Special needs summer camps jacksonville fl. Special Needs Summer Camps in Jacksonville, FL: Inclusive Programs for All Abilities

What are the best special needs summer camps in Jacksonville, Florida. How do these camps accommodate children with disabilities. What activities and programs are offered for campers with special needs.

Camp I Am Special: A Renowned Special Needs Camp in Jacksonville

Camp I Am Special, run by Catholic Charities Jacksonville, has been a beacon of hope and joy for individuals with intellectual and developmental differences (IDDs) and physical disabilities for the past 40 years. This American Camp Association (ACA) accredited facility offers a range of programs designed to foster independence, growth, and celebration of life for children, teenagers, and adults with special needs.

Key Features of Camp I Am Special

• Personalized care for individuals with various disabilities
• Opportunities for campers to stretch their abilities and take risks
• Numerous daily activities including hayrides, crafts, and adaptive sports
• State-of-the-art aquatic center with sensory stimuli
• Wheelchair-accessible playground
• One-on-one “Buddy” system with trained volunteers

The camp’s commitment to inclusivity is evident in its ability to accommodate a wide range of conditions, from Angelman Syndrome to Tourette syndrome and many others in between. This comprehensive approach ensures that individuals with diverse needs can find a welcoming and supportive environment at Camp I Am Special.

The Unique “Buddy” System at Camp I Am Special

One of the most distinctive features of Camp I Am Special is its “Buddy” system. But what exactly is a Camp Buddy? Camp Buddies are volunteer high school students who are paired one-on-one with campers to provide round-the-clock care and companionship. These dedicated volunteers undergo extensive training to understand their camper’s specific needs, challenges, likes, and dislikes.

Benefits of the Buddy System

• Personalized attention for each camper
• Opportunity for campers to form meaningful friendships
• Valuable service experience for high school volunteers
• Enhanced safety and care for campers

The Buddy system not only ensures that each camper receives individualized attention but also creates an opportunity for genuine connections to form. High school students who serve as Buddies earn significant service hours while gaining invaluable experience in compassion, dedication, and understanding of individuals with special needs.

Innovative Facilities Enhancing the Camp Experience

Camp I Am Special boasts several state-of-the-art facilities designed to enrich the camper experience. The Rotary Club of Deerwood Abigail’s Joy Camp I Am Special Aquatic Center is a prime example of the camp’s commitment to providing inclusive and stimulating environments for all abilities.

The Aquatic Center: A Sensory Haven

• 2,450 square feet of sensory stimuli
• Bubblers and fountains for tactile experiences
• ADA-compliant gradual pool entrance
• Water walkers and wheelchairs available for assistance

This thoughtfully designed aquatic center allows campers to engage with water at their own pace, providing a safe and enjoyable experience for all. The availability of adaptive equipment ensures that no camper is left out of the fun.

The Chartrand Family Camp I Am Special Playground

Another recent addition to the camp’s facilities is the Chartrand Family Camp I Am Special Playground. This innovative play area features:

• Multiple wheelchair-accessible rockers
• Multi-person swings
• Intergenerational swing for building connections

These specially designed playground elements promote inclusivity and provide opportunities for campers of all abilities to enjoy outdoor play and social interaction.

iCan Bike: A Unique Summer Camp Program in Jacksonville

While Camp I Am Special offers a comprehensive camping experience, other specialized programs in Jacksonville cater to specific needs. The iCan Bike camp, hosted by the North Florida School of Special Education, is one such program that focuses on teaching individuals with disabilities how to ride a bicycle independently.

Key Aspects of the iCan Bike Program

• Utilizes adapted bicycles and specialized teaching techniques
• Aims to boost confidence and independence in participants
• Requires dedicated volunteers to assist campers
• Typically runs for one week during the summer

The iCan Bike camp exemplifies how specialized programs can target specific skills and contribute to the overall development and independence of individuals with disabilities. However, these programs often rely heavily on community support and volunteers to function effectively.

The Importance of Volunteers in Special Needs Summer Camps

Volunteers play a crucial role in the success of special needs summer camps in Jacksonville. Whether it’s serving as a Buddy at Camp I Am Special or assisting at the iCan Bike camp, these dedicated individuals make it possible for campers to have safe, enjoyable, and enriching experiences.

