Dr. Phil Tells Farmville-Obsessed Mom to "Unplug it and Walk Away"
Farmville. It's rare to find the person who has never heard, let alone played this game. And if I leave my gifts and suggestions alone for about a week, well over half of my page is covered with my friends' gifts from Farmville.
On The Dr. Phil Show today, Dr. Phil dealt with a mom whose obsession with Farmville was interfering with her daily life; her ability to be a mom. She was on the computer from the moment she woke until long after she should have went to bed. Her kids were eating microwavable meals, living in clutter, and ultimately just scooting by as their mom floundered away her life on Facebook playing Farmville.
To some, this obsession seems completely ridiculous and they say, "Why can't you just walk away?" Because once you become addicted, it is as hard to give up as say, cigarettes. While I've never been really obsessed with Farmville, I can see the allure. It's hard for someone who is predisposed to enjoy creative video games to NOT be pulled in by the number of "items" (decorations, buildings, machines, etc) that you can "buy", leveling up to gain more... but when it starts taking over everything you do online (or off line), it's time to reassess, regroup, and manage your time better.
Dr. Phil suggests just deleting your Facebook account and getting out of the entire Farmville thing altogether. While I'm not a licensed therapist, I feel like, since I've actually played this game before, that I have a better suggestion for those who are suffering from Farmville addiction, especially those whose Facebook accounts are necessary for professional networking.
Sell or delete everything on your Farmville plot from your chickens to your seeder. If it will make you feel better to do one more mass harvest, then do it and follow it by deleting all the harvested fields. Once you have a clean, green plot again, get out of the game and never go back. When someone sends you a Farmville gift, simply click ignore. By doing this, you won't constantly be worrying that your "crops" are dying or that your "cows" aren't being milked.
It will be hard to do but if you wish to get out of the obsession now, just do it. Think about the time and energy you'll save by giving it up.
Sources: The Dr. Phil Show - aired Wed. Jan. 20, 2010 on NBC
http://www.facebook.com/search/?q=farmville&init=quick#/apps/application.php?id=102452128776&ref=search&sid=1058324244.2672672765..1
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Published by Pamela Gifford
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32 Comments
Post a CommentI'm not that obsesive I play aproxamately 3-5 hours a day (not at the same time) but I can stop but it fun and it gives more to talk about at home because my mom and myself play it keeps the communacation open!!!
I have a farmville account, but I make sure I only have crops that can only be harvested once a day, or three times every two days, or at least make sure I have 23 or more hours left to get a life
i have a 47 year old brother in law who stays up all night playing farmville when he should be sleeping and then going to work to support his wife and child.
My husband has become quite irritated by it also. I kept saying "just let me get to level 70 and I'll quit". Now I'm there and have to get all my masteries. I'm read to move on to the next big thing, but just don't know what it is......
I absoulutely LOVE Farmville. I think it is the most coolest and excitingest game that ever existed. I don't see how your winners can be addicted to that fun stuff. You obviously have lives :)
I was living in a grouphome and the asad thing was the stff was more worried about stupid farmville more than they worried about the clients in the home.
I absolutely HATE Farmville. I think it is the most boring and stupid game that ever existed. I don't see how you losers can be addicted to that crap. You obviously don't have lives.
I've never watched an entire Dr. Phil show, so I really can't judge him and most certainly don't know where he's coming from.
I can say that hearing about his apparent aversion to FarmVille in that he alledgedly told a mother she was neglecting her kids by playing FarmVille - like "all of the time" - don't know what the real dynamics were there.
All I can add to the mix is that I do play FarmVille & it's something that I would never in a million years until a few months ago thought I would ever do.
I'm 56, semi-retired after caregiving my parents & sister for a few years. They all have since passed.
I never was interested in Facebook, but my boyfriend kept telling me that maybe I would like it. Well you can guess. I "got on" FB and kept seeing people with all of their obnoxious FarmVille things & now I can't actually tell you how I started or who inspired me or what came into my mind...but I started playing & quickly became addicted.
It's a non-thinking yet challengin
Dr. Phil isn't a licensed therapist either, so don't feel bad about putting in your opinion.
The woman must have underlying issues and addiction can be helped, she has to take her Big Girl pill and seriously want the help to kick the addiction.
I happen to play Farmville and Mafia Wars on Facebook. Its a stress reliever after working 40 hrs a week, taking care of my husband, house and my busy life. A couple hrs a night for me doesn't hurt anything. I do have a social life I go out with friends, to the gym etc.
I play it as it was intended as a fun game. If my crops wither or the cows don't get milked for a few days while I'm dealing with my busy real life. Oh, well I'll survive, Farmville will wait until I get around to it.
With any type of addiction whether its alcohol,drugs,shopping, gambling eating, the internet etc. People have to want to help themselves,its called free will. No one forces you to be addicted, if by choice want to self destruct with their life. Hey its their life, you can't help someone in denial or who doesn't really want to be helped. A s