July 10, 2004
A free newsletter by BJ Madewell
DIAGNOSIS ADD ADHD
Now What?
Published 10th, 20th & 30th of each month
PLEASE SEE DISCLAIMER AT THE END OF THIS DOCUMENT!
ADDICTION ?
ADDICTION?
You thought this would be about drug addiction huh? NOPE. I have chronicled one young man’s road to Internet gaming addiction. This is a danger for non-ADD persons as well as those afflicted with ADD/ADHD
High school was easy for Jason* - probably too easy. He passed all classes earning B's or better - rarely had to study much. ACT test scores were extremely high - high enough to earn a college scholarship.
FRESHMAN YEAR
Jason's first semester living away at college was terrific. He took 15 hours, earned acceptable grades, enjoyed meeting new people, went to class, did well in ROTC, played in the school band, and earned his parent's praises. He had to study some but it wasn't all that different than high school. His grade point average was 2.6 -- he needed a 3.2 to keep his academic scholarship. The scholarship committee gave him another semester to bring his grades up. His parents were concerned and gave him plenty of advice including tutoring, getting a mentor, and hiring a coach at the college to assist him. His mom called the ROTC office requesting assistance.
Second semester he signed up for more difficult classes but only 12 hours, figuring with more time, he could earn higher grades - thus keep his scholarship. His buddies in the dorm introduced him to online game playing - not gambling, playing interactive games. He played some but still made it to class - most of the time. His grades dropped to 2.1. His parents were disappointed but figured it was just a rough semester. The scholarship was not renewed for the following academic year.
HOME FOR THE SUMMER Jason was unable to find a summer job. He signed up for a course at the local junior college (earned an A) and killed time messing around on the Internet -- mostly gaming. He spent some of his savings on monthly Internet gaming fees and bought a new whiz-bang card for his computer to enhance his game playing ability. He hung around with his buddies from high school some but spent most of his days gaming. His parents were not worried - at least he wasn't out carousing around until all hours of the night.
SOPHOMORE YEAR
First Semester. Jason procrastinated on the computerized enrollment process. He was able to pre-enroll for 9 hours of classes on his program of study for the third semester. He successfully "crashed" a 5-hour course to have 14 hours. His parents were satisfied he was doing well. He dropped a 3-hour class because it conflicted with his ROTC and band activities. He told his parents he would pick up another 3-hour class -- however, he forgot to do that. He carried 11 hours. He was enjoying gaming and would dash back to the dorm between classes to play. He missed meals because he was gaming during the times they served meals. He was having difficulty with the physical training for ROTC and told his parents he would go to the college recreation center and work out. He forgot to do that. Mid semester he realized he was flunking a 5-hour course. He told his parents he would take advantage of the peer-tutoring program at college. He forgot to do that. Gaming was really getting to be a blast. Staying up late gaming was "just happening to him." Semester grades = 1.9 He did not pass the physical training test and was removed from the ROTC program. He was put on academic probation. Parents again offered to hire a coach and asked him to go to the counseling center at the college and get some assistance. Jason said he didn't want a coach but he did go to the counseling center. The counselors told him to change to liberal arts. So he did.
SEMESTER BREAK Jason explained his gaming activities to his parents. He, with parental prodding, agreed to stop gaming. He cancelled the gaming services and gave his gaming discs to his parents.
Second Semester. Jason took 15 hours, earned a 2.9. He was proud of himself and well on the road getting back on his chosen track. He admitted to gaming occasionally.
SUMMER BREAK - Jason decided he could handle gaming. He wanted to "test" himself during the summer to see if gaming was really the addiction his parents feared it was. Against his parent's counsel, he signed up for Internet interactive gaming like he'd done at college. Cost -- 49 dollars a month - cheap entertainment he rationalized. He got a job waiting tables at a nearby restaurant. His daily schedule became one of sleeping, gaming a while, leaving for work at the last possible second, and gaming again upon returning from work. His parents prodded him to do chores, take the dog out for walks, call his friends, etc. At parental insistence he signed up at the local fitness center. Cost -- 60 dollars a month to help him pass the PT test and get reinstated into the ROTC program.
His parents repeatedly asked him if he thought gaming was creating any problems in his life. Jason said "NO!" I get to work on time, don't I?
Jason has been to the fitness center two times in the last 5 weeks. Jason told his parents he was planning to go work-out as they called him as they were going out of town for the night - to visit relatives in a nearby city. He also volunteered to clean the house while they were gone.
Jason played games on the internet, in fact was probably signing on to the gaming site as he told his father he was planning to go to the fitness center.
The house was not cleaned except for a quick squirt of a bleach cleanser that made the bathroom "smell" clean. He apparently did not eat, gamed and slept and worked. His mom was able to figure out when he was on the computer and what he was doing.
JUNIOR and SENIOR YEAR??
Is Jason addicted to gaming? Is his college education in jeopardy? What if he flunks out of college? What if he doesn't pass the physical training test? What will happen? What can his parents do? How do you help a 20 year old stop an addiction to Internet gaming and follow his dream? Will this young man with an IQ in the gifted range flunk out of college and not full-fill his dream to be an officer - perhaps a pilot in the Air Force?
IT’S YOUR CHOICE
Is your child hyper-focusing on something? Will it turn into an addiction? Is your ADD/ADHD spouse heading towards addiction - spending excessive time on the internet?
Don't ignore the signs. Intervene before you face the difficulty Jason and his parents now face.
Check out these sites:
http://www.bewebaware.ca/english/internetaddiction.aspx
Parent-Child Internet Addiction Test
http://www.netaddiction.com/resources/parents_test.htm
DO SOMETHING!
DISCLAIMER
This information is for educational purposes only. Much of the information is from classes and workshops I've taken AND GIVEN during my 33 years of working with ADD & ADHD students - sprinkled with my own comments, thoughts and insights.
Some information is acquired from the INTERNET. Be aware that not all information on the WWW is accurate. Use your own judgment. This information is not intended to replace information from your doctor, therapist, lawyer, psychologist, nutritionist or psychiatrist. Consult your child's (or your own) doctor for additional input.
Editor: BJ Madewell
Wichita, KS area
316-733-9532
Email ADDchoices@aol.com or ADDchoices@yahoo.com
