How to get rid of gambling computer addiction. How to help your teenager cope with computer addiction

Computer addiction– harmful to health excessive enthusiasm for the computer. For an addicted teenager, she does not look like a problem, he does not want to get rid of her. At the same time, parents often either do not pay attention, or simply do not know how to help a teenager cope with computer addiction.

Information technologies began to develop rapidly and enter the lives of ordinary people on the threshold of the second millennium. In the mid-90s of the twentieth century, a computer was still a curiosity, but today almost every person has it at home and, without exaggeration, is an essential item, one cannot do without it.

However, there is a big difference between using a computer "on business" and dedicating it to it. Total your free time to the detriment real life. The second option happens to people who are addicted to a computer, tablet and other gadgets.

Computer addiction teenager much more dangerous than adult addiction. A teenager is still an immature person. He is still a child, although physically mature. His psyche is unstable, and his personality is going through, perhaps, the most difficult crisis of development. Virtual reality for him becomes life alternative, an illusion that is completely "addictive".

Any teenager strives for identity, that is, for the feeling of belonging to a significant group, society. At the same time, it is very important for him to know the answer to the question “Who am I today, and what is my future?”.

It is important for a teenager to assert himself among his peers and find his individuality. To do this, you need communicate and build relationships.

Communication and belonging to a group- the two main needs of a teenager. Therefore, their computer addiction is formed so easily, quickly and for a long time. It's easy to communicate online! There you can feel your belonging to the group, express yourself, interact.

Interestingly, psychologists today have raised the upper limit of the age period of teenage need for communication right up to 25 years. Most actively communicate on the Internet is his 15-25 year old users.

It is impossible not to say that adolescence, aka puberty, is the period of puberty. Many teenagers, for obvious reasons, “hang out” on porn sites.

Teenagers who have trouble communicating and identifying in the real world find it much easier and safer to “live on the computer.”

It is precisely those who are insecure, lonely, having conflicts with parents, peers, teachers, lacking social support, feeling unloved, unnecessary and having other psychological problems children become hostages of computer addiction.

Experiment "8 hours"

AT 2012 year in St. Petersburg(Russia) psychologist K. Murashova conducted a very interesting and demonstrative experiment.

68 teenagers had to endure 8 ocloc'k without a computer, phone, TV, radio and other gadgets. In return, they were provided with all other human joys, such as: outdoor games, reading, writing, various crafts, drawing, modeling, singing, playing music, walking, going to a museum, etc.

The parents of the subjects, of course, were warned about this experiment.

Five or more hours without "favorite toys" survived only seven teenagers, fully survived only three!

What happened to many children who did not last long, while waiting for the object of their addiction, shocking:

• fever, chills,
• nausea, abdominal pain,
• dizziness, headache,
• tremor of hands and lips,
• chest pain,
• sensation of "moving hair" on the head,
• anxiety, anxiety, fear, reaching panic attacks (!);
• suicidal thoughts (!) - in three children.

All of these symptoms are similar to those seen in drug addiction. The most important thing is that they immediately disappeared for all the subjects as soon as they again picked up their phones, tablets, sat down at the computer, turned on the radio or TV.

Signs of computer addiction in teenagers

Computer addiction- this is an option to escape from reality and from life's problems. This addiction is just like any other. In medicine, it belongs to the category behavioral addictions(dependencies) and is recognized as a disease.

A teenager has a computer addiction if he:

It turns out a vicious circle: the child runs away from problems on the Internet, but the more he “lives” there, the more his problems get worse and increase in number.

How to help your teenager cope with computer addiction: 3 easy steps

A computer for a child is a source of pleasure and a means of satisfying needs that cannot be satisfied in reality.

Consequently, what should parents do:

1. To understand what exactly their maturing child lacks. Have a confidential conversation.

If there is no trust between a teenager and parents, this problem will have to be solved first. The recommendations given in the article will help you.

No need to guess what the son or daughter is missing, you definitely need to ask about it! Although attentive, observant, analyzing the behavior of the child, parents will already understand what is missing from the reactions that the child gives out when immersed in a computer.

During the conversation, questions should be asked gently, but seriously, until the point becomes clear. As a result, the feeling or need that the child desires should be voiced.

For example:

Why do you play this game so much?

- I like her!

–

What do you like about her?

Everyone plays it! There you can get together in a team and smash the enemies!

- Do you like to play in a team?

Do you like to win?

The need for involvement in a close-knit team, team, in achieving personal success, in a sense of excitement, risk, the joy of victory was found.

1. Tell a teenager where and how in reality you can get the same thing that he finds in games or social networks. Give examples and evidence why alternative "live" classes are better.

For the example above, the alternative is a sport that has team competition.