How Volunteers Contribute to Camp Success

• Provide one-on-one support to campers
• Assist with daily activities and skill development
• Ensure safety during camp activities
• Create a positive and inclusive environment
• Offer friendship and emotional support to campers

The need for volunteers is often urgent, as evidenced by the North Florida School of Special Education’s recent call for assistance with their iCan Bike camp. This underscores the ongoing challenge of recruiting and retaining enough volunteers to meet the needs of special needs camps in the area.

Impact of Special Needs Summer Camps on Participants

Special needs summer camps in Jacksonville, such as Camp I Am Special and iCan Bike, have a profound impact on their participants. These programs offer more than just a fun summer experience; they provide opportunities for growth, skill development, and social interaction that can have lasting effects on campers’ lives.

Benefits for Campers

• Increased independence and self-confidence
• Improved social skills and ability to form friendships
• Development of new physical and cognitive abilities
• Exposure to diverse experiences and activities
• Respite for families and caregivers

By participating in these specialized camps, individuals with disabilities can challenge themselves in a supportive environment, leading to personal growth and enhanced quality of life. The camps also provide valuable respite for families and caregivers, allowing them to recharge while knowing their loved ones are in good hands.

Community Support and Involvement in Special Needs Camps

The success of special needs summer camps in Jacksonville relies heavily on community support and involvement. From volunteer recruitment to donations and partnerships, these programs thrive when the local community rallies behind them.

Ways the Community Can Support Special Needs Camps

• Volunteering as camp counselors or activity assistants
• Donating funds or supplies to support camp operations
• Sponsoring campers who may not be able to afford camp fees
• Raising awareness about the camps and their needs
• Partnering with camps to provide specialized services or activities

Organizations like Catholic Charities Jacksonville often seek meal donations to feed campers, buddies, and staff during camp sessions. This type of in-kind support can significantly reduce operational costs and allow camps to allocate more resources to programming and accommodations for campers.

Challenges Facing Special Needs Summer Camps in Jacksonville

While special needs summer camps in Jacksonville provide invaluable services to the community, they also face several challenges. Understanding these obstacles is crucial for ensuring the continued success and growth of these programs.

Common Challenges for Special Needs Camps

• Recruiting and retaining sufficient volunteers
• Securing adequate funding for operations and facilities
• Maintaining and upgrading accessible facilities
• Providing specialized training for staff and volunteers
• Meeting the diverse needs of campers with various disabilities

The urgent need for volunteers at programs like the iCan Bike camp highlights the ongoing struggle to find enough dedicated individuals to support these specialized camps. Additionally, the costs associated with maintaining accessible facilities and providing necessary accommodations can strain camp budgets, making community support and donations crucial.

Despite these challenges, the special needs summer camps in Jacksonville continue to provide essential services and experiences for individuals with disabilities. Their perseverance and the support of the community ensure that these valuable programs remain available to those who need them most.

Camp I Am Special | Catholic Charities Jacksonville

CLICK HERE TO CHECK APPLICATION STATUS OR MAKE A PAYMENT

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CAMP I AM SPECIAL

CARING FOR PERSONS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DIFFERENCES & PHYSICAL DISABILITIES

About Camp I Am Special

For the last 40 years, Catholic Charities’ Camp I Am Special – an American Camp Association (ACA) accredited facility – has fostered and celebrated the quality of life for children, teenagers, and adults with intellectual and developmental differences (IDDs) and other disabilities.

A typical in-person camp program gives individuals with IDDs opportunities to grow in independence. The programming offered at Camp I Am Special gives the choice to participate in numerous daily activities that allow them to take risks, stretch their abilities and enjoy the company of others. Some of those activities include hayrides, crafts, adaptive sports and yoga, and spending time with friends at The Rotary Club of Deerwood Abigail’s Joy Camp I Am Special Aquatic Center.

The newly-constructed pool and shaded pavilion provide approximately 2,450 square feet of sensory stimuli including, bubblers and fountains, an ADA-compliant gradual pool entrance, and floats of all shapes and sizes. Campers are free to enter the water at their own pace, and water walkers and water wheelchairs are always available for those needing assistance.  

