Brothers Addicted to Games Admitted to Rehab
A shocking story out of India talks about two brothers that were so addicted to video games, that they stopped eating and using the bathroom because they were so immersed in their game. They would play for hours upon hours and it was reported that vandals broke in their home twice and they didn’t notice because they continued to play their game. Their parents recognized the problem and decided to admit them into a psychiatry ward to help rehabilitate them and get them back on track. They were reportedly there for over a month. "Many parents come to us with complaints of children spending excessive time surfing the internet. But this case was a shocker indeed. We had to admit them for over a month to reduce the craving for online games and prevent a relapse," Dr Ankur Sachdeva, the psychiatrist who treated them told The Times of India. (1)
This story is definitely extreme, but unfortunately, stories like this are becoming more and more common. As video games get more and more complex and realistic, they will continue to captivate the brains of people – young and old, male and female. It’s important to remember that playing video games is not always a bad thing: gaming in moderation is not an issue, as long as they are controlled and used correctly. But when playing games becomes a compulsive need, like what is seen in this story in India, there is a serious problem. Gaming should never inhibit basic life functions like eating, sleeping, taking showers, working at a job, or maintaining healthy relationships. If one or all of these things are beginning to suffer, there is a problem that needs to be addressed right away, as addiction is probably already beginning to take hold. People across the United States, Asia, and other countries in the world have reported that millions of their citizens are addicted to the Internet, games, and pornography. In some Asian countries, the problem is so severe that there are laws and other restrictions that are being put in place to help minimize the harm and risks of addiction.
Gaming and Internet addiction is very real and can be extremely harmful if it isn’t kept under control. If you or someone you know is showing signs of gaming or Internet addiction, set boundaries right away and seek professional help. For more information, go to http://realbattle.org/resources/.
- “These Delhi Brothers Loved Their Gaming So Much They Even Peed Their Pants To Avoid Getting Up.” February 19, 2016. Scoop Whoop. Accessed Feb 20, 2016. http://www.scoopwhoop.com/These-Delhi-Brothers-Loved-Their-Gaming-So-Much-They-Would-Even/