Here’s my August wrap up of major news in gaming addiction, as I see it.
The ReStart Internet addiction program has opened its doors in Washington state, but not without controversy. Their first patient, identified as ‘Ben,’ and his father have gone public regarding his 16 hour per day habit, and his recovery. Most recently, Ben’s story was featured on the CBS morning news.
Naturally, we can’t let Ben and his family enjoy the success and peace of his recovery without attacking his father’s character and beginning a campaign of silly namecalling and patronizing dismissal of the notion of addiction to electronic media. And so the trolls came out to play, as they always do, with little if any knowledge of Ben’s situation or the dynamics of addiction.
I have been privileged to learn a bit more of the context in which this addiction grew and flourished, so I understand how hard this terrific dad has worked to get Ben this far. Also, I’ve spent some time with the head of an outpatient treatment program at Toronto’s Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.
I am increasingly convinced that it is the fundamental misunderstanding of the dynamics of addiction that drives much of the ignorance surrounding Internet addictions in particular.
So what is addiction? Some suggested that Ben’s gaming was merely a ‘bad habit’ that he needed to kick. Well, I chew my fingernails, sometimes compulsively, but it doesn’t wreck my life and make me unemployable. It is a bad habit.
Here is the Canadian Society of Addiction Medicine’s definition of addiction:
Addiction is a primary, chronic disease, characterized by impaired control over the use of a psychoactive substance(s) and/or behaviour. Clinically, the manifestations occur along biological, psychological, sociological and spiritual dimensions. Common features are change in mood, relief from negative emotions, provision of pleasure, pre-occupation with the use of substance(s) or ritualistic behaviour(s); and continued use of the substance(s) and/or engagement in behaviour(s) despite adverse physical, psychological and/or social consequences. Like other chronic diseases, it can be progressive, relapsing and fatal.
Ask anyone involved in the On-Line Gamers Anonymous community and they will recognize the truth in this definition, where the behavioural compulsion is concerned. Consequences? Profound, up to and including suicide.
Thank goodness we’re starting to see the creation of programs to address Internet addictions. I have been through benzodiazepene (sedative) addiction, something that I have only recently been willing to admit to myself. For me, quitting the drugs was easier than getting off MMO’s.
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Second Skin was re-released to a limited theatrical audience and to DVD on August 25th. I watched it on-line a couple of weeks ago. My friend Elizabeth Woolley appeared in the film, and I was eager to see how the issue of addiction and family was treated in the film.
Dan B. from Philadelphia, PA had sought refuge in Elizabeth’s home after hitting his rock bottom and considering suicide. That relationship broke down and Dan has publicly rebuked the director for misrepresenting certain facts in the film. Also, he now holds a different view of his ‘addiction.’
I’m the so called addicted gamer in this movie doc but what I said then and how I feel now about addiction is completely different. I personally think people need to leave gamers alone and stop labeling them as troubled people, maybe they are where they need to be and that’s in the game…
I was absolutely NOT sick from playing, I became sick for trying to be what other people wanted me to be and not be myself. We’re multi-dimensional beings spatially placed in several realms of existence, the spiritual, mind and physical existences are all manifestations from latter reality; as well as the virtual existence. Gamers are pioneers pushin’ the frontiers of transcendental perception.
The above comments were posted to one of my YouTube videos. One of the gamers profiled in the film summarized Dan’s feelings neatly, essentially saying, ‘hey, we’re gamers, it’s what we do.’ Ultimately, the decision to quit or moderate a gaming habit is deeply personal and shouldn’t be made to please anyone but yourself and your God / Higher Power.
Apart from this controversy, the film was well done and captures the intensity and commitment of hardcore MMO players. I recognized a lot of myself in the relationships and internal conflict between real life and the game. How much is too much? Definitely worth watching. Pick it up at your local video store, or buy it here.
Tags: Addiction, compulsive computer gaming, compulsive online gaming, computer games, gaming addiction, Online Gamers Anonymous, online gaming addiction, Recovery, Second Skin Movie, Toronto, Video Game Addiction, Videos, virtual worlds, world of warcraft, You Tube
