Tech Addicts Seek Help at Rehabilitation Centers

cageymaru

cageymaru

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Young people across the nation are suffering from a mental illness called "tech addiction" where they can't function in life due to the need to "go online." Whether the outlet is video games, social websites like Reddit, videos on YouTube or online porn, these young people forego daily functions and self-care in favor of more tech stimulus. Depression, anxiety, can't-find-a-job, flunk-your-classes, and suicidal thoughts have replaced the desire to go outdoors and meet other people.

Rehabilitation centers like reSTART offer 12-step programs that are designed to help the afflicted to overcome their addictions by detoxing on a secluded ranch at a group home. The therapy involves manual labor such as feeding horses and other farm animals, cooking meals for the group, and other chores. Smartphones are replaced with limited function devices that can only call, text, read emails, and access maps. The participants learn to identify and confront their issues, create life plans, find jobs and return to the real world with a goal to maintain their sobriety.

"It's more like an eating disorder because they have to learn to use tech," just as anorexics need to eat, says Hilarie Cash, chief clinical officer and another co-founder at reSTART, which opened nearly a decade ago. They've since added an adolescent program and will soon offer outpatient services because of growing demand.
 
In contrast to those who Tapatalk their way into a telephone pole? More like attention deficit disorder brought about by a case of the dumbass.

Heck, this guy wasn't even using a cell phone at the time (but tech was likely involved):

 
Until we stop trying so damn hard to get people addicted to their devices, let's not pretend to care when they do.
 
So... what happens to the people that work at these centers, I wonder.

And why is it always some 12-step program? Can't somebody out there come up with a much simpler program to do <whatever>? Is it really that complicated? :confused: :cautious:
 
harbingerofdoom said:
until parents actually start parenting this will continue to be a trend.
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In this PC world, I doubt change will happen anytime soon. Also keep in mind that both parents are usually working, so they are not even there for their kids most of the day. Back in the day when the father went to work and mom stayed home to take care of the kids, they actually learned from mommy and were disciplined properly when they did something wrong. Not anymore.... :(
 
Tiberian said:
So... what happens to the people that work at these centers, I wonder.

And why is it always some 12-step program? Can't somebody out there come up with a much simpler program to do <whatever>? Is it really that complicated? :confused: :cautious:
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I bet it's modeled from other addiction programs already in place, like AA. At least that is what it reminds me of mostly. I am sure it's a business to make money too, so there is that as well.
 
Bigshrimp said:
In this PC world, I doubt change will happen anytime soon. Also keep in mind that both parents are usually working, so they are not even there for their kids most of the day. Back in the day when the father went to work and mom stayed home to take care of the kids, they actually learned from mommy and were disciplined properly when they did something wrong. Not anymore.... :(
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That's a load of garbage, mommy will happily give you a tablet to watch YouTube
 
Thhhh phone junkies.
Spending as much time on their damn phones as i do on the PC.

More Ritalin please.
 
Bigshrimp said:
In this PC world, I doubt change will happen anytime soon. Also keep in mind that both parents are usually working, so they are not even there for their kids most of the day. Back in the day when the father went to work and mom stayed home to take care of the kids, they actually learned from mommy and were disciplined properly when they did something wrong. Not anymore.... :(
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not always true.
i was raised in a home where both parents worked. both of my kids were raised in single parent homes where there was no other parent to stay at home (wasnt my choice but cant say im displeased now lol)
i think the difference is that parenting is a skill that is not being taught to kids at an age where its most important and instead they're filling the gaps with youtube twitter facebook and online gaming.

i do think that its harder to do in this p.c. age where everyone wants to make sure little johnny snowflakes precious little feelings arent getting hurt... but i absolutely think it can still be done.
 
Bigshrimp said:
In this PC world, I doubt change will happen anytime soon. Also keep in mind that both parents are usually working, so they are not even there for their kids most of the day. Back in the day when the father went to work and mom stayed home to take care of the kids, they actually learned from mommy and were disciplined properly when they did something wrong. Not anymore.... :(
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So in the unPC world, you would tell women to their face that they belong in the kitchen? That their job is to have babies and raise them while the father work and do the occasional parenting and disciplinarian?
 
snowcrash said:
So in the unPC world, you would tell women to their face that they belong in the kitchen? That their job is to have babies and raise them while the father work and do the occasional parenting and disciplinarian?
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Sure why not but only for men that can handle that sort of stuff. You know we don't want to start forcing men to do that even if it is the way it should be.
 
