Meditation helps to cope with depression and gambling addiction

Many teenagers and adults spend hours at the computer not only for entertainment, but as a way to escape from emptiness and pain. One third of game addicts are characterized by a combination with depressive states, which makes the problem particularly acute. In such a situation, the usual support methods are often not effective enough.

In practice, the participants in the experiment were divided into two groups. Some performed muscle relaxation exercises, while others took a mindfulness meditation course specially adapted to combat addiction. People were taught to watch their desires and let them fade away, like a wave leaving the shore.

Within a month, those who practiced meditation showed impressive changes. The symptoms of depression decreased, the scores on the Internet addiction test decreased, and the craving for games weakened. In the relaxation-only group, the effect was much weaker.

Additional confirmation was provided by brain scans. Participants who practiced meditation showed less reaction to gaming stimuli and more activity in the area associated with feelings of joy and motivation. This suggests that the body is re-learning to perceive pleasure from real life, and not just from the virtual world.

A simple mindfulness technique can change the way the brain works and give people back control of their lives. In the future, such programs can become reliable support for those who simultaneously face addiction and depression.