The family in the face of addiction to video games and digital media

Lately, with the pandemic, not only the new generations have focused much more on the digital media and electronic devices such as video games, tablets, iPads, computers, laptops, smartphones ...

People of all ages have become very assiduous to digital platforms, which, if produced in excess, is a big problem that deteriorates the quality of life.

• Related article: "The 14 most important types of addictions"

Contextual characteristics of addiction

Addictions are usually gestated and develop due (even in part) to a lack of meaning in life, a void existential, which leads to not adopting healthy habits that we all know in advance that we should promote in our day to day.

Thus, addictions have a trigger in the present of the subjects, but have a root in their life history and education. Therefore, a key that can help people who suffer from some type of addiction is to become aware of what goes through their mind when they turn to that addictive habit.

Surely it will be possible to identify emotions, ideas, sensations or contexts in which the idea, sensation or emotion and context, they trigger the addictive habit in the person, leading them to repeat over and over again what has already become harmful to their her life.

When it comes to overcoming a problem of this type, There must be a genuine interest in the person who suffers from a certain addiction to abandon that bad habit, that is, acceptance.

To combat addictions of any kind, the most effective psychotherapy so far is the cognitive-behavioral, which in simple and common words implies identifying dysfunctional ideas in relation to the different moments of the day and in which the addiction manifests itself. Of course, it can be complemented with some other type of psychotherapy depending on the case, considering factors such as the level of affection, age and the type of addiction.

• You may be interested in: "Treatment of addictions: what does it consist of?"

Putting the focus on the family in the face of addiction to new technologies

Returning to addictions to video games and digital media, I consider it very useful address the problem with support from the whole family; that is, to determine why the young person or adult became more and more involved in this addictive dynamic in relation to the family context.

In the case of adolescents it may be by omission or negligence, since for this to happen surely the tutors were not able to realize it in time and therefore could not assigning them productive activities and for their benefit, perhaps because they do not know their child well enough, which usually happens in families whose communication is not ideal, positive and / or direct.

Obviously, the way to live together as a family obviously does not exist, there is not only one way; however, it is clear that all family members can try to do their best in supporting the person suffering from addiction. But since it is not easy to give sufficient support without having training in mental health or knowing how to identify when people begin to "divert" their behavior, it is essential to go to psychotherapy professionals.

If people have clear goals in the short, medium and long term and we also put “hands to work”, surely addictions will hardly come. That is, if we have something to do and think and a purpose that motivates us, life will go much better away from risk factors associated with addictions.

The complicated thing then is knowing why a certain person could not identify what motivated him. There can be several causes: the family context and its dynamics, a problem of esteem, low level emotional intelligence... And of course the combination of all these factors results in a multifactorial and absolutely variable predisposition.

Amazingly, addictions and their multifactorial origin can be largely avoided and left behind by having productive occupations that give meaning to our lives.

Something so complex and multifactorial in origin it can be avoided with something extremely practical and relatively simple, as long as there is sufficient support from the environment... When they are very accentuated cases, it will be necessary not only to engage in productive activities, but also to request multidisciplinary support: psychiatry, psychology, nursing, social work... and of course, support from the immediate social circle so that friends and family go in the same direction and are congruent with the objective of this or that person who needs to abandon their addiction.

• Related article: "Family therapy: types and forms of application"

With professional and family support it is possible to overcome the problem

Discovering what motivates us to do it productively also requires introspective, reconstructive work talking about emotions and self-esteem., something not easy to accept or clarify, because it can be clouded by many obvious factors for professionals psychologists, but nothing obvious to those who are involved in this or that addiction, that is, family, friends of the person currently addicted.

Addictions are had, so they are removed ...