Concerned with my mother

[XKatieX]

Wasn't sure where to post this. My concern right now is not with myself well-being, but with my mother. I'm 16, my mom is 54 years old. We both have played online games, I started when I was 12, she started when she was 50. We have gone through a few online games, the one we play right now is called World of Warcraft.

 

Now the main reason I started playing was because my boyfriend told me about it, were in a long distance relationship and I thought it would be cool having something fun to do together. We both told her about it, and of course she got hooked to it and has been ever since.

 

I've never been addicted to the game, I can certainly live without it. But she on the other hand, when she isn't working plays till the time she gets up until the time she goes to sleep with NO breaks, unless she decides to eat at the table on occasion.

 

To give you some examples: the other day she left the muffin container wide open..I asked my mom why didn't she shut it, and asked her if she could please shut it and she just sat back in her chair to play the game and said, I'll do it later. Her computer room is right next to the kitchen, it wasn't like she had to go upstairs or downstairs to shut it. She used to go out in the other room to watch her TV programs, but she got my dad to put a TV right next to her computer so now she stays in one spot.

 

She works for NASA, in the money fund department. She used to go into work everyday, but now with her addiction to the game she goes into work probably once or twice a week, the rest of the week she works at home. But when she is working at home, she usually has the game open at the same time.

 

I am not trying to be mean by any means, I just don't want to see her live the rest of her life stuck to a computer chair, and thats the way her life has been. I tried telling her about it and indictating the problem, but she always tells me to go away or that she doesn't care, another sign that shes addicted.

 

I feel like I have lost my mom, and in some ways I feel like I'm not even living with an adult anymore.

 

What should I do?

Edited April 18, 2010 by XKatieX

[Jilly Bean]

K - what does your Dad have to say about all of this? I would assume he's feeling pretty neglected as well. Have you discussed your concerns with him?

 

There's a couple of things that could be going on here.

 

1 - is Mom using this to purposely avoid other things in her life? Like, your Dad, the housework, her friends?

 

2 - how is this interferring with her other routine tasks? I know you said she's not going to work every day, but has work made mention of this? Does she still bathe, sleep, eat normally? Is she still pursuing other interests at all?