1. To help a teenager take the first step towards realizing himself in reality and consolidate the first success as proof that life is better than illusions.

Some psychologists and addictologists (doctors who treat addictions) hold the view that addiction cannot be cured. But it can always be replaced by another, useful and positive.

It is unlikely that a child will immediately give up his favorite, but bad habit, even if he is carried away by a useful alternative activity.

Therefore, parents will benefit from such additional recommendations:

1. Communicate more with a teenager in a positive way, spend free time together with him, doing some useful work or relaxing.
2. Tell and show what you can get involved in and how you can spend time not at the computer and outside the walls of the house. Develop a love for life.
3. To help find answers to such questions that concern a teenager as “Who am I?”, “Why do I live?”, “Who should I study for? What do I want to work?”, “How to communicate with the opposite sex?”, “What is the meaning of life?” and so on.
4. If the child also has other problems of a psychological, social nature, or has learning difficulties or other school-related problems, solve them independently or with the involvement of third parties.
5. Control the time spent by a teenager on a computer and other gadgets. Notice what the child is doing at this time: collecting information for study or playing with a toy?
6. Do not fall into dependence on the computer yourself, if it already exists - get rid of it, otherwise all efforts will be in vain. The child imitates the behavior of adults. Instructions and requests are less significant than actions.
7. If the addiction cannot be overcome on your own, contact a psychologist or psychotherapist.

What type of computer addict would you consider your teenage child to be?

Computer addiction is a pathological passion of a person for computer technology and the virtual world. In some cases, the addiction is so strong that a person moves away from real life every day. Fortunately, tips on how to get rid of computer addiction on your own at home help.

The problem interested scientists at the end of the last century. At the same time, computer addiction continues to expand possessions and every year people's addiction to computers increases. The essence of the problem comes down to the dependence of people on the Internet and games that take up a lot of time.

Such persons live in a virtual world and communicate with virtual interlocutors. A person faced with a problem loses interest in the real world. Physical well-being worsens, because such a pastime causes severe pain in the neck and back.

This kind of addiction can be dealt with successfully if you determine the causes of the appearance and highlight the first symptoms. Their list is represented by a constant desire to view mail, visit sites, read articles. If there is no way to play games or enter the network, there is a strong annoyance.

Gambling is the most common type of computer addiction. Sometimes a person is so immersed in the game that they confuse the virtual world with real life. Most often, the problem is faced by children who are attracted to game projects by sound effects and bright images.

Step by step plan to get rid of addiction

I will share five useful tips, which will help you get rid of addiction on your own, put the virtual world into the background and return to real life.

1. Minimize the amount of time spent at the computer. At first, do not completely abandon the computer. By learning to dose time, improve your mental state and improve your health.
2. Reduce your PC time gradually. Make a work schedule and indicate the time during which you sit at the computer. Set an alarm and turn off the computer after the signal. At first it will be very difficult, but over time you get used to it and you will feel relief.
3. A computer is a good thing, but that doesn't mean it can't be replaced with something. Read books, chat with friends or watch movies on TV. Do not forget to visit museums, parks, cinemas.
4. Find a hobby that is not related to computers. If a hobby is of great interest, forget about computer games and the World Wide Web.
5. Technology can offer good opportunities to have fun. Read literature from an e-book, listen to music on the player. If you don't like cinemas, go to parks and outdoors more often. Meet friends, play sports, meet new people.

Achieve the goal if you really want it. We will have to enter into an unequal struggle with our weaknesses, which have become much stronger over the years. But, having mastered yourself and regained control over the mind, you will gain freedom.

Video tips

How can a teenager get rid of a computer addiction?

Teenagers often fall into the web of various addictions, including alcohol, cigarettes and drugs. Although there is a lot of propaganda going on healthy lifestyle life, society has failed to protect young people from addictions.

An additional danger is teenage dependence on computers. It is difficult to find a house in which there is no computer. No wonder, because technology helps to earn money, learn and have fun. High-speed information transfer, communication with friends, movies and games are the merit of advanced technologies that people use with great pleasure.

It seemed that everything was fine, if not for the opposite side of the coin. Unnormalized craving for computers has a bad effect on the intellectual and physical health adolescents, contributes to the destruction of the nervous system. As a result, the computer-addicted personality becomes damaged and lonely.

Social network, network games, limitless repositories of information and communication technologies are not all examples of what young people have access to. Against the backdrop of what nervous system adolescents is not fully formed and does not exclude the possibility of fantasizing and escaping from reality. It is in adolescence that a person's idea of ​​good, morality and evil is formed. The information flow that comes from computer technology distorts them.

Computer addiction has many harmful aspects. In particular, it has a bad effect on posture, vision and the functioning of internal organs. You can list for hours, but this will not change the situation.