Marketing is all about getting people hooked on a product; even more so with the "free" stuff. So it's no surprise to me to hear that there's a negative impact on people when so much money is spent on "guiding" their habits.
 
Tiberian said:
So... what happens to the people that work at these centers, I wonder.

And why is it always some 12-step program? Can't somebody out there come up with a much simpler program to do <whatever>? Is it really that complicated? :confused: :cautious:
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Personally, I don't even get out of bed for a program with less than 17 steps. :p

Really though, this type of program should have ONE STEP. Stop doing whatever it is that's causing your issues! ;)
 
It's not an addiction, it's a hobby. Sure these things are like Lays Potato Chips where once you had one you can't stop.
But I can stop anytime I want. *munch.. It's not that hard putting the mouse *munch munch... down, and do norm *munch.... al stuff....

iamjanco said:
In contrast to those who Tapatalk their way into a telephone pole? More like attention deficit disorder brought about by a case of the dumbass.

Heck, this guy wasn't even using a cell phone at the time (but tech was likely involved):
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Fond memories.....lol
Tripped into a large highway lamp pole, 40 ft-er, that was installed dead-center of a sidewalk as I was watching a suspicious person sneaking into a business near closing. Hit the upper eye socket right where the eyebrow is, swelled up for a few days and had a black eye for 2 months.
I like to shake the hand of the person who put that there!
 
Now hold still a moment. We're just going to put this piece of technology on your wrist to monitor your technology habit. This will allow us, and yourself to track your habits, check your email and social feeds, and market future anti-addiction technology to you.
 
J3RK said:
Really though, this type of program should have ONE STEP. Stop doing whatever it is that's causing your issues! ;)
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That's my take on it too, always has been, decades before Doctor Phil came around and decided to just tell people straight out "Addicted to doing <whatever>? Want to stop? THEN FUCKING STOP DOING IT, DUMBASS" or words to that effect.

When I was born long ago the Doctor took me and handed me to my Mom to hold. He told her "I've got good news and bad news, which do you prefer first?" and she said give her the bad news. He said "You have thyroid cancer, most likely due to your (at that time) lifelong habit of smoking, sorry." Then she asked what the good news was. "You have a healthy baby boy..." and I'm the baby of 6 kids to this day that are all still alive and I'm past the half-century mark now.

My Mom said she looked down at me, and decided - that's the key here because a choice and a decision are not the same thing - she was done smoking, and she never lit up again for the rest of her life which ended in late 2006 due to Alzheimer's complications - I was her caregiver for the last 2+ years of her life and I don't wish that shit on anybody.

But as for addictions, if the addict doesn't have congruence in their mind, their heart, their body, and sure why not - their soul - and a true honest desire to quit something they never will, 12-step programs be damned. In that moment my Mom made that decision to never smoke again and she didn't, and that was that.

It really is that simple even if there are multi-billion dollar industries out there designed to make you believe you've got to get into a 12-step program to be able to be strong for yourself. Personally I think Humans are much tougher than they give themselves credit for, but that's just me. Never been a smoker, never been a drinker, never been into recreational drugs, etc.

And while computers and technology could be considered my addiction, sure, I could stop anytime. No, seriously, I can. Really. :D :p
 
Tiberian said:
That's my take on it too, always has been, decades before Doctor Phil came around and decided to just tell people straight out "Addicted to doing <whatever>? Want to stop? THEN FUCKING STOP DOING IT, DUMBASS" or words to that effect.

When I was born long ago the Doctor took me and handed me to my Mom to hold. He told her "I've got good news and bad news, which do you prefer first?" and she said give her the bad news. He said "You have thyroid cancer, most likely due to your (at that time) lifelong habit of smoking, sorry." Then she asked what the good news was. "You have a healthy baby boy..." and I'm the baby of 6 kids to this day that are all still alive and I'm past the half-century mark now.

My Mom said she looked down at me, and decided - that's the key here because a choice and a decision are not the same thing - she was done smoking, and she never lit up again for the rest of her life which ended in late 2006 due to Alzheimer's complications - I was her caregiver for the last 2+ years of her life and I don't wish that shit on anybody.

