From the author: For parents, as a recommendation for action. For information for specialists. Cyber ​​addiction is an addiction to computer games. How to cope?! The American Medical Association has recognized addiction to computer video games as a severe mental disorder. The diagnosis is given to anyone who plays more than 2 hours a day. Being away from the computer, “addicts” experience withdrawal symptoms ( withdrawal), which occurs in those suffering from alcoholism and drug addiction. Today, the computer has confidently entered our lives. Almost every family has a computer, tablet, or some kind of gadget. But in each environment it performs a specific function: for some it serves as a reference book, another means of earning money, a helper around the house, communication on social networks, and for children and teenagers it serves as an opportunity for computer video games. Games can be constructive (creative) and destructive (destructive). We will talk about destructive games (psychically destructive games involving violence, murder, massacres). How is computer addiction formed? And how to get rid of it? These questions are asked by many parents whose children are “hooked” on computer games. Let’s talk about how addiction is formed. Formation of addiction: - physical; - psychological; - chemical. Physical. The desire to try, to participate. Excitement. Thirst for victory. All this is formed in the first stages of participation in computer games. Each time the desire to become a winner arises stronger and stronger. Why does a child or teenager develop addiction faster? Because the psyche in the period from infancy to adolescence is weak, fragile, plastic. Some formless substance like plasticine - take it and mold whatever you want. Up to 17 years of age - the parents must maintain constant, correct control of the child or teenager. What is the human psyche? This is his life experience: knowledge of the world around him, thinking, imagination, will, parental and social attitudes, spiritual values ​​and much more. Psychological. A certain period of time passes. And an unconscious need arises to “be in the game” for several hours a day. How is this mechanism formed? School students remember that after repeating a poem several times, its meaning or rote memorization is stored in memory. The plot of a computer game has a similar action. The action taking place on the monitor screen is unconsciously stored in the player’s head. Then it can continue in a dream, or in an environment favorable for this plot (outburst of aggression at school, violence in the family, in a group, etc.). Chemical changes also occur in the production of the pleasure hormone serotonin. A person who spends his time playing computer games for a long time shifts his enjoyment from the natural environment to the virtual world. Over time, hormonal disruption occurs, apathy and depression appear. And the “addicted” often resorts to drug treatment. Social aspect: no one knows where in society a gap will appear from the actions of someone who cannot cope with his internal state from prolonged exposure to computer games. A person who has lost adequacy to the outside world becomes socially dangerous! Reasons for leaving for the virtual world: - a banal desire to play; - low self-control; - the desire to protect the child from the street environment; - the desire of parents to find time for themselves; - lack of attention, understanding, love for a child, teenager, adult; - devaluation of personality; - inability to socialize (child, teenager, adult). Recommendations for parents: - take a closer look at how the child behaves after playing on the computer; - casually ask what games he plays (for some time the consequences of video games are invisible); - if the child’s behavior alarms you (becomes aggressive, insults family members, breaks furniture, equipment ) limit the time spent at the computer; - think about what problems or lack of attention!