Are you concerned about the amount of time your teen is spending online? Do you worry about their video gaming or social media habits? When those pastimes start getting out of hand, it can cause devastating effects. However, there is plenty of hope for a full recovery, and many treatment options are available. Learn more about the warning signs of electronic addiction, and how Venture Academy can help. We offer a variety of treatment options for troubled teens in Canada.
Signs of Electronic Addiction
Recognizing the signs of electronic addiction can make the difference between a serious problem and something that can be resolved quickly. Things to look out for include:
- An excessive amount of time spent using electronics
- Missed classes or appointments
- Disregard for personal hygiene
- Becoming withdrawn and isolated, due to spending significant time alone
- Restlessness and irritability when not online
There are many kinds of electronic addiction, but the signs manifest in similar ways. One thing to be particularly alert to is whether the use of electronics fuels another habit, like gambling or pornography.
Your teen may make excuses to get out of activities they previously enjoyed and spend more time online. They will also become increasingly irritable, mainly when not engaged with their electronic device, or when asked to stop using it. Teens addicted to electronic use become secretive, and teens who would typically never lie to you will lie to hide their electronic use.
There are significant psychological signs of electronic addiction, like poor concentration, memory impairment, and interpersonal issues.
Your teen may feel in control of their internet use or feel like they want to stop but can’t. Feeling unable to manage their electronic use is a critical sign that your teen may need help.
Electronic Addiction Treatment
An electronic addiction is usually a sign of underlying issues, such as depression or anxiety. The good news, though, is that there is plenty of help out there.
Electronic addiction treatment tends to be tailored to the individual, and will usually tackle the more profound causes. Treatment can be therapy, medication, or a combination of the two.
Your teen need not feel alone, as electronic and internet addictions are a growing social problem affecting many people, of all ages. There are many reasons why someone develops a problem with electronic addiction. Causes range from personal issues like a death in the family to feeling unable to cope with life and escaping via the internet or a favourite video game. If your teen already struggled with depression, anxiety, OCD, or any other mental health problem, these issues make internet overuse more likely. The behaviour may also develop as a way to cope with those problems. It then becomes harmful, and a problem in itself.
Internet addiction problems can manifest in various ways, such as compulsive online shopping, video game addiction, excessive use of social media, and more.
Help for Electronic Addiction at Venture Academy
At Venture Academy, we offer a variety of treatment for electronic addiction, such as:
- 30-day assessment and intervention
- Behavioural treatment
- Drug and alcohol treatment
- Education
- Electronic addiction treatment
Our friendly staff is highly qualified and well-equipped to deal with your teen’s problems. We have a strong focus on education as a way out of difficulties and destructive behaviours. Our teachers are uniquely qualified to educate teenagers in a residential setting, and your teen will thrive in our classroom environment. You needn’t have any concerns about your child’s education while using one of our programs. Don’t struggle alone. We are here to help with your teen’s addictive behaviours. If you need support in managing your teenager’s electronic addiction, call Venture Academy at 866.762.2211.