I propose to consider the visible signs of the disease and determine ways to independently fight at home.

If a child constantly sits at a computer, eats poorly and hardly sleeps, and grades at school begin to decline, it is possible that he has fallen into a network of computer addiction. Signs of the disease can be: lack of communication with peers in real life, irritability, indifference and isolation.

1. A teenager will throw off the shackles of a computer addiction if he switches his attention to something else. To do this, make sure that the family lifestyle will help this. Perhaps he is fond of the computer, because you pay little attention to him or do not share his interests. Get together as often as possible, go out into nature, ride bicycles or roller skates.
2. If collective pastime is rare in the family, everything will have to change. First, talk to your teenager. As a result, he will understand that you are interested in his thoughts and deeds. Alternatively, invite your child to come up with a family event or choose a place for New Year's holidays.
3. Family trips, sports, walks contribute to the emergence of new priorities and goals in life for young people. It is important that the relationship is not formal, but friendly and sincere. Remember, in most cases, children plunge headlong into the abyss of the Internet due to the lack of parental attention and love.
4. Another reason for the emergence of PC addiction is a set of failures in communicating with friends. In this case, help your child gain confidence and tell them how to stop being afraid of people.
5. Try to explain to a teenager that virtual life is not a way out and not a solution to problems. Make it so that the child can expand the circle of friends. Enroll your teenager in some kind of circle or send to a children's camp.

Video information

How to get rid of computer addiction as an adult

The number of dependencies is in the tens. Some of them are simple, others are destructive. In particular, simple is called financial or love addiction, when a person is financially dependent on another person or is not able to stay without a soul mate for a single minute. Harmful addictions include alcohol, cigarettes, and drugs.

It is difficult to say which category computer addiction falls into. It seemed that the computer does not harm the body as much as alcohol or cigarettes. However, the constant stay at the computer gives rise to far from harmless consequences, so it must be dealt with.

If a child is overly fond of a computer, this is understandable. If an adult stares at the monitor screen for hours, forgetting about the wonderful things that real life offers, this is a real disaster that can destroy a family.

Symptoms and early signs of addiction in adults

Let's talk about the symptoms of the disease. If at least half is present, something needs to be changed. In such conditions it is impossible to find a girl or get married. Computer addiction is the path to loneliness.

• If an adult constantly sits at a computer or tries to sit in a computer chair as quickly as possible, he may have fallen into a trap. The patient motivates this with a serious reason - checking mail, passing the next level in the game, updating the friends feed.
• A computer addict has severe irritability. Leading to an irritated state can be a disconnection from the Internet, a request for help, or a system freeze.
• The addict focuses only on the computer, he does not control the passage of time. Even if earlier he would have been a punctual person, now he often sits up and is constantly late.
• The disease manifests itself and the constant desire to refresh the tab in the browser, even when it is not required. Game fans regularly purchase new discs or download installation files from the Internet. Often this leads to a waste of money.
• Another symptom of the disease is forgetfulness. A person who constantly sits at a computer forgets about promises, appointments and work.
• Very often addicts neglect even nutrition. If the kitchen is baked in the oven pink salmon, the aroma will not make you rise from your chair. When the feeling of hunger becomes very strong, patients manage with snacks and convenience foods.
• In the early stages of the disease, a person stays longer in front of the monitor screen and goes to bed much later. In the future, they may not sleep for days.

I have listed the symptoms of computer addiction. Before starting treatment, determine what exactly caused the addiction - the Internet, games, or something else related to computer technology.

Methods of treatment at home

If a person constantly plays, determine the genre of your favorite game projects. If the games are devoted to the theme of sports, most likely the reason for the appearance of addiction is the lack of implementation in sports. As for shooters, perhaps a person harbors anger and tries to throw it out with the help of the game.

Some disappear for hours on the Internet. If a person constantly communicates on social networks, most likely, in real life there is not enough communication. Often such people become a double personality, bringing to life ideas that could not be realized before.

Slide. Today, one of the popular activities of a teenager in his free time is computer games and “hang-out” on the Internet. It must be recognized that the computer is our present and future. The undoubted advantages of modern computerization are the development in children of the most important operations of thinking: generalization and classification, improvement of memory and attention. Computer games develop both children's intelligence and hand-eye coordination. The Internet offers educational and useful experience, makes the content of the material being digested meaningful and vivid, which not only speeds up memorization, but also makes it meaningful and long-term. Many parents are familiar with the problem of how to seat a student for homework. And on the computer, serious studies are carried out with pleasure, they acquire an element of the game. Working on it teaches children new more easy way receiving and processing information. Thus, the interest that computer lessons cause underlies the formation of cognitive motivation, a multitude of intellectual skills. But parents must understand that everything should be within reasonable limits, otherwise the “pluses” will begin to turn into “minuses”.

