Obsessive? PART 2

Hiya guys n gals

Just a quicky, i mentioned earlier in a post about my son being obsessed with watching clips of computer games on youtube, i got some GREAT advice so thanks for that.

My question is...

Would keeping him from the computer (as a punishment) result in him being unable to sleep?

My sons never been a great sleeper, most nights its 3-4 hours. On Monday morning he was told that he would not be allowed on the computer because he has been incredibly naughty. I told him he could not have the computer for the full day.

This in itself didnt cause too much problems, he was grumpy and mentioned it often but no real dramas but that night he didnt sleep a wink!! 

I gave up trying to get him to sleep by 3.30am and left him to watch his telly as he was getting aggitated with me trying to make him sleep. He sat and watched the advertising shows about the shark steam mop (i got a FULL discription as to what it does and how it works, it was fasinating to see how much he had picked up)

Could his lack of sleep be due to the fact he hadnt had his FIX?

I did quiz him after school on tuesday to see if there was anything bothering him, there was nothing. 

I was just wondering is all, any info you have would be great :) thanks in advance 

Lou 

Parents
  • Hiya, I'm 18 with Aspergers syndrome and I adore World of Warcraft, and play it religiously. I also studied Film Studies last year which included doing research into game addiction.

    For me, the actual playing of the game isn't an addiction, its part of my routine, like checking my schoolbag the night before or watching the Simpsons. If I break away from the routine I usually get very upset and have trouble sleeping. Its weird, because even if I log on for 5 minutes just to check everything (not sure what would have changed but its a ritual I've had for years) I find it easier to sleep.

    Personally, from my research I don't believe there is such a thing as video game addiction, merely boredom and lack of other engaging activities. For those with any form of ASD, its hard to change/find activities that can keep us interested for long periods of time. The fact you can get your son away from the computer to do other things in itself proves its not an addiction.

    His lack of sleep is probably down to the break in his routine, or even that he hasn't had anything else to engage his mind with (I can't just watch TV, I have to be doing something else at the same time, playing a computer game or drawing with it on to switch between the two), so his mind isn't tired enough to sleep.

Reply
  • Hiya, I'm 18 with Aspergers syndrome and I adore World of Warcraft, and play it religiously. I also studied Film Studies last year which included doing research into game addiction.

    For me, the actual playing of the game isn't an addiction, its part of my routine, like checking my schoolbag the night before or watching the Simpsons. If I break away from the routine I usually get very upset and have trouble sleeping. Its weird, because even if I log on for 5 minutes just to check everything (not sure what would have changed but its a ritual I've had for years) I find it easier to sleep.

    Personally, from my research I don't believe there is such a thing as video game addiction, merely boredom and lack of other engaging activities. For those with any form of ASD, its hard to change/find activities that can keep us interested for long periods of time. The fact you can get your son away from the computer to do other things in itself proves its not an addiction.

    His lack of sleep is probably down to the break in his routine, or even that he hasn't had anything else to engage his mind with (I can't just watch TV, I have to be doing something else at the same time, playing a computer game or drawing with it on to switch between the two), so his mind isn't tired enough to sleep.

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