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In addition to the pool, the recently added Chartrand Family Camp I Am Special Playground offers a multiple wheelchair-accessible rocker, multi-person swings, and an intergenerational swing that helps children and adults develop connections.

SUPPORT CAMPERS WITH A MEAL

We are in need of donated meals to feed Campers, Buddies, and Staff during our Camp sessions. Contact us for more information.

Donate a Meal

CAMP I AM SPECIAL 2023

 Camp I Am Special summer 2023 registration is now  open!

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MAKE A DONATION

TO CAMP

Your generosity makes a huge difference for our Campers. Consider a monetary or material donation to bolster our efforts.

CAMP AMAZON WISHLIST

Who Qualifies for Camp I Am Special

During in-person sessions, our team offers personalized care that allows us to welcome individuals with specific needs and challenges including:

Angelman Syndrome

Asperger’s Syndrome

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Autism

Barrett’s Esophagus

Cerebral Palsy

Charcot Marie Tooth Disease

Chromosome Abnormality

Cornelia de Lange Syndrome

Developmentally/Globally Delayed

Down Syndrome

Dysmorphic Syndrome

EMH, PHM, TMH

​Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

Muscular Dystrophy

Pervasive Development Disorder

Prader/Willi Syndrome

Secondary Emotional Disorder

Seizure Disorders

Sensory Integration Dysfunction

Small Brain Syndrome

Spina Bifida

Static Encephalopathy

Tourette syndrome

Tuberous Sclerosis

Other developmental and unique abilities

What Are Camp Buddies?

Buddies are volunteer high-school students paired 1:1 with Campers to provide around-the-clock care and companionship. Our Buddies receive training on all aspects of their Camper’s differences, including needs and challenges as well as likes and dislikes. Buddies earn 121 service hours for a week of residential camp, 101 service hours for a week of day camp, 40 hours of service for Mini-Camp and 6 hours of service for a Super Saturday. Buddies are expected to be selfless, dedicated, compassionate, energetic and fun. To learn more about becoming a Camp Buddy CLICK HERE.

Questions?

For all Camp inquiries or to receive more information,
please contact us via email at [email protected].

Physical Address :

445 Marywood Drive

Fruit Cove, FL 32259

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Mailing Address :
235 Marywood Drive
St. Johns, FL 32259

Phone Number:
(904) 230-7447

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Fax Number:
(904) 230-7465

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Email:
[email protected]

Local school for students with disabilities in urgent need of volunteers for iCan Bike summer camp

Local News

Kendra Mazeke, Digital Content Producer

Published:  745Z”>July 8, 2022, 12:55 PM

Updated: July 8, 2022, 10:47 PM

Tags: Community, Community Service, Summer Camps, Jacksonville

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97 through 7/17!

Local News

The camp starts July 11

Kendra Mazeke, Digital Content Producer

Published: July 8, 2022, 12:55 PMUpdated: July 8, 2022, 10:47 PM

Tags: Community, Community Service, Summer Camps, Jacksonville

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The North Florida School of Special Education is in urgent need of volunteers to assist in the iCan Bike summer camp starting next week.

Volunteers will work alongside a rider to help teach them how to ride a two-wheel bicycle independently.

The five-day camp, located at 223 Mill Creek Road, runs from July 11 through July 15.

Volunteers do not need prior experience working with people with disabilities. They must be at least 15 years old, but if they are under 15, they can contact the camp host for possible opportunities.

Volunteer duties include:

• Attending a one-hour orientation on Sunday, July 10 from 3:00 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the NFSSE gym.

• Participating in five 90-minute sessions each day for five days

  • Session 1: 8:30-9:45 am

  • Session 2: 10:05-11:20 am

  • Session 3: 11:40 am -12:55 pm

  • Session 4: 2:00-3:15 pm

  • Session 5: 3:35-4:50 pm

• Ability to attend all five days for the same session

• Ability to jog/run alongside a rider for 75 minutes

If you’re interested in lending an extra hand, click here to submit an application.

Take a look at the video below to get a glimpse of what your experience could be like.