In Russia, more and more people talk about negative impact computer games on the child's psyche. Uncontrolled use of the Internet and excessive passion for computer games can lead to computer and gaming addiction, a complete disruption of social ties, which is expressed in the fact that children do not know how and are afraid to communicate with each other, they separate themselves from the real world and go into their own - virtual. In the virtual computer world, you can easily become anyone. To do this, you do not need to make a lot of effort, you do not need to follow the rules of adults, you do not need to hide aggression. You only need to "download" the game. And if the computer is connected to the Internet, then the possibilities become completely limitless. Unfortunately, there are also problems... On the one hand, the virtual world provides great opportunities, today it has turned out to be, in fact, the main source of information.

Slide. But, the informational impact of the Internet can cause irreparable harm to the child, because in a computer network it is impossible to track the quality and content of information that comes in and is updated every second. Parents should be aware that there are sites dedicated to pornography, pyrotechnics, suicide, discussion of the effects of certain drugs. Modern children often visit unwanted sites, get involved in communication with strangers when using a computer at home in the absence of parents.

Especially if the relationship with the parents is alienated, and the child feels lonely, he, without hesitation, trusts any intruder who appears to him as a supportive and sympathetic interlocutor. Unfortunately, a real meeting with such a "well-wisher" can end in tragedy.

Addiction to activities related to the use of a computer, leading to a sharp reduction in all other activities, limiting communication with other people.

It is most commonly seen in children and adolescents, especially boys.

Of primary importance is not the time spent at the computer itself, but the concentration around the computer of all the interests of the child, the rejection of other activities.

Slide. Computer addiction is a pathological addiction of a person to work or spend time at the computer.

Excessive fascination with the computer can have negative consequences for both physical and mental health.

Typically, computer addiction in children occurs at the age of 10-16. And this is not surprising - the teenage psyche is not yet stable enough. However, medical statistics are disappointing - among gamers, you can increasingly meet younger schoolchildren and even preschool children. How to recognize computer addiction in children?

Slide. It is possible to refute or confirm the presence of this disease in a child only after consulting a psychologist. However, even at home, parents can pay attention to obvious symptoms of addiction.

The child sits at the monitor for more than three hours a day, not taking into account homework.

A teenager needs a computer to run in the background. Therefore, the child turns it on immediately after waking up, returning from class.

Any attempts by adults to limit the time spent behind the screen often end in quarrels, scandals and sharp conflicts with a teenager.

Schoolchildren have a sharp decrease in the number of social contacts, since communication takes place in instant messengers and social networks.

Children are not able to occupy themselves in the absence of gadgets. Board games, books and other entertainment are simply not interesting to them.

Often the child neglects household chores, lessons in favor of another game session.

Almost all interaction with peers comes down to discussing novelties in the gaming industry, computer technology.

The most obvious consequence of constantly being in front of a monitor is visual impairment. According to the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, "computer vision syndrome" is widespread among today's teenagers, the symptoms of which include pain in the eyes, tearing and constant headaches.

Slide. However, there are many more health problems due to the computer. Computer addiction in children can cause:

obesity, because children, staring at the screen, do not walk, do not play, but mechanically eat what is on their plate;

weakened immunity, which means susceptibility to colds and infectious diseases;

problems with memory, concentration, and, as a result, learning difficulties;

insomnia;

Slide. The main types of computer addiction in children

Before discussing ways to solve a problem, you need to understand what kind of addiction a child has. According to experts, there are three main types of unhealthy computer addiction.

Game addiction in children (cyberaddiction) is manifested in an unhealthy craving for computer toys.

online surfing, or an irresistible need for a constant stream of information, makes a person endlessly surf the Web.

Slide. Computer addiction

Cyber ​​addiction (eng. addiction - addiction, addiction, cyber - abbreviated words cybernetic) - addiction to computer games

In 2012, the term "cybernetic gambling addiction" was officially introduced into the world medical practice.

The only classification of computer games developed by a psychologist that we have today is Shmelev's classification, created by him in 1988. However, this is more of a genre than psychological classification computer games; in addition, we are forced to note that it is not complete even as a genre - it lacks games of the "strategy" type, which are currently very widespread.

Slide. It looks like this:

I. Role-playing computer games.

3. Leadership games.

1. Arcade.

2. Puzzles.

3. Games for speed of reaction.

Slide. I. Role-playing computer games . Their main feature is greatest influence on the psyche of the player, the greatest depth of "entry" into the game, as well as the motivation of game activity, based on the needs of accepting the role and avoiding reality. Here, three subtypes are distinguished mainly by the nature of their influence on the player, the strength of "dragging" into the game, and the degree of "depth" of psychological dependence.

