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"I’M 31 YEARS old. I should be out there achieving something, but I
can’t . . . Right now I’m hooked to this digital version of an IV drip
with cocaine in it, and I can’t break free for the life of me." So ends
one of the confessions on a website where people addicted to the
computer game World of Warcraft seek support. Known to be particularly
habit-forming, World of Warcraft launches players on elaborate
adventures in a virtual universe, often in the company of buddies that
they meet inside the game. In some cases, players become so invested in
their virtual lives that they lose jobs, stop showering, or rig up
impromptu "toilets" near their computers.
Dr.
Jerald Block, a psychiatrist in Portland, Ore., specializes in treating
those who’ve spent years living as warlocks, ogres, or spaceship
commanders. He believes that psychiatry needs to do a lot of catching
up in order to understand why people get stuck in games like Warcraft.
One problem: Most therapists have no idea what a "guild" is or what it
means to hit Level 60. Because of this language barrier, many gamers
wind up begging for help in online support groups rather than seeking
out mental health professionals.
Recently, Block published an
editorial in the American Journal of Psychiatry arguing that "Internet
Addiction" should become a new diagnostic term.
continue reading this Boston Globe article here.
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“Thanks again for being there for us and guiding us through some rough waters. Your kindness and genuine concern deeply touched my soul and we are all grateful our paths crossed when they did. You are a truly gifted professional, keep on doing what you do so well.”
“I just want to thank Hired Power for the PRA. He was a perfect match and I can’t say enough…. He was intensely committed. This is the first time I have been clean in over 30 years. Thank you again.”
“I don’t look at you (Hired Power) as hiring a service, I look at you as saving my life.” (referring to his ability to stay sober after returning home).