What Effect Does Video Gaming Have on my Rhode Island Teen and Is Video Game Addiction Help Needed?

Our video game rehab exists for Rhode Island teens and young adults because gaming or video game addiction is very hard to treat. In one surprising study, In one study 84% of addicted gamers were still addicted two years later, demonstrating how difficult gaming addiction is to treat. In the same study, 7% of online gamers were classified as psychologically or behaviorally dependent on online gaming.

This begs the question, “Why is gaming so addictive?” According to research in the Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 41% of people who play online video games do so as an escape from the real world.

There is much debate currently about the effect of video game violence on the real world. According to a study in Pediatrics, as much as 20% of real-life violence may be attributable to media violence. Why is this? Researchers speculate that there is a two-fold issue here. First, constant exposure to video game violence decreases our sensitivity to real-world violence. Seeing a fight at school might seem more normal to a child who has been exposed to ongoing video game violence, making them less likely to intervene or even more likely to instigate violence themselves.

One advantage our video game rehab has over outpatient therapy is that we can use a group format to address issues. Our campers are immersed in a healthy, structured environment. We let our campers naturally gravitate towards hobbies and interests they want to explore to take the place of screen-based activity. The good news is that help at our video game rehab can be quite fun. We show teens and young adults there is a whole other world out there apart from video games.

Looking for a Video Game Addiction Help? A Place for Rhode Island Families to Start

Our video game rehab offers Rhode Island families effective options for creating life changes. Many parents who enroll their children at Summerland Camps Video Game Addiction Rehab try in-home interventions first. A behavioral contract can work, but parents need to remember that a contract is like a marriage. Both parties need to agree. You can’t just force the rules upon your child. Ask them what they want to work for, and how much time is reasonable to play online after homework is done.

The key to taking back control of the media in your home is to make agreements ahead of time before the video game ever goes on. There should be a clear agreement that spells out the limits and rules about the use of the game. Make it a family rule that your teen must make a schedule before they turn on the game system. Have your teen write down exactly what time they will play and when the game system needs to be turned off.

Common Sense Media is a nonprofit organization that provides independent reviews, age ratings, & other information about all types of media. Its website includes recommendations for age-appropriate content and advice for parents who have concerns about their children and social media/technology.

American Academy of Pediatrics provides a customized “Family Media Plan,” which helps craft a realistic schedule for screen time, taking into account educational requirements, extra-curricular activities, household chores, and other items determined by the family.

However, if gaming is an ongoing source of tension in your family, you may be beyond the stage of trying an in-home intervention. If any attempt to curb your teen’s video game use or cellphone/computer use results in a heated argument, please give us a call today.

The Summerland Video Game Addiction Treatment Process:

Let’s have some unplugged fun!