For further questions, email Rina Park at icanbikejaxfl@gmail. com.

Copyright 2022 by WJXT News4JAX – All rights reserved.

About the Author:

Kendra Mazeke

As a proud alumnus of Bethune-Cookman University, Kendra is a Jacksonville native, who loves all things lifestyle-related.

Language camp in Florida, children’s camp in Florida, courses for children and schoolchildren

Florida is one of the most developed and densely populated states in the US with a high standard of living, and the education system here is also of the highest quality. The language camp is a special integrated course of study that combines study and recreation with academic studies and an adventurous spirit. They can be a great summer plan for foreigners and Russians looking to improve their language skills, relax and recharge. Training is conducted in schools, colleges, universities and educational centers, many of which are on the top lines of regional and world rankings, have excellent reviews.

Children’s language camp in Florida: advantages and benefits for schoolchildren

Benefits of a camp in Florida:

• Florida is one of the most developed, beautiful and densely populated states in the country
• The US education system is a recognized leader in the modern world
• Combining language learning with outdoor activities
• Wide variety of sports and creative activities available
• High level of organization
• Highly qualified teachers and staff
• Comfortable accommodation
• 100% security
• Available throughout the year
• Unique nature, great climate, plenty of sunny days
• International groups.

Features of summer language camps in Florida: programs, courses for children and schoolchildren

Warm and mild climate, developed infrastructure and friendly people provide excellent opportunities for recreation, creative growth and development. Even in winter, the temperature here rarely drops below 20 degrees Celsius! Programs run throughout all four seasons, mostly during holidays:

• Winter
• Spring
• Summer
• Autumn.

Most of the camps, of course, work in the summer. Training lasts from 1 to 6 weeks (sometimes more). The schedule includes:

• Language lessons
• Sports activities
• Creativity and art
• Excursions, holidays, events.

All participants are divided into groups according to age and skill level, each group has its own methods of work. Age groups:

• 3-7 years old
• 8-11 years old
• 12-14 years old
• 15-18 years old.

The smallest participants are usually accompanied by their parents or a nanny/guardian. Younger groups mostly just improve their language level, while middle and high school students can prepare for serious exams or take a complicated academic course. Language lessons are held in small groups and under the guidance of exclusively highly qualified specialists – a cozy atmosphere is created in the classroom, children are not shy about asking questions. Types of language programs:

• Standard
• Intensive
• Test and exam preparation
• Academic (preparation for admission to US schools and colleges).

In some cases, study of various disciplines is available both to improve the general level of development and to enter a school or college. Available subjects (list is incomplete):

• Science (biology, physics, chemistry)
• Mathematics
• Algebra
• Geometry
• History
• Geography
• Engineering
• Computer science
• Environmental science, ecology
• Natural sciences
• Humanities.

The second part of the camp is devoted to sports, creativity and recreation, which are arranged in a variety of combinations at the request of the student. Activity is given to the second half of the day, weekends are usually devoted to excursions and trips. The lists are very extensive, everyone can find something to their liking:

1) Sports (partial list):

• American football
• Basketball
• Baseball
• Volleyball
• Beach volleyball 9001 2
• Beach soccer
• Football
• Sailing
• Boating
• Running
• Wrestling
• Water polo
• Gymnastics
• Lacrosse
• Golf
• Horse riding
• Cycling
• Cycling
• Swimming
• Diving
• Extreme sports
• Alpinism, rock climbing.

2) Creativity, arts and hobbies (the list is incomplete):

Design and fashion.

Florida language camps: prices, cost

Participants attend excursions, watch movies, go to theaters, shops, shopping centers. The host country provides accommodation and meals at the highest level. Accommodation options:

• Residence
• Host family
• Hotel/apartment.

Prices and costs differ depending on the institution, direction and other conditions. The total price usually includes:

• Language classes
• Physical activity and creativity
• Excursions and activities
• Academic disciplines
• Accommodation and meals
• Teaching aids.

Additional charges:

• Medical insurance (sometimes included in the total bill)
• Air travel
• Visa processing
• Out-of-pocket expenses.

