Gaming Addiction Causes South Korean to Kill Mom

A South Korean court on Friday sentenced an Internet addict  for killing his mother after she criticised his online gaming habit. Prosecutors had sought the death sentence but he was only sentenced to 20 years in prison. The 22-year-old was arrested in February on charges of clubbing his 53-year-old mother to death at her home. 

How to Overcome Internet Addiction

In March a 32-year-old man died after playing on the Internet for five days with few breaks. A similar incident was reported involving a 28-year-old man in 2005. In May, a 41-year-old man was sentenced to two years in jail after he and his wife left their daughter to die while raising a "virtual child" on the Internet. [YahooNews]

How to Overcome Internet Addiction [www.startrungrow.com]

Practise the opposite:
If you have an Internet habit, which means you check your emails first thing in the morning, it may be time to alter your routine so that you have breakfast before logging on. Making changes in this way will break the established pattern, which so often is part of an addiction. This will not solve the problem, but will at least be a step forward in helping to break the routine.

Finalise goals:
Set yourself goals to avoid Internet usage. Set a programme so your sessions are structured and you have limited time on and a time that you must disconnect. Have someone help you monitor this.

Look at life:
Sit down with people you trust and try and get a vision of what you are missing out on in life because you are spending so much time on the Internet. Write all these things down so you can refer to them again and again. Tell yourself that life is about living and that time is passing you by. Have on your list your friends and your family and think about the times you spent with them before and the joy and happiness you had.

Join a support group:
By talking with others who are in the same situation, you will make new and real friends and begin to realise you are not the only one that has to fight this addiction. Support is very important and you must make a commitment to keep the support group going until you are free. The support group may also involve professionals who you need to see for guidance, where necessary.

Get family support:
You will need the support of family members, because they know and love you more than most. Make sure there is a key to the computer room and have it available for certain times of the day. Make sure the door is always open so that your spouse or parent can come in at any time to see what you are doing on the Internet. Be accountable and be totally open, as this is one of the best ways to fight this type of addiction.