1. Games with a view "from the eyes" of "their" computer hero. This type of games is characterized by the greatest force of "pulling" or "entry" into the game. The specificity here is that the view "from the eyes" provokes the player to complete identification with computer character, to full entry into the role. After a few minutes of play (time varies depending on individual psychological characteristics and the gaming experience of the player) a person begins to lose touch with real life, completely concentrating on the game, transferring himself to the virtual world. The player can take the virtual world quite seriously and considers the actions of his hero to be his own. A person has a motivational involvement in the plot of the game.

2. Games with an outside view of "their" computer hero. This type of game is characterized by a lower force of entering the role compared to the previous one. The player sees "himself" from the outside, controlling the actions of this hero. Identification of oneself with a computer character is less pronounced, as a result of which motivational involvement and emotional manifestations are also less pronounced in comparison with games with an “out of sight” view. If, in the case of the latter, a person in the critical seconds of his hero’s life can turn pale and fidget in a chair, trying to dodge blows or shots of computer “enemies”, then in the case of a view from the outside, external manifestations are more moderate, however, failures or death of “oneself ” in the guise of a computer hero is experienced by the player no less strongly.

3. Leadership games. The type is so named because in these games the player is given the right to direct the activities of computer characters subordinate to him. In this case, the player can act as a leader of the most varied specifications: the commander of a special forces detachment, the commander in chief of the armies, the head of state, even the “god” who directs the historical process. At the same time, a person does not see his computer hero on the screen, but invents a role for himself. This is the only class of role-playing games where the role is not given specifically, but is imagined by the player. As a result, the "depth of immersion" in the game and its role will be significant only for people with a good imagination. However, the motivational involvement in the game process and the mechanism for the formation of psychological dependence on the game are no less strong than in the case of other role-playing games. Emphasizing the preferences of the player playing games of this type can be used in diagnostics, considering it as a compensation for the need for dominance and power.

II. Not role-playing computer games. The reason for singling out this type is that the player does not take on the role of a computer character, as a result of which psychological mechanisms addiction formation and the influence of games on a person's personality have their own specifics and are generally less strong. Motivation of gaming activity is based on the excitement of "passing" and (or) scoring points. There are several subtypes:

1. Arcade games. This type coincides with the similar one in the genre classification. Such games are also called "platform", because, due to the low demands on computer resources, they are widely distributed on game consoles. The plot is usually weak and linear. All the player needs to do is to move quickly, shoot and collect various prizes by controlling a computer character or vehicle. These games in most cases are very harmless in terms of influence on the personality of the player, because. psychological dependence on them is most often of a short-term nature.

2. Puzzles. This type of games includes computer versions of various board games(chess, checkers, backgammon, etc.), as well as various kinds of puzzles implemented in the form of computer programs. Motivation based on excitement is associated here with the desire to beat the computer, to prove one's superiority over the machine.

3. Games for speed of reaction. This includes all games in which the player needs to show dexterity and speed of reaction. The difference from arcades is that they have no plot at all and, as a rule, are completely abstract, not connected in any way with real life. Motivation based on excitement, the need to “pass” the game, score more points, can form a completely stable psychological dependence of a person on this type of game.

4. Traditional gambling. We use the word "traditional" in the name, since you cannot simply name the type " gambling”, because Almost all non-role-playing computer games are inherently gambling. This includes computer card games, roulettes, simulators of slot machines, in a word - computer versions of the casino gaming repertoire. Psychological aspects the formation of dependence on these computer games and their real counterparts are very similar and, therefore, we will not focus on this.

Slide. Most dangerous games!!!

(according to The Youth Care Foundation, Sweden)

World of Warcraft (11.5 million users)

Grand Theft Auto 4, Manhunt, Postal, DOOM,seriesMortal Kombat

Lineage 2 resident evil 4 Condemned Clive Barker's Jericho

Slide. Why is computer addiction formed?

The first and necessary condition for the formation of any addiction is a feeling of inner anxiety and a feeling of dissatisfaction. There are two ways to get out of a state of anxiety: a person either becomes aggressive or seeks to "leave". And you can go into alcoholism, drug addiction, religious sects, finally, into the game... In a computer game, a person can simultaneously “splash out” his aggression on virtual characters and hide from a bleak reality for him. But where does the heightened anxiety and dissatisfaction come from? Often the reason is problems in the family, misunderstanding between parents and the child, "abandonment" of children, excessive demands that adults place on the child.