The admission process is simple: you need to choose an institution and a course, fill out an application and then follow the instructions of specialists. Bookings should be made in advance, as the demand for studying in Florida is very high.

The best language camps in Florida for Russian children

Sample language camps in Florida:

• New York Film Academy South Beach, Miami. The famous and very prestigious Academy of Cinematography, from which many famous actors, directors and cinematographers have come out, offers training in directing and acting. Children work with best-of-breed technology, meet famous directors and actors, and create their own films and videos. From $2200 for 2 weeks.
• Rennert International Miami (Miami). A large number of various programs and areas: business and economics; preparation for TOEFL, FCE, CAE; fashion and design; art; sports, unique courses on the study of the sea, ecology and the state of the environment. You can take tutoring lessons. A large number of leisure, cultural and entertainment activities. From $1680 per week.
• LAL Fort Lauderdale. Varieties: winter, autumn, spring, summer course; preparation for exams and tests; business; academic course; individual sessions. The school has a very strong teaching staff and is distinguished by its own developments in linguistics, many of which have no analogues in the world. Active extracurricular life. From $1000 per week.
• Admiral Farragut Academy (Tampa). Offers a serious academic program in various subjects: history, literature, algebra, geometry, calculus, English as a foreign language, engineering, STEM and robotics, marine biology, biology, physics, chemistry and others. Studying the most advanced and latest discoveries and technologies.

A psychologist told how gamers become real killers

Photo: pixabay. com

There are options for treating computer addiction, but not all will work

Last year there were several high-profile incidents involving gamers. So, in St. Petersburg, the investigation suspects a 36-year-old unemployed gamer in the murder of a girl. According to investigators, he strangled the woman out of personal enmity, and then cut off her thumb to unlock her smartphone and hide the traces of the crime. It is known that the suspect is fond of video games and airsoft.

In the Nizhny Novgorod region, 18-year-old Dmitry Monakhov killed several people with a hunting rifle and then committed suicide. Familiar families and classmates say that Monakhov was very fond of computer games, “shooters”.

The most famous incident with a gamer abroad happened a few years ago in the USA. In Jacksonville, Florida, during an esports tournament, 24-year-old gamer David Katz took up arms after losing the competition. As a result, four people died and more than 10 were injured. The gamer himself committed suicide.

Two years ago during a discussion at the International Olympic Committee (IOC) about the possible inclusion of eSports in the Olympics. As IOC President Thomas Bach said at the time, computer games promote violence and discrimination, which is contrary to Olympic values. “If you have to kill someone in eSports, you can’t have him in the Olympics,” the IOC President said.

Associate Professor of the Department of Scientific Foundations of Extreme Psychology of the Moscow State Psychological and Pedagogical University, Candidate of Psychological Sciences Alexander SECHKO told MK about whether such a hobby can have a detrimental effect on the psyche and whether it is possible to help a person with something.

– Alexander Vladimirovich, how dangerous is computer addiction? Especially from the so-called “shooters” when you need to kill as many virtual enemies as possible. Are such games capable of provoking aggression in behavior?

-Besides increased aggressiveness, there are other consequences. For example, narrowing the range of behavior patterns. Most neurophysiologists believe that fans of violent games have a decrease in the activity of brain regions responsible for emotionality, memory, learning and behavior.

The player not only loses emotional susceptibility, but, with a decrease in mental activity, loses social flexibility, the ability to choose various behaviors.

Terrifying statistics can be found on shooter websites. There are more than 3,500 kills per player of one clan or another. As a result, there is an illusion of omnipotence, in particular, on the issue of “life-death” in the game space.

-Does someone have a game situation then transferred to reality? When you no longer have a virtual machine in your hands, but a real one, and you shoot not at the picture on the screen, but at a living person.

– The lost boundaries between reality and the game lead to sad consequences. In the case of teenagers, the problem is that they are characterized by immature ideas about death. They may have a false idea that it is possible to have multiple “lives” as soon as they “reload” the game. In reality, this is not possible, unfortunately. They do not understand this, and what has been done can sometimes not be corrected.

– Has psychological science confirmed the causal relationship between computer addiction and aggressiveness?

