Are We Making Our Children Addicts?

Are We Making Our Children Addicts?

Video Games, Sugar, TV Shows, Snacks, Toys...Our babies are becoming pheens! Constantly in pursuit of, and hungering for, some____.

       www.urbandictionary.com defines "Pheen" (slang for fiend); To urge for something, not necessarily pheening       for drugs, but dope things in life.

The begging and bargaining for more video game and TV time, or the plea for one more piece of candy, is not just childish behavior- it's more similar to the drug seeking behaviors you would find in addicts.That near panic kids sometimes exhibit when their favorite show is about to get shut off; or how they'll do anything for more video game time- even ungodly things like the dishes!

      “Addiction” includes loss of control and an obsessive-compulsive pattern that takes on a life of its              own. Physiologic...changes leading to tolerance, withdrawal or sensitization may occur, and                    cognitive changes are common.

In other words, there are real cognitive (thought pattern) changes that occur when this obsessive behavior pattern becomes embedded in our brains. Cognitive patterns do not get created overnight and they certainly don't resolve themselves without some effort.

So what is to become of this "instant-gratification" generation? When our children are faced with larger temptations like alcohol, cigarettes and the plethora of recreational substances available now, it seems to me they are likely to continue the deeply ingrained patterns of compulsive, seeking behaviors.

If within our brains, lie these pathways, and then is introduced a physically addictive substance, is it any question what path they will follow? Could this explain the surge in drug addictions, the rise in depression? What does happen when these paths are left empty? Our brains, beyond our conscious control, will try to fill it, or we will be left emotionally unfulfilled.

Teaching the art of delaying gratification and showing the rewards for doing so could be a start. It would not be my opinion that cutting out TV, candy and games would be the answer- it isn't the object in itself, rather the behavior that is a problem. Saying NO to your kids now- could mean them saying NO to drugs later.

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