I MOVED THIS POST TO THE OLG-Anon FOR FAMILY AND FRIENDS SECTION. PLEASE POST RESPONSES THERE. p198.ezboard.com/folgafrm6.showMessage?topicID=108.topic
I received this letter in my inbox the other day. It is so shocking, I do not know where to post it. I thought it was important, and I wanted to share it with both the Gamers and the Family Members. At first, I thought it may be a hoax, but I did write her back, and she did reply, which I will post after this letter.
I need help, advice, anything. My husband is addicted to online Diablo. He has been playing up to 45 hours a week, (he didn't go to work for several months.) Each week he would play longer and longer hours. For the several last weeks it got so bad, when he wasn't playing he got uncontrollable angry, seeking arguements so he got to leave the house and go play. He has severe eye and headaches, his right arm shakes and aches. Finally on Saturday with family help, he said he would quit. On Sunday, he started getting convulsions, shaking uncontrollable and has breathing problems, his eyes would roll back. Monday he got drunk and had several more convulsions, then he got angry and his whole face changed, his eyes went blank with the anger. He tried to attacked me with a knife, his cousin stopped him. It's now Tuesday, his is back in bed, sleeping finally. But before he slept, he had 3 more convulsions. He refuses to see a doctor. How long does this withdrawl last? How can I help him help himself. any advice would be greatful. P.S. How can these games be legal?
Edited by: lizwool at: 1/13/06 13:38
Liz Woolley
Hello,
You did not sign your name. When something as serious as this is happening to you and your family, it would be nice for you not to worry about asking for help.
You do understand, that my son died as a result of being addicted to these games!
How is your husband doing now? What part of the country are you from? Your husband DOES need to see a professional. p198.ezboard.com/folgafrm23
Just between you and me, another reason to get him to a professional is this: Unless cases like this are documented, we will never be able to stop this, because people who have never seen it, don't believe it happens. My son also had grand mall seizures because of how long he played the games. He did not care. He still kept playing it.
Playing these games too much will put the gamer in a hypnotic trance and control their mind, so they no longer can make rational decisions, as you are seeing. He has to stay OFF of the games COMPLETELY, so his brain can rewire itself back to "normal". Please call me at 612-245-1115, so we can discuss what is happening here. Your husband needs to understand what is happening to him.
There is more you can do, after he is better, but right now, what is happening to him, really makes me angry.
A person cannot be an addicted gamer unless they are being enabled. This section of our message board has many posts of what you can do: p198.ezboard.com/folgafrm33 Start with the OLG-Anon for spouses post.
I hope this helps.
Please stay in touch.
Sincerely, Liz
Liz Woolley
Liz, thank you for the letter.
My name is Rita. I am a Canadian living in Taiwan. My husband is a 36 yr old aboriginal from the tribe Amis. I am 44 yrs old and have lived here for over 8 yrs now.
I chanched over this web site when I was searching in desparation to find information about this game and it's problems it causes.
I am happy to meet you and I am so sorry for the death of your son. I was actually shocked when I read how he died, as I didn't know how extreme the dangers of this and other on line games are.
My husband's name is a-jiunn. So far he is feeling better. Yesterday was Tuesday here. He slept all day and said he has had no more seisures. He was extremely thirsty and drank litres of juice and water. He ate well too. I gave him a valium to help him sleep. I asked if he remember what had happened. He said yes and he was sorry and loved me. He said nothing like this has ever happened to him before. It scared him too. I have worked as a counsellor in Vancouver before coming here. His withdrawl reminded me of how people withdrawl from the drug crystal meth. He still refuses to see a doctor, but I can understand this a little. As the Asian medical system and their thinking is not like our Western medical. I read that in China, they are using electric shock therapy on online gamers. I think he thinks they will do this to him.
today is Wendnesday, and a-jiunn slept well. he is staying home and relaxing, still sleeping alot. I think this is good. how long does it take for his brain to settle down? any more advice??
If you would like to post this for others to see, I don't mind. I'm new to this website and haven't figure out how to post yet. If this helps anyone, please do. In reading on this I am shocked to hear how many poeple are affected. once more thanks for your reply, it made me feel much better.
Rita
Liz Woolley
Hello Rita,
Thank you for getting back to me and for sharing your name. I will share your story with others.
I am not sure how they treat gamers in China. After what he has been through, maybe shock therapy is a good thing to bring him back to reality.
