in the fresh air, sports - a virtual world where you can be anyone, instead of real communication - social networks and correspondence with complete strangers or unfamiliar people. If earlier experts paid practically no attention to this, now the fight against computer addiction is more relevant than ever, especially since virtual reality is increasingly attracting teenagers and even preschool and primary school children. Parents usually see the only way out of this situation - strict restrictions or even abandonment of the computer. But sooner or later an explosion occurs - the child is completely out of control, which is fraught with even greater problems: drug addiction, early alcoholism, ending up in a socially disadvantaged environment.

Computer addiction in children and adults

Computer addiction in children and adults is a “plague” of the 21st century, to which people of various social statuses are susceptible. An impressive number of families have already broken up due to this disease. A person who is completely immersed in the illusory world changes overnight, losing his personal qualities.

People who have had to deal with this phenomenon claim that in a short period of time the gamer changes beyond recognition.

Features of computer addiction

Quarrels in the family or dissatisfaction with one’s own life - the reasons differ in wording, but not in content. People hide from problems that appear in the real world behind the veil of virtual space. The features of computer addiction include the following facts and observations:

Workers of alternative medicine and drug treatment centers officially recognize computer addiction as a severe form of mental disorder. People susceptible to such a disease will never seek qualified help from a specialist on their own.

Regular exposure to a blue screen is comparable in severity to alcohol addiction. People experience alienation from the world around them, personality degradation occurs, and priorities change.

Diagnosing such a disease is a labor-intensive process, because computer addiction does not have clear symptoms and behavioral signs.

There are only 10–15 clinics on the international scene that can cure a person from computer addiction with the help of medication and mental treatment.

Computer addiction in children and adults differs only in the age of the “victims,” but the symptoms and prerequisites for the disease are absolutely identical.

Symptoms of computer addiction

Complete detachment from reality and the emergence of a desire to stay in an illusory world is the last stage of computer addiction. At this stage, people are ready to spend money from the family budget on the game, without thinking about the consequences. However, you can recognize a patient suffering from a similar disease in a loved one by other symptoms:

Physical signs - disruptions in the gastrointestinal tract; decreased metabolic processes; the appearance of excess weight; displacement of the cervical vertebrae; musculoskeletal disorder; the occurrence of chronic fatigue and dulling of instincts.

Mental signs - lack of concentration on events occurring around the computer; loss of control over the time needed to play; decreased interest in information coming from the real world; indifference to one's own appearance; causeless manifestation of irritation and aggression.

A person who is addicted to a computer automatically loses the following qualities - friendliness, openness, compassion, mercy and sociability.

Causes of computer addiction

Why do children and adults, accomplished individuals, choose the virtual space? There are many prerequisites for the emergence of computer addiction, but the main reasons traditionally include:

Immersion in an illusory and fictitious world, where there are many more opportunities to become successful. Detachment from the harsh reality in which a person could not achieve the desired results.

The realization of childhood dreams - obtaining heroic skills and titles, acquiring protective armor and new adventures in a fairy-tale space.

Interactive communication with like-minded people is becoming a significant factor in spending an extra hour of free time on the Internet.

Recognition of other gamers playing on an identical server. The emergence of a sense of necessity and importance during the events occurring on the web resource. Partial or complete combination of the game with reality, without which existence becomes boring and mundane.

Spilling out negative energy in case of failure in the virtual space is an opportunity to feel relief and peace. Defeat in the game is only a stage in a multi-step story in which there is the opportunity to start over.

The competitive spirit does not allow you to close the window with your favorite game in time, “capturing” the gamer’s consciousness.

To avoid gambling addiction, it is important to pay enough attention to the person. Loneliness and lack of support are the main reasons that play a major role in a gamer’s choice of the illusory world.

Consequences of computer addiction in children and adults

In addition to the “terrible” course of a mental disorder, during which a person partially degenerates in front of close relatives, the consequences of computer “fever” also become a problem:

Childhood addiction - apathy to communicate with friends and comrades; removal from company at school or kindergarten; lack of desire and desire to explore the world; a sharp decline in academic performance; expulsion from a general education or higher institution. Addiction in an adult is a loss of personal qualities; the appearance of monetary debts; lack of friends and acquaintances; discord in family life; divorce from your beloved spouse; dismissal from work; deprivation of social status.