The second condition for the formation of gambling addiction is pleasure. During the game there is an adrenaline rush. And if he also wins, the body produces hormones of joy - endorphins. You want to experience this feeling again and again, and for this you need to repeat the game. This is how addiction occurs. Therefore, it is children who lack positive emotions in their lives that most often become victims of a computer.

Moreover, computer addiction is formed very quickly (one and a half to two months is enough!) And in the future it has a huge impact on the development of a personality, especially a child's.

Causes of computer addiction:

lack of warm trusting relationships, understanding in the family;

inability to get along with others, lack of friends;

lack of hobbies, hobbies not related to the computer;

general failure of the child.

Prevention of computer addiction:

creation warm relationship with your own child

joint pastime and interest in his life and leisure;

limiting the time spent in front of the computer;

child's passion for sports, books, art.

It's important to know!!! A severe form of computer addiction is treated by a psychiatrist!!!

In all cases, these are people who are maniacally dependent on the virtual world.

According to experts, gambling addiction is just as detrimental as alcoholism or drug addiction, and leads to profound personality changes - self-isolation, mental imbalance, pathological forgetfulness and untidiness, indifference to loved ones. The sick person experiences an irresistible desire to stay in virtual reality as long as possible, forgetting about everything.

In the game, the child gains power over the world, turning into any fairy-tale character or movie character. While playing, he can replay some plot with one movement of the computer mouse, go back, remake part of the game. This is especially sucking for children who in real life understand their failure.

In addition, one cannot ignore the fact that almost all teenage games are built on aggression and murder. In many, there is total homicide - permitted murder.

But role-playing game is not just entertainment. In this kind of games, behavior patterns are quickly assimilated. Therefore, in a number of countries, children under 18 are prohibited from playing some particularly aggressive computer games, as they can inspire an undeveloped personality to implement aggressive impulses in real life.

The danger to the psyche is fraught with the Internet. You can enter the World Wide Web under any name, come up with any biography, image. In some mentally unstable adolescents, in connection with this, problems of self-identification arise. In computer addicts, there is an alienation of the "I", a split personality begins. The second pathology - children begin to feverishly scour the sites, pointlessly downloading information. For them, an end in itself is "sitting on the Internet."

The only, at the moment, proven way to prevent a teenager from “sit down” on computer games is to involve him in processes that are not related to virtual reality. Show a growing person a lot of existing exciting activities: sports sections, hobby groups, tourism, dancing, etc., which allow you to experience the thrill and fulfill yourself, but at the same time train the body and normalize the psychological state.

You always need to remember that a computer can become a friend, help in trouble, find like-minded people, or maybe add a huge number of problems, lead to loneliness, becoming a sworn enemy.

Slide. Adolescent addiction social networks

More and more teenagers are getting addicted. You have probably been told such an expression as: “The VKontakte site is like refrigerators, you know that it is empty, but you still look ten times.” It is the same with schoolchildren, at first they show curiosity, then it is completely impossible to unstick them from the computer.
Among young people there is such a game like “Who has more friends?”. After all, their number sometimes reaches five thousand. Why do they have so many friends? Theoretically, the circle of acquaintances of any person does not exceed two hundred people, and the closest friends are about 5-10. We simply cannot remember more than five hundred people. Having 2000 people as friends, a person still feels lonely

Teenagers spend parental money to give virtual gifts to their "friends". But everything is possible on a social network:
- think over the phrases that you will write to "friends";
- upload your best photos;
- talk about an event that actually did not happen, but you really want it to happen;
- create your own virtual world.
Frequent visits to social networks for a completely unformed psyche of a teenager can adversely affect his health. The student will communicate less with his real friends, and will also withdraw into himself. If a child has complexes, then they will begin to develop at a high speed.
The danger of social networks is anonymity and the ability to hide your identity, trying on various roles at will. Teenagers play the role of who they would like to be, moving away from reality and living on the network someone else's, completely unlike reality, life. In some cases, this leads to a split personality and a loss of a sense of reality.

Slide. Signs of internet addiction in teenagers:

Decreased academic performance, systematic absenteeism,

Frequent unreasonable mood swings, from sluggish to elated, from listless-depressed to elated-euphoric.

Painful and inadequate reaction to criticism, comments, advice.

Growing opposition to parents, relatives, old friends.

Significant emotional withdrawal.

Deterioration of memory and attention.

Attacks of depression, fear, anxiety, the appearance of phobias.

Limited communication with friends, parents, relatives, a significant change in the social circle.

Leaving cases in which there was interest, abandoning hobbies.

Loss of valuables or money from the house, the appearance of other people's things, monetary debts.

Resourcefulness, deceit, untidiness, slovenliness, previously uncharacteristic

Slide. There are four degrees of Internet addiction in children and adolescents.

