news.teamxbox.com/xbox/11059/First-Game-Addiction-Clinic-to-Open-Next-Month-in-Europe/
First Game Addiction Clinic to Open Next Month in Europe
By: CAfA(c)sar A. Berardini - "Cesar"
Jun. 1st, 2006 5:59 am
Netherlands-based Smith & Jones Addiction Consultants will open next month a treatment centre for gaming addicts, the BBC reports today.
"There were 15 year olds being brought to us who were showing the same behaviour as 50-year-old gambling addicts," says Keith Bakker, the founder of Smith & Jones Addiction Consultants in Amsterdam, Holland. "We knew about drugs like crack, but we couldn't find a programme anywhere for kids like this," he says. "And we saw enormous parallels between problems with gaming and alcohol and gambling."
The reason for this independant addictions consultancy firm to open a specialized gaming addict clinic is because they are already treating about a dozen "pations each month who have both a drug and video game addiction.
"These screen obsessives are often awkward adolescents who 'want to escape reality'", Bakker explains. "They lack social contact, their parents might be divorced or too busy to see them, they might lack confidence. In short, they need to get out more."
The symptoms of gaming addiction explained Bakker, are anxiety, panic attacks, sleep problems, dreaming about games, nightmares and shaking.
So now you know it, if you are already dreaming about chainsawing people in Gears of Wars deathmatch multiplayer, grab the Tree of Life in Shadowrun to avoid getting damaged or travel the deep space in Mass Effect, you are a gaming addict.
Liz Woolley
The symptoms are a bit strange, I would say there are more important and telling symptoms... the symptoms given could apply to a range of situations that have nothing to do with gaming abuse.
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What you think, you create. What you say, you produce. What you do, you call forth more of.
Maxim,
How far are they from you? Maybe you can go and educate them....
Liz
Liz Woolley
donA't think so Liz, I am finishing my Business Administration Diploma, and though I have some training and some experience in psychology yet, I have not had formal university education yet. It will start in autumn.
I think maybe in 2 years I will feel competent enough to work with people who face addictions. Maybe 2 more years till i will be able to teach people to do it.
But it sure as heaven is planned in the long term. *smile*
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What you think, you create. What you say, you produce. What you do, you call forth more of.