
Oasis Mental Health Applications
2 mins 29 secs
Ages 11 - 18
This video explains the concept of addiction, differentiating between liking something and being addicted. It uses the example of Tony, a boy who becomes addicted to video games, to illustrate the negative consequences of addiction and the importance of seeking help and finding balance.
♪♪ ♪♪ Have you ever heard someone joke about being addicted to chocolate? Unfortunately, the reality of addiction is no joke. An addiction can be to a substance, like drugs or alcohol, or to a behavior, like playing video games. So, what is the difference between really liking something and being addicted? The difference lies in three main things: obsessive thoughts, feeling like you can't stop, and continuing to use or do that substance or behavior, despite having negative consequences. Meet Tony. He really likes video games and plays them every day. At first, he kept up with his grades, but started doing less of his homework. Then, he started staying up later and later to play. This caused him to be exhausted at school. When his parents tried to get him to stop playing so much, Tony got very angry, which wasn't like him. He started skipping school. Tony's parents had him talk to a counselor. He didn't want to at first, but things slowly started getting better. The real Tony returned when he got some balance back in his life and reconnected with those around him. So, how does someone become addicted?