A self-sufficient person or a talented child can sit down at the computer, but get up from the gaming table as a helpless person, unaccustomed to the reality of modern society. The consequences of computer addiction force people to learn to live again, putting a “fat” end to the past.

How to get rid of computer addiction: self-treatment

People addicted to computers refuse to turn to professional narcologists, so friends and relatives begin to treat diseases on their own. In this situation, adhere to the following rules:

Reduce the dependent person's access to pocket money by regularly monitoring expenses. Announce the trouble in narrow circles of friends and relatives, enlisting support in the current situation. Through friendly conversations, get the person to admit his own addiction, while understanding the scale of the events taking place.

Talk about positive things that happened in reality that the gamer does not know about. Regularly offer an alternative to computer addiction - communication with friends, outdoor entertainment, relaxing in a romantic setting, or going to an amusement park.

Introduce the dependent person to other ways to relieve emotional stress - physical activity, intimate life, visiting intellectual circles or entertainment programs.

Develop discipline in the gamer so that he can easily complete the gameplay within a predetermined time.

You can get rid of gambling addiction on your own, but it is a labor-intensive and energy-consuming process. The best option is to seek help from professionals at a drug treatment center.

Source: https://sunmag.me/sovety/18-01-2014-kompyuternaya-zavisimost-u-detej-i-vzroslykh.html

Factors contributing to the development of computer addiction

Virtual reality is a way to get away from various problems, and this applies not only to the online space, but also to regular, non-network games. But what makes a person completely immerse himself in the world he has imagined and created? According to experts, there are a number of psychological reasons that contribute to the formation of computer addiction. This:

the situation in the family and the desire to hide from constant conflicts, control, overprotection;
lack of trusting relationships between spouses or with parents;
lack of self-confidence, complexes;
psychological trauma;
bullying due to, for example, appearance, the presence of any diseases, etc.;
fear of communication and meeting other people;
fear of responsibility for one's own actions or words;
inability to realize oneself in the professional sphere or in society, unsatisfied leadership ambitions;
tendency to groundless anxiety and worry;
frequent depressive episodes;
dissatisfaction with one's own life, etc.

Identifying the specific cause of addictive behavior is very important - only in this way will it be possible to draw up a treatment plan for computer addiction. Yes, you can take away a gadget (especially from a child), limit access to the Internet, but if the main etiological factors are not eliminated, sooner or later the person will again “dive” into the virtual world.

How to get rid of computer addiction?

There are several ways out of this situation. You can take radical measures, or you can try to act in stages, gradually retreating from addiction. Here are some ways to do this better:

Turn off the Internet and remove the computer from the addict’s sight and access. However, this method has strong side effects. If a drug addict’s “doping” is taken away, he will experience a terrible withdrawal, followed by hysteria, aggression, and a desire to isolate himself from this world. Exactly the same thing will happen to a computer addict, so such a radical method should be resorted to only after the consent of the addict and readiness to take this step.
To gradually get rid of computer addiction, you should reduce the time you spend at the computer by 5-10 minutes every day. If a person does not cope with the task today, tomorrow he will have to cut this time in half. Introduce a unique system of fines. Thus, in a week you can reduce your stay in the virtual world by 35-70 minutes, and in a month - by as much as 150-300, in total this is already 2.5-5 hours of saved time.
You won't get rid of computer addiction unless you want to. Alas, complaints and wishes of relatives alone are not enough for this. A person must ask himself questions: what does this give him, what does he gain, and what does he lose by spending most of his time in front of a monitor, and how does it affect his loved ones. You need to try to encourage the addict to want to eliminate his problems.
You can try to redirect a person's attention from the computer to another object. For example, give him a pet that will require attention and care. Then there will be much less time for the Internet, and the pet in the house, quite possibly, will be able to give those emotions that the person previously lacked and which he tried to find on the Internet.
Sometimes the situation worsens so much that it is impossible to get out of it without the help of specialists. In such cases, it makes sense to contact a psychologist or psychotherapist who will help to understand the roots of the problem, encourage the person to take action and guide him on the right path.

