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Cut the Games!
By askalice in Ask Alice
July 20, 2011

Dear Readers: Whether you play XBOX, Playstation, Wii, or online, gaming can be a way to interact with other people and make friends. But sometimes gaming can go over the top. Gaming too much can cause you to be depressed, be socially awkward, have trouble in school or at jobs, and can make you more impulsive. Try to limit gaming time to 1-2 hours a day, and maybe do something outdoors. You'll bring up your grades, and hopefully meet new friends in the real world! If you're still having problems detaching yourself from the games, talk to a trusted friend about what is the real problem. Maybe you're feeling angry or hurt about something, and are trying to avoid it in gaming. Talking about what's bothering you will make you feel much better and help you cut your gaming habits. Lots of Love, Alice

Statistics on gaming found at WebMD.com

Original Ask Alice:

Dear Alice: My best friend is addicted to those online life simulation games. She plays them all the time, even when I’m at her house. Her grades are starting to fall and she hardly ever talks to her other friends anymore. I want to tell her to stop gaming so much, but I don’t want to hurt her feelings.
- Unhappy Gamer

Dear Unhappy Gamer: you need to tell your friend how you fell of this will become an even bigger problem for you. Maybe your friend has something troubling her and she’s turning to a fake online life in order to deal with whatever pain she’s feeling. Talk to her about your concerns with her gaming habits, and ask her if there’s anything she would like to talk about. Hopefully, when you explain your feelings about her gaming, she’ll realize what she’s been missing in real life and cut down her gaming time. It’s okay if she doesn’t totally kick the habit, but she needs to cut back for her grades to come up and to reconnect with her old friends you said she wasn’t paying much attention to anymore. Lots of Love, Alice