Blog
What are the Stages of Gaming Addiction and Why do they Matter?
As a family member, it’s important to understand that addiction isn’t something a person chooses, nor is it something that occurs overnight. Addiction develops over a long period of time and often sneaks up on us. And it can take a long time to convince your child...
Can Regulated Video Gaming Provide Valuable Life Skills?
While writing my second book, Cyber Sober; A Caregiver’s Guide to Video Gaming Addiction, I had the opportunity to speak with Paul Dziadzio, a Gameplay Developer from Baltimore, MD, who has been writing the internal code, for ten years, creating the interactions that...
How Can I Stop My Child’s Video Gaming Addiction?
I am often asked, by parents, how my son stopped his video gaming addiction and has remained gaming sober for four years. This is not an easy question to answer, because I know these parents are looking for the easy-to-access secret to breaking gaming addiction. It's...
I Bought A Video Gaming Console for Myself and Here’s Why
I recently convinced my husband that we should purchase a Nintendo Switch that included three months free of online membership. Prior to convincing my husband, my eldest son convinced me why making this purchase was a good idea. You see my eldest son has always...
Caregiver Stress with an Addicted Gamer
As a parent with an addicted child, you understand the depths of stress that comes with just simple day-to-day living. It often feels like you’re walking on thin ice just trying to approach and communicate with your addicted child. The noise level keeps you up at...
Why Can’t My Child Understand They’re Addicted to Gaming?
Have you ever sat and watched your child play video games for an overly extended period of time? Some parents describe their child’s state like that of a Zombie. The child is fully immersed in the virtual world, completely unaware of their surroundings or of the...
The Therapist Doesn’t Believe Video Gaming Addiction is a Thing
“He will just grow out of his desire to play video games.” “Video Gaming Addiction is not a thing.” “Video games are not the problem. He just needs more independence.” “He’s not addicted to video gaming, he has ADHD.” These are some of the many statements I hear from...
What Will Our Social Connections Look Like Post-COVID?
Humans, as a whole are social beings. Without people making personal connections, there’d be no reproduction of more humans. Without hunting tribes working together, tackling on larger mammals, food source would have been scarcer and survival more difficult. We create...
A Story Worth Telling
As I get closer to publishing my second book, Cyber Sober; A Caregiver's Guide to Video Gaming Addiction, I thought I'd share my Preface. Although this book is far more extensive than my first book, and contains research, interviews with my addiction-recovering son,...
What Comes After Video Gaming?
It's important to share this hopeful and inspiring message about a powerful realization that followed a successful detox from video gaming. Sometimes it is in leaving behind something we believe is vital, for a period of time, that we recognize just how insignificant...
Screen-free Holidays Gift Ideas for Kids
2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic and it’s restrictions has brought new challenges for families with children who are active and enjoy participating in sports and recreation outside of their home. These restrictions limit their time with teammates and friends and that is...
What is Too Much Screen Time Doing to our Children’s Health?
Many parents I coach have concerns for their child’s physical and mental health when they are playing video games and/or social media scrolling in excess. What I hear most often are worries about weight gain or weight loss, fatigue, poor sleep patterns, poor...