Expert talks in Secunda about digital addiction

An American speaker and author, Brad Huddleston, visited Secunda on Tuesday, 25 October and addressed learners at schools.

He also spoke at the NG Church Secunda East congregation about technology addiction. He recently finished his latest book, Digital Rehab: Learning to Live Again in the Real World.

Some of the other books Huddleston wrote include Digital Cocaine: A Journey Towards Balance and The Dark Side of Technology: Restoring Balance in the Digital Age.

He has a degree in Computer Science and a Diploma in Biblical Studies and he is a credentialed minister.

Huddleston worked closely with law enforcement on issues such as human trafficking. He encouraged the community by saying Tuesday evening was about hope.

“We messed up, but God is always there,” said Huddleston.

“Thank God for second chances.”

Huddleston showed pictures of brain scans done on people addicted to technology, as well as people addicted to cocaine. These scans looked alike.

He said the same chemical in the brain, called dopamine, makes a person feel good and reduces stress. This chemical is released when a person is entertained or addicted to something.

“There is nothing wrong with dopamine until you get too much of it,” said Huddleston.

“Children who are addicted to electronic devices, are the same as a child addicted to cocaine.

“No parent on earth purposely made their children addicted to technology, the tsunami of technology swept over the world.”

He showed videos of children experiencing separation anxiety and anger when their devices were taken from them.

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Huddleston said if parents are also addicted to video games they will not be able to help their children because they must get help for themselves first.

He said the case with technology and games where you have to get more and more to get the same feeling, is similar to that of drug addiction where you continually need more to get the same effect to feel good.

“Video games were designed to get you hooked and I have seen marriages ruined because of video games.”

Huddleston said the number 2 reason for self-mutilation, for example, children cutting themselves, is digital addiction.

“Because of the addiction, a wall is formed in the brain and eventually these kids cannot feel anymore, so they begin cutting themselves to ‘feel’ again.

“The cutting is also addictive and the kids build up a tolerance and eventually they have to cut themselves deeper and deeper to experience the same ‘feeling’ again.

“That is why self-cutting is often accompanied by suicide.”

Huddleston said children often use the phone as a way to cope, but there is a better way to cope and His name is Jesus.

“He is the solution and also to take the phone or device completely away from your child. Take the ‘drug’ away.

“Many parents think I am extreme to take the phone away, I think it is extreme to give your child cocaine.

“Parents, please get a grip and do not send your children on a path of destruction.”

Children should be finished with screen time three hours before bedtime and adults one hour.

Huddleston said according to research, depression, anxiety and other psychiatric diseases can be caused by screens in the bedroom and that the increase in cases of ADHD (Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder) among children is also because of the increase in technology among children.

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