Forms of computer addiction

Currently, there are several forms of this disease.

Online surfing

Usually the Internet is used to find the necessary information and purchases. But in some cases it becomes pathological. A person browses websites, online stores, forums, free classifieds sites without any apparent purpose, places orders without intending to subsequently pay for purchases. For him, the process itself is interesting, and not the end result - obtaining the necessary knowledge or acquiring the necessary things.

Online gambling and exchanges

With the ban on “real” casinos and slot machine halls, this industry has completely moved to the Internet, only now you can just click the mouse to start roulette. All kinds of online exchanges function similarly, where anyone, even without proper education and knowledge, can try their luck in trading stocks or currencies.

But in such a virtual world, the money spent is quite real. To start the game, you need to enter all the bank card details, and many lose sums that are quite significant for the family budget. This is even more dangerous than real casinos, since the addict does not actually hold the money in his hands and often comes to his senses when his credit card goes into the red.

Online dating

Finding a partner online (both with an eye to a serious relationship and for one-time sex) has almost completely replaced previously familiar acquaintances on the street, during a party, etc. Correspondence and exchange of photos (which are not always true) do not necessarily end in a date. Addicts use such sites simply for communication or for virtual sex; in real life, it is extremely difficult for them to make new acquaintances and maintain a conversation.

Games

This is the most common form of computer addiction. And this is understandable in principle: today a person actively defends the interests of his homeland on the battlefield, tomorrow he turns into an elf, the day after tomorrow he flies on a dragon, etc. Colorful graphics, an interesting plot, the ability to “pump up” a character completely replace reality and, again, force you to spend real money.

Interesting facts about computer addiction

In China, games where physical injuries are caused to virtual characters are prohibited; according to experts, this provokes an increase in crimes among teenagers.
The American teenager who shot his teachers and classmates was addicted to the computer. He didn't realize that he was actually committing murder.

Computer addiction is dangerous, so it is important to monitor whether your loved ones and friends are suffering from it, and self-control when using the Internet will not be superfluous. If you suspect the presence of such a problem, immediately contact a psychotherapist

The positive effect begins to appear immediately after the first session, the treatment helps, but it needs to be started in a timely manner.

Consequences of computer addiction

Spending long periods of time at the computer negatively affects not only the psyche, but also the physical condition. Maybe:

decreased intellectual abilities: use of special programs for spell checking, mathematical calculations, etc. leads to a reduction of even basic school knowledge;
development of rigidity of thinking;
social degradation;
destructive behavior (typical for children and adolescents due to addiction to computer games that promote cruelty);
curvature of the spine, which entails cerebral circulation disorders, headaches, cardiac problems;
sleep disorders;
weakening of concentration and cognitive functions;
general weakening of health due to physical inactivity and lack of age-appropriate physical activity;
deterioration of vision (and in adolescents this is often associated not with organic problems, but with a spasm of the visual muscles);
regular pain in the joints of the hand due to constant work with the mouse and keyboard.

Computer addiction in adolescents

Computer addiction in adolescents is a pathological addiction to the computer with maximum time spent on it. For the first time, some experts started talking about this addiction in the 80s of the last century, but many never recognized this diagnosis.

But the fact remains that people’s obsessive, pathological addiction to spending most of their time at the computer is more obvious and therefore problematic every year in modern society.

Particularly alarming is the fact that teenagers are more likely to become addicted to computers.

Computer addiction in adolescents comes in several forms: gambling addiction and Internet addiction. At the moment, treatment for computer addiction has not even been properly developed, and many parents are left alone with this frightening phenomenon.

Causes of computer addiction in teenagers

There are several reasons for computer addiction. A computer is a powerful tool for processing and storing information, and therefore this feature becomes attractive to many individuals.

