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When computer gamers can't stop

May 23, 2017

Computer addiction is now recognized as a serious disorder. Gamers can spend years playing, only to end up addicted and isolated. Anxiety attacks and withdrawal symptoms may result when they're away from the computer.

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DW Shift  Wenn Computerspiele süchtig machen
Image: ZDF

An estimated 6 percent of teenagers in Germany can be considered addicted to computer games. One of them, Laslo, went in search of recognition and success as a hero in a virtual world. He spent less and less time in analogue reality. The non-stop gaming eventually put his very future at stake. He quit college. In Berlin, specialists at the Lost in Space counseling center try to help youngsters like Laslo get their internet and gaming addiction under control.