Counselling – TV Addiction
Gone are the days, when television was treated as a special event. It used to be played for particular shows and specific hours. With time, the number of channels has been growing tremendously and with them, countless programs have been flourishing like mushrooms. The result is in front of us in the form of TV addiction. To our dismay, not only adults are affected by it. In fact, TV addiction starts at a very early age, especially the kids. It is painful to imagine the horror and imagine our kids going through the same craving as any other drug addict.
Causes
TV has become a 24*7 form of entertainment and this is actually a tragedy. In case of adults, the ideal time and lack of creative activities are the main reasons for TV addiction. The spicy nature of serials, reality shows, or even game shows makes it quite difficult to switch off the TV and continue with other departments of life. The innocent and tender minds of kids are continuously being served with ample cartoon channels. To make it worse, they are topped up with advertisements of chocolates, snacks, and many unhealthy products, which are specially tailored for kids.
Effects
The harmless-looking TV addiction comes at a very high cost. It is stealing away from kids, their rights to play outside, to experience physical activities, and spend time with nature. Both kids and adults are glued to their chairs all the time. The consequences are poor eyesight, lack of concentration, headache, irritation, mood swings. Due to lack of activity and binge-eating as a result of TV addiction, weight gain is being observed in both kids and adults. The creative side of the minds are left unused and people behave like zombies, doing and eating whatever is being presented on the TV as the latest trend.
Prevention
Hours should be fixed for watching TV, whether it is for adults or for children. Another alternative is to select one or two favorite programmes that one wants to watch and then simply turn the TV off. Use of timer or alarm is also very effective in limiting the screen time. Strict rules should be made and followed in the family. Apart from these, positive reinforcements like indulging in more creative activities like exercising, joining a dance class, or a gym, prioritizing the daily chores can really help in getting rid of the TV addiction. Kids should be encouraged to play and interact with their friends in natural surroundings like parks or go for family picnics. Books and colors are great ways to keep them occupied for long happy hours.
Conclusion
The first thing in order to get out of TV addiction loop is to take a step back and observe in what ways TV is harming the old and new generation. Substituting the addiction time for something creative and fun makes the whole process easy and doable. It is important to understand and remember that we should use the TV as just a form of entertainment and must not allow it to govern our everyday life.
For help:
Take the next step and book your session with DHP. Lazzaro Pisu in Vancouver, today, Call 604 202 7938.
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