But computer addiction in adults cannot compare with the catastrophe that occurs in adolescents who need specific treatment for this condition.

For a teenager, as a thinking person, access to information is of great importance, and the wider it is, the more attractive it is.

Researchers have discovered an alarming fact: the age of active computer use is increasingly decreasing, and today few people can be surprised that 6-year-old children handle technology better than many adults.

Parents, having given unlimited access to a computer, at first are happy when the child is always at home, sits quietly, and does not interfere with his business and relaxation.

It would seem that there is nothing wrong with this, because the sooner a person learns the basics of working with a computer, the better it will be, but there are alarming statistics indicating a new disease - computer addiction.

This is due to the fact that the teenage psyche has not yet formed and is very vulnerable, because it is not without reason that teenagers instantly become addicted to bad habits.

The problem of computer addiction among teenagers arose most acutely during the period of rapid development of information technology and modern children generally cannot imagine their life, leisure time and study without a computer. Psychologists are sounding the alarm that computer games cause addiction, which is an analogue of drugs. Currently, the computer ranks first in importance in the life of a teenager.

How to wean a teenager off the computer or at least distract him? This interests many parents. Adults need to tell children about their experiences, but without using prohibitions, reading morals and causing scandals. Such methods are effective for ten-year-old children, but not for sixteen-year-old adolescents.

Symptoms of computer addiction in teenagers

The child’s mood, perception of the world around him, and daily routine quickly change. Computer games replace food and sleep, real communication with friends.

Fatigue, irritability, isolation, secrecy, and aggressiveness appear.

A child who spends a lot of time in front of the monitor forgets about his responsibilities, household chores, studies, meetings, agreements, hygiene and experiences a feeling of emotional uplift only during play.

Symptoms of gambling addiction in children include increasing screen time; complete concentration on the game, refusal to spend time with friends, inability to control oneself, failure to keep promises to parents about finishing the game, forgetfulness, withdrawal syndrome - the inability to sit down at the monitor causes rage, aggression, crying, withdrawal.

Separately, physical symptoms are noted in those suffering from computer addiction. These are headaches, dry eyes, back pain, weight loss, changes in sleep patterns.

What attracts children to a virtual game? Online games give children a sense of competition that creates excitement. Thus, children develop an addiction to the computer; this happens especially quickly if the child is successful in a virtual game, but not in real life.

Role-playing games are dangerous for suggestible children who copy the behavior of their heroes. It is necessary for adults to take a closer look at what games their offspring plays.

Modern virtual games are made so well that for a person with a low level of criticality the line between its imitation and reality is blurred.

Signs of computer addiction in teenagers

Computer gaming addiction is dangerous due to its serious consequences. Being in the virtual world, a teenager is never practically able to adequately control real time and is late everywhere: he misses classes, skips school.

The problem of computer addiction in adolescents appears in the form of aggression that arises during games. If something doesn’t work out for a child, a storm of emotions arises, the psyche is destabilized, and the psyche is also shaken. The teenager transfers all the negativity into the real world.

The problem of virtual communication also manifests itself in the fact that the child’s personality becomes very disappointed in real life, in which not everything is so simple, but when communicating with a computer, sooner or later everything begins to work out for the child.

Signs of computer addiction can be expressed in visual impairment, vitamin deficiency, poor diet (quick snacks), failure to observe personal hygiene rules, etc.

There are different types of addictions among teenagers: Internet addiction and gambling addiction. Computer game addiction varies depending on the type of game. There are role-playing, strategic, non-role-playing games (arcades, flash games, puzzles) and gambling.

Diagnosis of computer addiction

The diagnosis is made based on information received from the patient’s relatives. They note an almost uncontrollable desire to sit down at the computer as quickly as possible, check the latest updates on news sites, and messages on their social network pages. To determine the severity of the disorder, the psychotherapist uses special questionnaires and questionnaires adapted according to the patient’s age.

Computer addiction. How to deal with it consultation on the topic

Consultation for parents

on the topic: Computer addiction. How to deal with it

Participants: Parents of students from grades 1 to 9.

