Gaming Addict

[KatieBw]

Huge back story to this BUT I have this nightmare situation with my 15 year old son, where he has become addicted to a game on Xbox. He's about to go into final gcse year and I am not joking when I say addicted: in the last 6 months he has become lethargic, overeats, doesn't socialise, would happily stay on the game until the early hours, his schoolwork and reports have nosedived. It has become a huge source of conflict and sadness too for me. He seems very unhappy and says he is suicidal without it?! When I take it away - as now- he literally pines, won't leave his room and watches endless YouTube-ers playing the game. Any advice?? I've spoken to his Gp but nhs so long-winded. I've had no luck with therapists but would be keen for any recommendations (we are in west London). Please help!

I wish I could tell you what to do. I had EVERY SINGLE issue you mention with my Ds at 15, but the difference was that he turned violent when I tried to take it away.

I went to see a very good child psychiatrist without him, and was told the gaming is a symptom of an underlying problem. You can't just treat the addiction as that's just sticking a plaster on it.

As he's not violent, I would take it away and have professional treatment lined up immediately for him. Easier said than done, but this won't disappear on its own.

Sorry - we're going through something similar with my 17 year old ... we tried taking it away and that backfired badly so we're no better off. He's had an initial appointment with CAMHS but no follow up yet and he turns 18 in two months time when all CAMHS involvement stops. The only time he seems 'alive' is when he's playing online, the rest of the time he seems like a zombie, walking slowly, never going outside, talking in grunts it's horrible to see

I'm lucky in that my Ds met a girl. That changed everything. He still games but I know he feels he has something else to live for.