Rehab Clinic Open for Gaming Addicts
by Mike D'Anna 
Jun 13th 2006 at 9:00AM
It looks like the time is coming where we will be forced to view video game addiction as a real disease, instead of just making fun of it. After all, there is now an actual rehab center to deal especially with this particular back-hopping monkey. And where else in the world would be home to a detox center for gamers? Why, Amsterdam, of course! The cradle of recovery & self-control!As reported in this article from BrettBart.com, the Netherlands' Smith & Jones Addiction Consultants (come on, is that the real name?) are successfully treating a host of patients who have let their virtual lives take over their own, even some who entered treatment for drug problems before realizing that their real trouble was video games...
I'm not sure what to think about this; while I am sure on the one hand that plenty of people have screwed their lives up from wasting too many hours on games, on the other hand, offering a therapudic resident recovery program for people who just can't stop trying to get their Orc to the next level sounds a wee bit...coddling to me. Like, if we say that it's a real problem, we'll actually make it into one, whether it really is or not. In any case, I'm sure we'll be seeing this pop up in the domestic psychology world soon...so I'm just waiting for the first time someone blames his five felony homicides on needing money to deck out his Gnome Warlock.
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Virtual selves, Odds and ends, Blizzard, News items
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Ernesto Jun 13th 2006 11:34PM
bah i can quit when ever i want.
:(
Karine Jun 16th 2006 7:44AM
You may be making fun of game addiction, but when you start hearing about a few people dying from it, it stops being funny. I would tend to think it's a real disease if it kills.
Game addiction is not about not being able to stop trying to get your character to the next level, but about not being able to stop playing long enough to meet your basic vital needs. Sadly, even not reading video games news that reguarly, I know there's been several deaths linked to gaming addiction - and they are tragic. A little respect wouldn't be out of place here.
Rita Sep 20th 2006 1:48AM
I am working on getting a divorce because my husband is addicted to gaming. Its a very difficult thing to do...to be married to someone who is a good person, but who has an addiction. The way I see it, any addiction...is unhealthy. I worked hard not to get involved with an alcoholic, drug user, and here I am with a gamer. Its still a person who would rather live in a fantasy world than reality.Don't we all? It is something we must resist...Unfortunately, I live in reality. It seems that I am the only one in this relationship willing to do any constructive, productive work in our lives. He lies about when he is gaming, he puts his job at risk by gaming till 3 and 4 am...and when he works from home, he is gaming...not to mention how it has affected our relationship. Its sickening. I have no interest in being married to an addict. I worked to hard not to be an addict myself (excercising self control), and I worked hard to not to be involved with an addict either. Who knew that Gaming could be so controlling and addictive??? My God! I realize now that an addict, is an addict!...and they spend their time promising to change, and they don't. They try to blame you or work or life for their behavior...And I am not going to spend time blaming myself for his behavior, even though this post makes me out to be a total b*...I'm not....and supposedly he doesn't want a divorce, but his empty promises...sicken me...really...I feel sorry for him, because he believes them...as soon as I build enough courage, it will be over...he thinks we're going to marriage counseling to save our marriage..I just want him to be able to get through our divorce....I don't hate him, I just hate the lifestyle that I have to live because of his addiction to isolation? or whatever...I have no interest in competing with a game... If he wants to ruin his life, that's his problem. Not mine. I've protected myself from drugs, alcohol, AND the potential of TV and gaming addiction. I am not going to let him make ME feel bad about his problem....I'm old enough to have heard all the lines and excuses before...the very reason women get trapped in relationships like these, is because they want to believe in the promises...as much as the men want them to be true...but the truth is, they'll be lucky if they stop themselves before it ruins their lives....no one can change an addict. An addict can only change himself...and with gaming...changing is going to be even harder...because is soooo easy to hide...and people haven't caught on to the addiction...and except for ruining relationships...it doesn't hurt anyone...well...no proof anyway.