Prepared by: Ermolenko E.I.

Material:

“If you go too far, the most pleasant things will become the most unpleasant.” Democritus of Abdera

At school, in society and in families, discussions often arise about what is more in computer games: harm or benefit? Today, many children are passionate about computers and especially computer games: in the game they cease to be passive observers, and get the opportunity to actively influence the events of the virtual world. Unfortunately, parents do not quite understand that this problem is also their own fault. However, it is their duty to return a child lost on the Internet to earth.

Many people like to play computer games, even children, from 4-5 years old and older. Boys love to play various “shooting games” containing murder scenes, blood, fights, accompanied by sound effects in the form of hysterical screams, screams, etc. Computer games block the process of positive personal development, making the child immoral, callous, cruel and selfish.

How to identify computer addiction in children

Signs or symptoms of computer addiction include:

• Frequent use of the computer

If a person very often or constantly spends his free time at the computer and strives for it at the first opportunity, this is the most obvious signal of addiction. All he needs to do is check his email, his social network account, go through a difficult level in a game, or something else related to the computer.

• Continuous stay at the computer

With computer addiction, a person is not distracted by practically anything; if you call him, he finds a reason not to go or constantly delays coming.

• Irritability

If for some reason the addicted person has to take a break from the computer: a request for help from a family member, a break in the Internet connection, the computer freezes or disconnects, and at the same time the addict becomes irritated.

• Inability to control your time spent at the computer

Due to the fact that the addict cannot tear himself away from the computer, he is constantly late, sitting at the computer, although he was always punctual before. This happens as a result of the fact that an addicted person cannot control time because he is all focused on the computer.

• Constantly updating your computer

The addict constantly updates his computer at the first opportunity, despite the fact that the thing being replaced does not require replacement according to its parameters. Gamers constantly buy or download new versions of games. As for those who play online games, they constantly buy add-ons for their player on the Internet, be it a special tank, weapons, protection, etc.

• Forgetting

If a person constantly forgets: to do something, about a meeting scheduled for him, about a promise made, etc., and at that time he was sitting at the computer.

• Eating

A dependent person neglects meals; he can either skip them or eat near the computer. Very often, an addict uses fast food as food and eats snacks.

• Limited range of interests

When your spouse, boyfriend or child constantly talks about computers, games, the Internet and is not interested in anything else.

• Neglect of sleep

At the initial stage of addiction, a person begins to stay longer at the computer and go to bed later. In the most difficult cases of addiction,

In general, these are all the main symptoms of computer, gaming and Internet addiction in adults. Let's now look at the signs of computer addiction in children.

• Decline in school performance

• Truancy

• Mood swings

• Opposition to parents when using a computer is prohibited

• Inadequate reaction to comments related to spending a long time at the computer

• Limiting communication with friends and relatives

• Refusal to walk on the street in favor of the computer

• Willingness to perform any action so that you allow him to use the computer

This is not a complete, but a basic list of signs of computer addiction in a child. If at least 2 points from this list are typical for your child, then this is a call to action.

The main causes of computer addiction

There are many reasons for moving to the virtual world. They can be inside a person and drag him into addiction without resistance. Or they can be around him and gradually pull him into the abyss of virtuality. The main “bait” of any gadget connected to the Internet is the satisfaction of three important human needs:

Information hunger. Of all the living creatures on our planet, it is to us, humans, that information is very important and constantly needed. The computer is capable of processing, systematizing and storing it, and the Internet is capable of providing it in any quantity and on any issue.
Exercise for the brain. The nature of our brain is such that it cannot be calm. He simply “adores” simple logic puzzles and actions, the results of which are immediately visible. Working with a computer fully satisfies these requirements, since it is precisely a sequence of logical operations and actions.
Need for communication. Another feature of humans is the need to communicate. The World Wide Web makes it possible for absolutely everyone to communicate: from those who in reality cannot imagine life without communication, to those who in this same reality find it very difficult to meet people and find friends.