But as for addictions, if the addict doesn't have congruence in their mind, their heart, their body, and sure why not - their soul - and a true honest desire to quit something they never will, 12-step programs be damned. In that moment my Mom made that decision to never smoke again and she didn't, and that was that.

It really is that simple even if there are multi-billion dollar industries out there designed to make you believe you've got to get into a 12-step program to be able to be strong for yourself. Personally I think Humans are much tougher than they give themselves credit for, but that's just me. Never been a smoker, never been a drinker, never been into recreational drugs, etc.

And while computers and technology could be considered my addiction, sure, I could stop anytime. No, seriously, I can. Really. :D :p
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I think it can take that moment or event to wake some people up. Others, it seems, it's a bit tougher. I guess it also depends on what one is addicted to. In the case of tech... pfft! Either sit back and enjoy the ride, or put the fucking device down. :D I do have more sympathy for people with a physical addiction to something. You're right though, one has to want to stop something. Deep down. If they don't, it will never stop.

As to your story, my wife and I took care of her grandmother with Alzheimer's for four years. (in our house) I also wouldn't wish that on anyone. It's probably the most difficult thing that we've ever done. Good for you for doing it. I don't think a lot of people have that in them. I think it does do the person some good having someone that cares about them doing the helping though.
 
IMHO I think they'll be some people who'll treat this like they did smoking. They'll blame their "Addiction" on someone or something else so it won't be their fault that it happened. And no doubt, someone out there will sue a phone or tablet maker as the cause for it. :wtf: But then again...Maybe i'm Cynical....lol
 
kamxam said:
IMHO I think they'll be some people who'll treat this like they did smoking. They'll blame their "Addiction" on someone or something else so it won't be their fault that it happened. And no doubt, someone out there will sue a phone or tablet maker as the cause for it. :wtf: But then again...Maybe i'm Cynical....lol
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But, is technology known to cause addiction in the state of California? That's all I want to know. I wish they'd put a sticker on every electronic device, so it was easy to determine this.
 
Since it's a 12-step program, does that mean you have to give yourself over to a higher power?

...

Like Mark Zuckerberg or Jack Dorsey?
 
Technology addiction is just about as real of a condition as gaming addiction -- pretty much just people that have limited self control in their personality, and would situate themselves in that nonsense with just about any hobby. The stigma surrounding people being homebodies is also pretty peculiar in our culture as being a measure of mental health; you build up "all of the comforts of home", in the pursuit of realizing you're going to spend a lot of time at home, and to make yourself comfortable during downtime. Anyone that has been around for any length of time knows that true friends are rare, and that having an abundance of new friends all the time leads to momentary reward, and long-term drama. The idea of "you're not normal if you don't want to go out, and meet people instead of staying in and _____" is eyebrow raising whenever some new addiction gets categorized. We live in a culture built on consumerism, but we rarely address that very real addiction as unhealthy, because we excuse it as a pursuit in life that continues planning and goal making. I guess that's why we love 12-step programs so much, that goal that never stops -- lifetime addict excuses, coins/keepsakes, being able to say you accomplished something when all you did was keep yourself from perceived harm, rather than addressing the big gorilla in the room: learning moderation, and practicing impulse control like a standard-equipped rational person. Learned behavior can be changed, and it doesn't need to be all-or-nothing.
 
Tiberian said:
So... what happens to the people that work at these centers, I wonder.

And why is it always some 12-step program? Can't somebody out there come up with a much simpler program to do <whatever>? Is it really that complicated? :confused: :cautious:
Click to expand...

Because having a fundamental understanding of the most complicated machine on earth is easy for psychologists and neurologists, am I right?
 
Ski said:
Because having a fundamental understanding of the most complicated machine on earth is easy for psychologists and neurologists, am I right?
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I suspect you're referring to the human brain which has no moving parts other than what flows through its otherwise empty spaces. The Krell had the same problem and it wiped them out:



...lot's of folks out there with an overabundance of empty spaces.
 
Ski said:
Because having a fundamental understanding of the most complicated machine on earth is easy for psychologists and neurologists, am I right?
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Well, I could say yes there because it would have been so simple for you to say to yourself: "I really want to make this post to this guy as a reply, but I probably shouldn't... fuck it, I'll do it anyway..." and there ya go. :)

Humans, when it comes to desire over doing the right thing, desire usually wins out. :D
 
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