Clinton Dorny, the Executive Director at Discovery Ranch, Utah, accompanied by Thomas Holmes, Family Service Planner and Media Supervisor were interviewed on Parent Choices for Struggling Teens on L.A. Talk Radio. Discovery Ranch is a therapeutic boarding school for boys and girls. The two guests discussed the topic of the teenager brain in the digital world with L.A. Radio Talk show host Lon Woodbury. The essential question was: "It's not going to go away, so what should we do about it?"
What's Going On With The Teenage Brain in the Digital World?
The discussion started with a significant case study. A young adult who was # 3 worldwide in the World of Warcraft game. and who spent 17 hours before the computer was sent to the Ranch because he was pale, emaciated, and in a rage. During his initial couple of days, he often verbally lashed out at every person around him.
The guests explained how Discovery Ranch focused on detoxifying teens from technology. Studies showed that teens spent an average of 81/2 hours using digital technology. If you added in television, it came to about 11 hours. In one study in the UK, 1000 college students from 12 different campuses were unable to refrain from using a cell phone or computer within a 24 hour interval. They experienced feelings of depression, anxiety, and helplessness.
Much of this dependence on technology is a psychological coping skill since it helps adolescents retreat from life problems and ignore their own unsolved emotional issues. Discovery Ranch severs this dependency on technical innovation by making kids go mountain climbing, hiking, rappelling or do equine therapy.
When adolescents first get to Discovery Ranch, they are told that they will not have any opportunities to use technology. This news sends them into a panic, and they act our their frustration and despair either aggressively or passively.
The excessive use of telecommunication media usage is classified as a process addiction. Withdrawing from electronic gadgets develops emotions that are similar to withdrawal symptoms from drugs and alcohol. Digital obsession cause reduced communication capabilities, especially in interpersonal relationships. Equine therapy helps teens learn to read non-verbal cues because they are literal thinkers, living in a world of black-and-white, on-off, 0- or-1.
Re-training the teen brain is most effective through equine therapy. This therapy aids adolescents create coping skills, establishes much-needed self-confidence, and helps them to get out of their comfort zones. There are team building tasks to help them learn how to cooperate with others.
Some things parents can do to limit technology addiction is to have no laptops and no Smartphone's. Computers should be password-protected and placed in public areas like the living room.
What's Going On With The Teenage Brain in the Digital World?
The discussion started with a significant case study. A young adult who was # 3 worldwide in the World of Warcraft game. and who spent 17 hours before the computer was sent to the Ranch because he was pale, emaciated, and in a rage. During his initial couple of days, he often verbally lashed out at every person around him.
The guests explained how Discovery Ranch focused on detoxifying teens from technology. Studies showed that teens spent an average of 81/2 hours using digital technology. If you added in television, it came to about 11 hours. In one study in the UK, 1000 college students from 12 different campuses were unable to refrain from using a cell phone or computer within a 24 hour interval. They experienced feelings of depression, anxiety, and helplessness.
Much of this dependence on technology is a psychological coping skill since it helps adolescents retreat from life problems and ignore their own unsolved emotional issues. Discovery Ranch severs this dependency on technical innovation by making kids go mountain climbing, hiking, rappelling or do equine therapy.
When adolescents first get to Discovery Ranch, they are told that they will not have any opportunities to use technology. This news sends them into a panic, and they act our their frustration and despair either aggressively or passively.
The excessive use of telecommunication media usage is classified as a process addiction. Withdrawing from electronic gadgets develops emotions that are similar to withdrawal symptoms from drugs and alcohol. Digital obsession cause reduced communication capabilities, especially in interpersonal relationships. Equine therapy helps teens learn to read non-verbal cues because they are literal thinkers, living in a world of black-and-white, on-off, 0- or-1.
Re-training the teen brain is most effective through equine therapy. This therapy aids adolescents create coping skills, establishes much-needed self-confidence, and helps them to get out of their comfort zones. There are team building tasks to help them learn how to cooperate with others.
Some things parents can do to limit technology addiction is to have no laptops and no Smartphone's. Computers should be password-protected and placed in public areas like the living room.
About the Author:
Learn more about Lon Woodbury on Struggling Teens. He has recorded the entire interview on his weekly L.A. Talk Radio show for people to listen to at any time.
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