Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - How do you deal with a friend's addiction? (MMO)

pan6467 · 09-06-2005, 05:08 PM

It's like any other addiction, he has found a way to alter his "reality" and avoid his issues.

The more he delves into this the more issues he has, the more he delves into it, the more issues he gets.... and so on.

It's the same as people who are addicted to chat, gambling, and so on, in that for their addiction nothing is being consumed into the body so people don't see it as "dangerous" or "as obvious" or as a true mental disease.

My guess is that your friend probably is becoming more reclusive, more agoraphobic, less active in real life and has come to trust noone.

He probably was very believeable (although after caught in so many lies it's hard to tell what the truth is anymore), friendly, and used to be out going.

He may even experience withdrawal.

As with any addict there are few ways to stop the problem until the addict becomes honest with themself.

And the seriously unfortunate fact is there are NO rehabs for these types of addictions. Even gambling rehabs are few and don't deal with other mental addictions.

Drug rehabs don't touch these type of addictions, again because society doesn't view them as "addictions" like they do drugs and alcohol.

The vast majority of psychologists, psychotherapists and psychiatrists will probably misdiagnose and treat as bi-polar or manic, for 2 reasons it's simpler and the client probably hasn't been honest about the addiction. This can work temporarily, but chances are without true therapy and facing the problem head on, the addict usually goes back to the addiction and says.... "see nothing wrong with me playing, chatting, gambling, etc. doc says I'm bi-polar. Besides could be worse I could be a drunk or drug addict."

So what's the answer......... well if your friendship with him is strong and he trusts you then you've got a good start.... if not find someone who does (the key is this person has to truly care deeply and want to truly help him).... preferably maybe his baby's mother if she still is in love with him and wants him....

then go to group counselling,

set limits on play..... (hold a job down, only play for this long at a time, etc.)

take this as seriously as any other addiction and don't play or talk about it around him

don't treat him like he's sick, be honest with him and hold him accountable for his actions

now the problem is.... if he doesn't want to face his addiction, he may not and may try to run away to someplace they'll enable him.... so make sure his family and all known friends are on the same page and treat this the same way... uniformity works

and finally, just be his friend and know there maybe setbacks, and his temper may be out of control at first but the true him will comeback when he truly faces the problem and works the help..... it'll take patience, love, understanding and the desire to truly help him.

These types of addictions are soon to be my specialty and what I'll have my therapeutic community working on. I plan to make sure these addictions get as well treated as drug and alcohol addictions.

09-06-2005, 05:08 PM	#6 (permalink)
pan6467 Lennonite Priest Location: Mansfield, Ohio USA	It's like any other addiction, he has found a way to alter his "reality" and avoid his issues. The more he delves into this the more issues he has, the more he delves into it, the more issues he gets.... and so on. It's the same as people who are addicted to chat, gambling, and so on, in that for their addiction nothing is being consumed into the body so people don't see it as "dangerous" or "as obvious" or as a true mental disease. My guess is that your friend probably is becoming more reclusive, more agoraphobic, less active in real life and has come to trust noone. He probably was very believeable (although after caught in so many lies it's hard to tell what the truth is anymore), friendly, and used to be out going. He may even experience withdrawal. As with any addict there are few ways to stop the problem until the addict becomes honest with themself. And the seriously unfortunate fact is there are NO rehabs for these types of addictions. Even gambling rehabs are few and don't deal with other mental addictions. Drug rehabs don't touch these type of addictions, again because society doesn't view them as "addictions" like they do drugs and alcohol. The vast majority of psychologists, psychotherapists and psychiatrists will probably misdiagnose and treat as bi-polar or manic, for 2 reasons it's simpler and the client probably hasn't been honest about the addiction. This can work temporarily, but chances are without true therapy and facing the problem head on, the addict usually goes back to the addiction and says.... "see nothing wrong with me playing, chatting, gambling, etc. doc says I'm bi-polar. Besides could be worse I could be a drunk or drug addict." So what's the answer......... well if your friendship with him is strong and he trusts you then you've got a good start.... if not find someone who does (the key is this person has to truly care deeply and want to truly help him).... preferably maybe his baby's mother if she still is in love with him and wants him.... then go to group counselling, set limits on play..... (hold a job down, only play for this long at a time, etc.) take this as seriously as any other addiction and don't play or talk about it around him don't treat him like he's sick, be honest with him and hold him accountable for his actions now the problem is.... if he doesn't want to face his addiction, he may not and may try to run away to someplace they'll enable him.... so make sure his family and all known friends are on the same page and treat this the same way... uniformity works and finally, just be his friend and know there maybe setbacks, and his temper may be out of control at first but the true him will comeback when he truly faces the problem and works the help..... it'll take patience, love, understanding and the desire to truly help him. These types of addictions are soon to be my specialty and what I'll have my therapeutic community working on. I plan to make sure these addictions get as well treated as drug and alcohol addictions. __________________ I just love people who use the excuse "I use/do this because I LOVE the feeling/joy/happiness it brings me" and expect you to be ok with that as you watch them destroy their life blindly following. My response is, "I like to put forks in an eletrical socket, just LOVE that feeling, can't ever get enough of it, so will you let me put this copper fork in that electric socket?"