My son is nearly 20 and has just dropped out of university. He games all night, sleeps all day and won't get a job. Reading the other forums it seems that the only way to put a stop to his addiction is to get rid of our internet. It worries me what he will do if i take the internet away, how do you deal with the fall out? He is very immature and i worry if he leaves home what will happen to him, he has no life skills, no friends and no money. But i can't continue to support him wasting his life on gaming. I don't know what to do.
Welcome Lisap.
It is hard to know what to do. Have you looked at thread about communicating with the gamer ? It might help you get some ideas about how you might reach him .https://www.olganon.org/forum/discussion-parents-olg-anon-members-only/interventions-parents-video-game-addicts-and
If you do not do anything it could be years before he changes, if ever...so many opportunities not taken in life. If he has no rules in your home and he is comfortable he has no reason to change. By doing nothing, you would be enabling his addiction to continue. Learn more about enabling here: https://www.olganon.org/forum/discussion-parents-olg-anon-members-only/about-enabling-what-we-need-stop-doing-really-help
Before you do anything, make sure you plan out what you are going to do and plan for anything that could not go well. Get plenty of support so that you are not doing it on your own.
Just taking away the internet may not be good enough. If he still has devices he may find a way to log on to someone elses signal or use mobile internet from a cell phone.
Some parents have withdrawn gaming over a period of time (see posts by May Light)
There is a parents meeting on Thursday. See the link in my signature below.
Any questions please ask
INFO
Help for gamers here
Help for parents of gamers here
Help for spouses/SO's of gamers here
Parent's online meeting THURSDAY 9pmEST/EDT click here
Online meetings gaming addicts click here
Please help! Donate here
HI lisap
My son is 22 and all his life couldn't wait to go to college to become a scientist. Got into all the schools he applied to and even received 1/2 scholarship and 100%. He went and failed, not once, but 3 times! His life was all about gaming. He has lost jobs, friends, opportunities. He is a great kid with great friends, NEVER any trouble growing up!
Last year we found the only Tech Addiction recovery program in the USA called Re-StartLIfe in Seattle, WA. He went willingly (and shockingly to ME!). He did great! NO phone, no games, etc. He was actually the youngest guy in the house! He learned to cook, started reading again and dreaming of his future. Long story short, he left the program in December (living on his own near Seattle(and has since lost 2 jobs and gone right back to his habits. He is in denial of his addiction and I have been an enabler. I just NOW found this website and getting help for ME.
PLEASE research Re-Start Life. I believe they can be of help IF your son will accept it. My son has relapsed, but I KNOW Re-Start is right around the corner and he may need to go back.
SO glad I found this site. I AM NOT ALONE!
LovingMom97
KL
Welcome Lovingmom !
INFO
Help for gamers here
Help for parents of gamers here
Help for spouses/SO's of gamers here
Parent's online meeting THURSDAY 9pmEST/EDT click here
Online meetings gaming addicts click here
Please help! Donate here