We have several articles about gaming in China in our In the News and Related Links section. You may want to go through that, and read them. Here it the link for that section: p198.ezboard.com/folgafrm30
I am glad a-jiunn is doing better. It will take at least 30 days, of being completely off of the games and gaming boards, for his brain to re-wire. In the meantime, I hope he will come to our message board and read what is posted here, and find tools that we have offered and use them to better his life, so he does not have to live in the dark dungeon. There are many tools for your husband in the "I Need Help for Gamers" Section - p198.ezboard.com/folgafrm3 Tell him to read the tacked messages first!
I still wish he would to go a Professional, so we have documented cases of what is happening to these gamers. Someone has to start telling what is really happening here, before we can stop it!
If he does not work, how is he supported?
Liz
Liz Woolley
Heck no, I wouldn't encourage shock treatment by the Communist Chinese Government.
In the 50s, people of my parent's generation were pointing fingers at their neighbors calling them "commies" and "communists." The nation was in an outrage of panic about Communism.
Now the rich, greedy money-whores of the great U.S. of A. are welcoming the Communist Chinese government with open arms because the slave labor of their country are making inexpensive electronics, hair dryers, shoes and just about every other product you can possibly imagine. These workers are living in squalor, working 18 hour days, 7 days a week for next to nothing. Every time you buy a cheap 'whatever' from Wal-Mart, China's largest customer, you are supporting this. Unfortunately, almost everything you look at in any store nowadays comes from China - Check the labels next time you are out shopping.
China rules with an iron fist but we ignore it, and the last thing they want is for their citizens to have problems with gaming that might adversely affect one's ability to work for and strengthen the state.
If they are offering shock therapy, it is not for the good of the individual...but for the good of the State.
"What, Me Worry?"
---- Alfred E. Neuman
"Get a Life!"
Ron Jaffe AKA Diggo McDiggity
OLGA Admin and Member since 2001
eMail: ronjaffe@cfl.rr.com
Co-Founder of OLGA and member since 2002
Liz and who every else has advice. Yesterday a-juinn got severely depressed. All he wanted to do was go and play Diablo again. He sat on the couch for hours just staring into space. Finally I had to strike a deal with him as his angry was starting to rise. He went with me on errands for several hours, " to help ". In the car he went back into this trance, not moving just staring at nothing. I drove slow, hoping to waste time until his cousin got back home so he could help. ( when he gets angry, his eyes change and so does the rest of him ) Finally he would wait no more and promised me only 3 hours, I drove him there and later his cousin picked him up. He seemed much calmer after playing, said he was sorry and once more said he would quit. solutionMy question is, should or can he quit cold turkey, or is weaning himself off this game to the solution. I need to go to Canada next week as my mother is very ill. I am worried sick that he will fall back into the hours and hours of playing. The good thing is that his cousin is here and supports me and is trying to help a-juinn as well. I must say been able to write this all to you all certainly makes me feel better. thank you
Rita, I know that accupuncture has proven itself for as well as cigarette addiction, don't know about heavier drugs by now. Does the taiwanese medical system feature "traditional medicine" such as TCM, or ayurveda? If a-juinn is afraid to go to a conventional doctor, maybe such an "unorthodox" practitioner could help?
Maxim
Rita,
a-juinn really needs to see a Doctor. He is depressed. He needs to get help for that, and who knows what else.
Here is a suggestion from our What can I do to quit post: Quote: Formulate a plan which includes a physical checkup, mental checkup and start eating and exercising properly. The results of the checkups will reveal problems. Start working on those things, and your state of mind will begin to improve at an even faster rate. Before long (usually by about week 4), you will already be a new person and make major improvements in your life.
For more suggestions, here is the link to that post: p198.ezboard.com/folgafrm3.showMessage?topicID=237.topic
He has to want to stop gaming, and be prepared to take major steps and get professional help to do that. Right now, he is in the depths of the addiction. He CANNOT get out by himself.
This message board is great support, to help us through this. On-Line Gamers Anonymous is a fellowship of people sharing their experience, strengths and hope to help each other recover and heal from the problems caused by excessive game playing. Rita, please feel free to share your experiences with others, as they come in. We help ourselves, by helping others.
We cannot control other people. If he starts gaming again, when you are gone, there is nothing you can do. Concentrate on yourself, and your Mom. You are not God. Let Go and Let God.
Keep taking DEEP breaths!
Liz
Liz Woolley