-In science, there are quite contradictory data on this matter. For example, practitioners are most concerned about teenagers addicted to multiplayer online games. There is a well-established opinion that it is games that provoke uncontrolled outbursts of aggression in such adolescents.

You have to be aggressive to win the “shooter”. You shouldn’t feel sorry for the “enemies”. Moreover, you must hate them fiercely. And you need to kill as many as possible without hesitation.

Such a model of aggressive behavior in the game is stimulated in every possible way, receives a “positive assessment” in the form of winnings, points, respect from game mates – whoever kills faster and more is the “coolest”.

This psychological “background” is dangerous, especially if a person for some reason blurs the line between the virtual world and the real one.

Most of the psychological research conducted over the past 20 years reveals a link between the violence in games and the increase in the aggressive behavior of players in real life.

– Don’t all psychologists agree with this approach? Why are you talking about conflicting data?

-Recent studies of aggressive behavior of adolescents in the Internet space are controversial. One study in Poland, for example, notes that there is no direct link between aggressive behavior and internet addict behavior.

Another study in the same country showed, however, that people who spend more than ten hours a day in the game turned out to be more aggressive, more likely to threaten others and use violence.

A reasonable explanation can be found for the contradiction. For example, this: “shooters” are more often addicted to teenagers who are aggressive by nature or people with poor social skills who do not have friends and therefore spend a lot of time on the Web. That is, people who cannot resolve conflicts in a non-aggressive way.

In one of the studies in Russia, it was shown that adolescents with computer-game addiction have the most pronounced psychotype – “excitable”. People of this type are characterized by impulsive behavior, a weakening of control over drives and impulses, and control over oneself is weakened.

A Korean study of several thousand teenagers concluded that aggressiveness scores increased equally in gamers and social media users.

-What is the scale of the problem in Russia and the world?

-Gambling computer addiction affects mainly teenagers and young people. The most dangerous age is 12-15 years. Especially for boys, due to the special difficulties of overcoming the crisis of adolescence.

-This is when “hormones play”?

– You could say that. According to the results of various studies, it was revealed that up to 80% of students in city schools are fond of computer games, and children aged 10–12 years old have “gaming experience” from 4 to 6 years. Among Facebook’s 250 million users, for example, one in five is heavily addicted to gambling. According to some estimates, from 1% to 5% of the world’s population are subject to such dependence.

For the first time, American scientists started talking about the problem in the early 80s. In 2008, computer addiction was officially recognized as a disease in China, where back in 2004 the first rehabilitation center for its treatment was established.

Specialized clinics and centers are also open in the USA, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam. Advisory and preventive work is carried out in many other countries.

– Have the reasons for the spread of the “disease” been identified?

-Almost half of the adolescents surveyed say that computer games are a way to spend their free time and get away from life’s problems.

These problems are different for everyone. It can also be psychological trauma, such as death, loss of loved ones, and difficult life situations. Concomitant factors may be the lack of warm trusting relationships and communication in the family or in a social institution. The absence of serious hobbies, interests, hobbies and attachments in a teenager with a huge amount of free time and insufficient control by adults. For children, the computer and computer games are a leisure option. He captures the child so much that he moves away from real life.

Inability to establish contacts with others, difficulties in communication, lack of friends are also typical teenage problems, unfortunately.

A visible physical handicap, especially if it becomes the subject of peer ridicule, can also push one into the virtual world. In the same row – self-doubt and self-confidence, teenage complexes, hidden or obvious dissatisfaction with the outside world and the impossibility of self-expression.

In the virtual world it is very easy to make “friends” and communicate with a large number of people. At the same time, you are not obliged to maintain communication with a new interlocutor in the future. In such a world, without live contact, you can discuss any topic, as well as join interest groups. Some people have a strong need for this kind of communication. They want to attract attention, somehow stand out.

In real life, a teenager may not perform very well, feel vulnerable, and experience high anxiety, believing that people are hostile to him. And in the computer world, he is the main character, he can do everything and he sets the rules himself.

For some, life on the Net becomes a proof of their own mental usefulness, and the computer is a means of self-affirmation.

And the more he “hangs”, the more he begins to feel the contrast between “the real one” and “the virtual one”. And this attracts him even more to the computer game and removes him from real life.