However, such “baits” themselves will not work if the person does not have any psychological problems.

The main psychological causes of computer addiction:

Personal qualities. Such as vulnerability, anxiety, low self-esteem, touchiness. This can also include a tendency to depression, isolation, inability to solve problems, resolve conflicts, experience stressful situations, and build relationships, including with the opposite sex. The virtual world gives such people the opportunity to become ideal, drawing them more and more into this illusion.

Escaping reality. That is, from problems with loved ones, peers, and employees. The computer here becomes a refuge from discomfort, pain, humiliation, conflicts and the need to change something. It improves your mood, creates the illusion that everything is fine - but only here, in virtuality. Thus, leading away from solving the situation in reality.

Loneliness. Due to the inability to communicate, complexes, misunderstanding of others. A lonely person finds such necessary support in games or networks - there he relieves his emotional tension and anxiety, having never learned to solve his life situations on his own and ask for help from real people nearby.

Side effects of parenting. Namely, overprotection, inflated demands on the child. Communication problems and lack of mutual understanding in the family can also incline people to communicate with a computer.

Forced reduction in social activity. As a result of health problems (severe or long-term illness, disability), lack of work, including due to maternity leave.

Stages of computer addiction

The treatment time depends on how severe it is. There are stages in the development of psychological dependence on computer games, each of which has its own distinctive features:

Minor passion. A person begins to get involved in the game, but can give it up if the situation requires it. Irritation and negative attitudes towards other areas of life have not yet arisen.
Increasing passion. A person in his own hierarchy of values gives increasing priority to games; he strives to spend more time at the computer, but still does not deny the importance of other areas of life.
Attachment stage. The game is becoming more and more exciting, but it is not yet the main value. A person controls the time spent at the computer, but does it less and less willingly.
Addiction. The game becomes the most important thing in a person’s life; when trying to remove him from the computer, hysterics begin and aggression manifests itself. He strives to do everything to stimulate the production of the pleasure hormone.

The stages of computer addiction to network communication and Internet surfing are exactly the same, but it is more difficult to notice the development of this disease, especially if we are talking about an adult working person. Experts recommend looking at your request history if you suspect a problem. This will help determine whether a person is spending time solving specific work or personal issues, or simply spending time online.

What does computer addiction lead to?

The consequences of this disease are the saddest. Negative changes manifest themselves not only in social life, but also in career and physiological level. The bad habit of computer addiction provokes the appearance of carpal tunnel syndrome, headaches, and discomfort in the shoulder blades and neck muscles. The disease contributes to the development of inferiority complexes, self-doubt, and refusal to perform work duties. All this leads to the fact that a person loses his life, including prospects and the opportunity to start a family and build a career.

How to get rid of computer addiction

Children follow the example of their parents. Educational conversations, spanking with a belt and other radical methods will not help, they will only turn the child against you. It’s clear that you want to sit on Odnoklassniki and check in with friends’ photos, watch melodramas and read a tearful book, but leave these things for late evening or night. Show that you can do without a computer.

Convey to your child the essence of the time spent

Sit down and together count on a piece of paper how many precious hours he wastes on the computer. Draw a clear diagram, list it by month and count the total hours.

Motivate your child to do more useful things, saying, “Look how much time you spent on a PC this year, and you could learn to swim breaststroke/become a boxer/play the guitar.”

Show your willingness to help in any endeavor. Make it clear that you are not against his classes in various sections. Buy a guitar, sign up for trial lessons, go to joint courses (drawing, photography, wood carving).

Make your dreams come true

You can often hear from children what they want to become or what they want to do. If your child has shown a desire to be an artist, do not buy markers, take him to a professional club.

Who knows, maybe he will become the second Picasso. Get regular practice, invest in an easel, brushes and paints, make your wishes come true while they last! Still, it’s better when a child sits at an easel than at a PC.

Create your own traditions

Discuss with your husband, then announce to everyone that there are no gadgets during breakfast, lunch and dinner. Involve your child in setting the table, preparing delicious cupcakes and other pleasant moments in the kitchen. Involve his activity, let him carry several plates on the table and arrange them beautifully. Communicate kindly, praise for help and create a pleasant atmosphere.

