Gamer meets real-life enemy
Gamers play a match during an international contest in Seattle. AFP
CHINA'S decision to classify Internet addiction as a mental disorderhas caused much debate. 21st Century reporter Zhang Chunmei talks to an addict about what it feels like to be addicted, and how you can avoid falling into the same trap.
ONE day, Wang Xiaochuan (not his real name), a student from Shijiazhuang, was throwing his life away playing online games. The next day, at his parents' demand, the 20-year-old entered an Internet addiction rehab center in Daxing, Beijing.
Wang was angry. He was lonely. And he didn't want anyone telling him what to do, so he spent his first week at the rehab center punching sandbags in a classroom. "I hated people who wanted to manage me," said Wang.
Fanatical gaming
Since junior high school, the man had lived his life in a world of made-up characters and battles. "The Legend of Mir, World of Warcraft and Audition are my favorite games," said Wang.
For much of his childhood, his parents had kept a close watch over him – too close, he says. "I wanted to escape." So he did – to the Web.
Wang became particularly fanatical about gaming last year. He once stayed in an Internet cafe for a whole week, sleeping during the day and playing all night. He lived on water and instant noodles and put on lots of weight. He now weighs 100 kilograms.
Wang might still be in Internet cafes throwing away his youth were it not for a teacher and his concerned parents. They saw his failing grades and realized that something drastic needed to be done when he suddenly decided to quit school altogether.
"I thought about the game all day long: how to conquer it, how to get better equipment, how to kill more enemies," he said. "This was a world where I could vent my pent-up emotion and forget the problems in the real world."
Eventually, his parents forced him to enter the rehab center. But after that first week of punching sandbags and keeping to himself, something inside him began to change.
"When I said I did not want to join a game, the teachers just let me sit aside; when I did not want to talk, they just accompanied me without saying a word," said Wang. "One day, I got angry and did not eat dinner. My tutor bought a meal for me. It touched my heart.
"They always communicated with me, but they did not judge me. Gradually, I began chatting with them about many things, including my aversion to [life at] home and school."
Wang actually feared going back to school, as he was already 20 and had few friends there. But somewhere deep inside him, a new desire for learning and growth was blooming.
"I was afraid of the real world, as I thought I could do nothing, but now I want to try," he said.
Sense of calm
Rehab has helped Wang find joy from something besides gaming. "Now, I can sit and listen to some music," he said.
He can also participate in conversations with strangers who cross his path. "It was a little hard at the beginning," said Wang. In fact, on the way back to the rehab center from the interview, he talked actively with the taxi driver.
Wang will spend one more month in rehab before re-entering society, but he has a remarkable sense of calm about his future.
"I played basketball recently with some other classmates and found the feeling of sweat on my body so good," he said. "My next goal might be to lose 25 kilograms and get fit."
Today's other temptations
Love addiction
A person who is excessively attached to another person will sometimes try to obtain that person抯]'s identity for themselves. Pop culture has glorified it: Many love affairs depicted in the media are in fact unhealthy.
The shopaholic
This refers a person with a compulsive desire to shop. Gender bias is often associated with the term, as women who love to shop are often called "shopaholics", while men are called "collectors".
Energy drink addiction
Energy drinks have as much sugar and roughly three times the caffeine of regular soda. And with racy names like Full Throttle, Rockstar and Adrenaline Rush, critics say the drinks are fostering caffeine addiction among teenagers.
Are you a Net junkie?
NOW, take a breath. Spend thirty seconds answering the following questions:
Do you feel preoccupied with the Internet (are you always thinking about your online activity, or anticipating your next online session)?
Do you need increasing amounts of time on the Web in order to achieve satisfaction?
Have you repeatedly made unsuccessful efforts to control, cut back or stop your Internet use?
Do you feel restless, moody, depressed or irritable when attempting to cut down or stop Internet use?
Do you often stay online longer than you originally intended?
Have you jeopardized or risked the loss of a significant relationship, job or educational or career opportunity because of the Internet?
Have you lied to family members, friends, a therapist or others to conceal the extent of your involvement with the Internet?
Do you use it to escape from problems (feelings of helplessness, guilt, anxiety or depression)?
Source: Centre for Internet Addiction Recovery

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