1. The child spends less than 7 hours a week at the computer, his online activities are varied, he willingly tells what he is doing. He turns off the computer himself, “weaning” from the Internet and the need to interrupt (for lessons, conversation, etc.) perceives calmly, there are no problems with sleep and appetite. Studying is normal, dressed as always, the room is in order.

2. The child is at the computer up to 15 hours a week, the activity is varied, but one-way (games, social networks, etc.), does not tell about everything. The computer turns off after a reminder, the need to interrupt perceives differently, including negatively. Sometimes he overeats at the computer or forgets to eat, occasionally there are nightmares. Studying is normal, he can dress inaccurately, litter the room.

3. The child stays at the computer up to 22 hours a week, the activity is narrowly focused (3-4 chats, social networks or games), reluctantly talks about it. The computer turns off after several reminders, breaks are perceived negatively. Appetite is noticeably reduced or increased, sleep is disturbed - sleeps a little, then a lot, screams and rushes about in a dream. Study suffers, clothes are often sloppy, the room is a mess. The circle of communication and interests is somewhat changing.

4. The child stays at the computer for more 3 hours per day, daily, without interruption, preferring 1-2 games or social media or random surfing. The computer tries not to turn off at all, constantly checks mail and instant messengers, and reacts aggressively to requests to interrupt or tell what it is doing. Appetite and sleep are severely disturbed, academic performance has fallen sharply, clothes and room are in disarray, social circles and interests have changed.

The first and second stages require almost no intervention - this is a natural interest necessary for life in modern world. It is enough to talk with children about their hobbies and unobtrusively track what they are doing, what they write about in social networks, what they play. Good way raise parental authority - beat the child in his game or support a flash mob on a social network.

The third stage indicates the need for serious intervention, consultations with a psychologist. It is necessary to “pull out the electrode”, providing the child with a full life in reality - strong impressions, friendly company, useful activity. Let him climb rope ladders and climbing walls, learn to fence or ride a horse, play KVN, in extreme cases, use computer skills to design or write programs. Agree on a time limit at the computer with the right once a week or once a month to play enough.

The fourth stage, unfortunately, without the intervention of professionals can end sadly. To determine the severity of the disease, the scope of intervention and treatment, contact the specialists to whom you will be referred. school psychologist, a doctor from a polyclinic or a private clinic.

Slide. 3) Internet surfing called visits to web pages. Reading the news, watching movies, playing online games You, people surf in the virtual space. To surf, you need to install a browser on your computer. This is a special program that provides the ability to connect to web sites and listen, read and view the information contained in them. Thanks to it, you can also navigate to other nodes by clicking on hyperlinks.
The web document that opens may contain other links. As a result, the user "floats" on the ocean of information. Therefore, the name "surfing" is used.

More and more teenagers are now running from real reality to virtual reality. That is why experts say about the frightening scale of computer addiction in adolescents, which manifests itself in the unhealthy attachment of a child to a computer. By itself, this pathology is quite young, the first cases were recorded about 30 years ago. Although there are still people who do not recognize this deviation, the fact remains that every year more and more teenagers are captured by these devices around the world.

It was found that computer addiction in adolescents is of two types: Internet addiction and gambling addiction. But it remains frightening that no treatment has yet been invented, and parents have to deal with this disease on their own.

Being a rather complex phenomenon, this dependence is still different in that it can be caused by a number of specific factors.

Moving into the world of computers and the World Wide Web is gaining momentum, as virtual reality helps children hide from real problems. In real life, a child can be the object of ridicule of his peers, but in a computer game, he can be whoever he wants. This is very dangerous phenomenon, because it can lead to the fact that the child will erase the line between the worlds. And this is a mental disorder.

In fact, the idea of ​​a computer as a universal means for storing and processing large amounts of data is very useful and timely. Therefore, it is not surprising that many people spend a very large amount of time with this device. Well, for teenagers, the property of computers to provide access to an unlimited amount of information is very attractive, since they are at the peak stage of their development, and they no longer imagine their studies and leisure without computers.

It is also worth noting the fact that in recent times the average age of an active computer user is getting lower and lower. This is due to the easy availability of these electronic devices, and it is now quite common for 7-year-olds to be more computer savvy and use them more than their grandparents.

Still very often, parents themselves push their children to addiction by imposing modern gadgets. After all, being carried away by the computer, the child behaves very quietly and does not interfere with the parents to go about their business. At first, this does not bode well, but then it is this harmless pastime that develops into a terrible addiction.

Experts say that it is necessary to fight this disease as actively and diligently as possible, because dependence on computer games can be compared with a drug one in its severity.