-Can computer addiction be compared to drug addiction?

-At least, the stages of formation of one and the other dependence are very similar. At the first stage, there is a slight internal discord. Because of the passion for the “new game”, a person loses interest in everything else. Gradually, there is a distance from relatives and friends, and the time actually spent at the computer is hidden.

The second stage is characterized by a sharp increase in problems. Forcibly weaning from a computer in a person causes feelings similar to the torments of a drug addict.

By the way, in the first reports about the “Nizhny Novgorod shooter” the words of the family’s neighbors were quoted, who claimed that his grandmother forbade her grandson to spend much time at the computer.

In the future, a person’s attention slows down, working capacity decreases, obsessive ideas appear, sleep is disturbed. Sometimes there is a complete refusal of sleep. At the same time, the need for stimulants, coffee – cigarettes, alcohol and even drugs is increasing. Headache, pressure drops, aching bones are added to mental disorders.

The third stage is social maladjustment. The user can no longer get pleasure from virtual communication and from a computer game, but everything is also constantly “hanging” on the Web or playing. Very often he falls into depression, which leads to serious conflicts at work, school and in the family.

– The problem is clear. What to do?

– There are many options to help. I’m not sure that all of them are applicable in our conditions. It would not be a sin to adopt some of the foreign experience, but to critically comprehend something.

In China, for example, since 2005 they began to massively open experimental summer camps, where young people aged 14 to 22 years old were treated for computer addiction, and at the same time got rid of depression, fears, agitation and unwillingness to communicate with other people .

The patients’ daily routine was carefully planned. Waking up at 6 am, then morning exercises. Most of the day was devoted to war games and group activities. At 9 pm – lights out.

According to the organizers, this “therapy” allowed young people to feel the pleasure of being part of a real team, as opposed to a network one.

The most “heavy” patients were treated in private paid clinics, where computer-addicted adolescents were treated even with the help of electric shock – to “cleanse the mind”, “awaken the brain”, as well as drill with paramilitary exercises.

Teenagers were kept in iron cages for two to three weeks and were not allowed to touch computers until they got over their addiction. Repeated cases of deaths of adolescents in such clinics are known.

Only 5,000 people were healed in China during the three years of this practice. At the end of 2008, the shock therapy method was deemed too cruel for the treatment of Internet addiction and was banned.

Special camps were also created in South Korea, where they also try to correct Internet addiction with the help of drill training, strict regimen and physical activity.

In addition, South Korea restricted access to online games for gamers under 19 years of age to a few hours a day. Another program gradually reduced the Internet connection speed for those users who play online games for more than a certain time. As a result, the “braked” game lost its meaning.

The Ministry of Information and Communications of Vietnam plans to impose severe restrictions. In particular, providers and owners of gaming cafes will be required to block the ability to play online games from 10 pm to 8 am.

A significant shortcoming of the described systems is the insufficient emphasis on education about the problem of computer addiction, as well as the underestimation of the individual characteristics of a person dependent on a computer.

– How is it?

– When correcting computer addiction, a number of specialists recommend using group methods of correction and individual forms of work.

Psychological assistance can be aimed at improving the relationship of a teenager with relatives and peers, teaching self-regulation and the ability to cope with difficulties, educating strong-willed qualities, increasing self-esteem, and developing new life hobbies.

It is important to distract a teenager from computer-related interests. A psychotherapist can help to understand the pathological essence of attachment to a computer, the Internet or computer games. This must be done skillfully so that the patient does not feel guilty.

– Maybe there are pills for addiction?

– In the presence of symptoms of depression, anxiety, irritability, a course of treatment with antidepressant drugs from the group of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors can be prescribed.

Excessive nervousness and agitation are eliminated with the help of sedatives. This group includes drugs that reduce the excitability of the nervous system and have a positive effect on the functioning of the brain.

Comprehensive treatment of computer addiction necessarily includes vitamin and mineral complexes of various compositions, especially preparations containing vitamins A, E and selenium are useful. They increase the metabolic activity of the brain and prevent the excessive release of free radicals that are released during the intense work of the brain.