Are you able to distract your baby in this way 3 times a day for 2 hours? Congratulations, you have taken your child away from the computer for 6 whole hours. After the meal, go for a walk to build a snowman, collect leaves and cones for the herbarium. Arouse positive emotions in your child, he will want to repeat such a day again.

Relax in nature

Look for inexpensive and safe activities to do every weekend. Ride catamarans, wander along mountain trails, pick mushrooms, go horseback riding, or leave the city for an overnight stay in tents.

Gather your friends with mothers and children and go to a barbecue, buy a volleyball and let the children have fun. Make it clear that the real world is more interesting than the virtual one. Support your child in his ideas, answer questions and tell interesting stories from life.

Radical way

Turn off access to the Internet, buy yourself a wireless modem, use it only when your child is doing other things.

In conclusion, we can say the following. Just as parents care about the quality and sufficient quantity of food for the child, they should take care of the quality and quantity of computer products consumed by the child, interest the child in educational and developmental games, prevent the use of low-quality games and monitor the time the child spends on the computer.

Principles of treatment

Some doctors believe that treatment for computer addiction is not necessary, since at a certain point a person simply becomes fed up with the gadget and begins to engage in it either professionally (for example, programmers, system administrators, etc.), or loses interest in the computer.
But most psychotherapists consider such tactics unacceptable, since it is unknown whether the moment of returning to work or school will be missed. Treatment of computer addiction is especially important in childhood due to the risk of serious mental disorders. The main importance is individual and group psychotherapy, which consists of several stages:

Overcoming objections and refusal of therapy.
Awareness of the existing problem.
Preparing the patient for upcoming changes, drawing up an accurate treatment plan.
Supporting the patient’s desire to get rid of the constant desire to spend as much time as possible at the computer, adjusting therapy.
Rehabilitation to prevent relapse.

Treatment is often supplemented with antidepressants, sedatives, and vitamins. Sports activities (if necessary, under the guidance of a rehabilitation specialist), physiotherapy (massage, reflexology, etc.), and nutritional correction are required.

How to overcome computer addiction

The toughest but most effective way is to completely eliminate the computer and the Internet from your life for at least 21 days. The method is complicated because within a few hours the addicted person will begin to experience withdrawal, which will cause his hysterics, aggressive behavior, irritability, and breakdowns. Relatives and friends of an addicted person should remove the computer only after they are convinced that this method will not entail serious consequences (causing harm to themselves and others).

It is much simpler and easier to gradually reduce the time a person spends on the computer. This way he will be able to free himself from addiction without stress and withdrawal. For example, if he spends about 5-6 hours a day on the Internet, then on the first day of the fight he should sit at the computer 10-15 minutes less, on the next day - 20 minutes, etc. A person is drawn to a computer by emotions, so he needs to learn to receive emotions in a different way. An addicted person is extremely pleased when his photo is appreciated and commented on. You can advise him to change his image, get a new fashionable hairstyle, buy interesting stylish things and not expect likes and comments, but admiring words in reality.

The ability to switch attention is important. A person needs to go out in public as often as possible: walk with friends, attend entertainment events. It is also useful to engage in personal improvement, strengthen self-confidence, and actively communicate with colleagues, family, and friends. Hobbies will also distract you from the computer and give you a lot of positive emotions. The world around us is beautiful, it is better to spend precious time studying it than on the Internet.

Literature:

N. Nosov. Virtual psychology. / Publisher: Agraf Series: XX century, 2000
Yuryeva L. N., Bolbot T. Yu. Computer addiction: formation, diagnosis, correction and prevention / Monograph. - Dnepropetrovsk: Porogi, 2006.-196 p.
Volkova, Elena Nikolaevna. Psychological features of the development of computer gaming addiction in early adolescence / Monograph / Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, Nizhny Novgorod State Pedagogical University named after Kozma Minin (Minin University). Minin University Publishing House, 2020. - 186 p.

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