That is why you should be attentive to your child, because the symptoms of addiction can be detected immediately. For a computer addict:

• there is a clear reluctance to spend time with their peers and communicate with relatives;
• the child sits at the computer all his free time, forgetting about sleep and food;
• the teenager may become aggressive and irritable;
• any physical exercise are very tiring.

Even during the game, teenagers lose all sense of reality, they forget about given promises, responsibilities and lose track of time. And any obstacle that prevents you from enjoying the virtual world causes uncontrollable fits and rages.

And do not forget about the physical symptoms of addiction, which are expressed in headaches and back pain, dry eyes and sleep disturbance. Also suffers from this dependence gastrointestinal tract, because due to constant play, the child forgets to eat healthy food, interrupted by small snacks.

Internet addiction itself can lead to the fact that a teenager will not be able to communicate with his friends live, he will have a certain barrier that falls only when he sits down at the monitor.

As noted above, there is no one hundred percent cure for addiction, but this does not mean at all that this disease is not even worth fighting. On the contrary, you need to do it, and do it right.

Having discovered a computer addiction in your child, it is completely useless to scold or punish him, so as not to cause attacks of aggression. It is worth intervening wisely and gradually. But here, parents must immediately come to terms with the idea that it will not be possible to completely drive a teenager away from the computer, no matter how hard you try. But, if everything is done correctly, then after a certain period of time the computer will be used by him to the maximum for his benefit.

First of all, you can get rid of computer addiction by preventive means. Since the addiction becomes stronger the more time the child spends at the computer, it is worth giving it Special attention. Time limits must be set and enforced. According to experts, teenagers are allowed to spend at the computer no more than two hours.

If it has not been possible to keep track, then it is worth weaning the child from the computer with the help of some other activity: football, tennis, volleyball, dancing, singing, drawing. It should be especially noted that parents should also take an active part in the new hobby of their child, so that he feels support and care. It is necessary to treat addiction tactfully, in no case should a child be completely forbidden to use a computer, because this will not lead to anything good.

Computer addiction is especially dangerous for teenagers, since children at this age are in the period of formation of character, psyche and personality, that is, in the most difficult period of their lives. Therefore, parents should carefully monitor their children to protect them from this disease, and treat if addiction is detected.

Computer addiction in children

The development of computer technology, an increase in the number of interesting online games, a huge amount of information on the network have given society new problem — computer addiction of people. To hear about this problem more and more often, and suffer from it, without realizing it, young people, children and adolescents. Parents, teachers and psychologists began to sound the alarm. Indeed, to the question “How do you spend your leisure time?” 80% of children and adolescents answer that they play computer games and use social networks.
The main feature of such an addiction is that a person loses control over it, believes that he has sat at the computer for quite a while and nothing will happen when he spends some more time playing his favorite game or reading posts and chatting with friends on a social network.

Signs of computer addiction

Nowadays, almost all children like to spend time at the computer, play games, read interesting information, chat with friends online. Of course, this does not mean that they are addicted. And many parents are interested in the question of how to identify addiction in order to protect their children from it.
- Decreased time spent in live communication with peers and friends
- Decreased or complete lack of interest in learning
- Skipping classes
- Lack of hobbies
- Bad infusion, anger, aggression in a situation where the computer is broken or there is no Internet
- Departure from reality, lack of perseverance and responsibility
- Sitting at the computer at night
- Eating without taking your eyes off the monitor
- The reaction to the ban to sit in the network - scandals, aggression, blackmail.

Causes of computer addiction

Unfortunately, our time is characterized by difficulties and financial crisis. Parents are mainly focused on obtaining financial resources, often stretched abroad and on long business trips. Of course, they almost do not find time to raise and communicate with their children. The computer and expensive toys replace communication. And when parents begin to sound the alarm, it becomes clear that an addiction has already been formed, which is not so easy to get rid of.

Among the reasons are also distinguished:

1.
2. rejection by peers
3. problems in communication
4. lack of opportunity to realize their desires and dreams
5. lack of opportunity to do what you love.
And this is not the whole list. Mostly the reasons are quite individual and in order to determine them, a psychologist's diagnosis is needed.

Warnings and overcoming computer addiction

In order to prevent the occurrence computer addiction Parents need to pay more attention to their children. It is necessary to create conditions for their self-development, find out what they like, what they aspire to, help and support in their endeavors. It is also important to control the time that children spend at the computer monitor, make sure that this time does not exceed 1 hour a day for a teenager and 30 minutes for children of primary school age.
You should not criticize the child, conflict with him, be led to provocations. It is better to calmly justify your ban, the possible consequences of prolonged sitting at the computer. The child will definitely understand, if not for the first time, then he will understand in the future. The child needs constant communication with parents, it is then that she will develop harmoniously and there will be no question of dependence on the computer.