In the 21st century, you can't do without media. No matter where a person lives, radio, television or the telephone are no strangers. Lent is a time of tranquility, a time when people focus on how fragile and at the same time valuable our lives are. What can be done so that the media does not suppress the coming days?

1. Dependency Problem

Dependence on the media is as dangerous as any other. It is defined as an acquired state of mental and physical health disorder characterized by periodic or constant compulsion to perform a certain activity. This unnatural habit can lead to a weakening of contacts with friends and family and even to a deterioration in the financial situation. Three groups of people are particularly vulnerable to so-called network addiction: children, students who do not work permanently in the work center, and lonely people.

This is mainly due to the fact that these people have a lot of free time and, in order to spend it easily and pleasantly, they open a web browser or turn on their favorite TV channel. Network dependence is manifested, in particular, in the constant desire to use the media, the loss of most interests in favor of dependence or a sense of malaise caused by lack of access to information.
Addiction doesn't necessarily have to be indicative of just the symptoms mentioned above. Each case is different, so keep in mind that addiction can have different causes.

2. How to define your addiction?

Here, the procedure is identical to the test of conscience. Notice how much time during the day you spend just participating in a drama marathon or spending time online. Then ask yourself questions and answer them honestly:

• Is being online all the time has a positive effect on your development?
• How do you behave when you do not have access to the Internet? What do you do then?
• Can you publicly acknowledge how many hours you spend on social media?
• Has your productivity declined due to the media?
• Do you have trouble concentrating?
• Have you neglected your friends lately?
• Do you put the media above rest and proper nutrition?
• Have you become aggressive lately when someone reminds you that you are still sitting with a phone in your hand?
• Can you control your behavior (e.g., manage your emotions in stressful moments or refrain from making unnecessary comments)?
• Is it difficult for you to leave the house without a phone?
• Can you fall asleep without checking the advance notifications on your phone?
• Can you opt out of instant messaging at work?
• Are you constantly thinking about what's going on online?
• How much money have you spent on buying new computer games or TV channels?
Have you ever tried to end this addiction? If so, for how long? Has the media become a problem again?
Has the media become your only entertainment?
• Do you have more frequent health problems and back pain?
If you have experienced most of these problems, you need to know that you may be an addicted person. For this reason, it is suggested to use the time of Lent to change your bad habits.

3. What to do to get rid of addiction?

After analyzing the time you spend on the media, try to limit it.

How? Challenge yourself.

At the beginning of the addiction break, set a maximum of five hours during which you will use electronic devices. After a week, gradually begin to reduce the daily dose of information. Preferably in an hour.

You can also uninstall some apps from your phone.
Your next task is to spend the day without watching TV, posting on Facebook and scrolling through news pages.

Also, follow a few tips:
• Change your media time.
• Ask someone to monitor the time you spend online or in front of the TV.
• Write down the percentage of time during the day you spent on the media.
• Try to distract yourself from your addiction.
• Find a new place for your computer that will make you perceive this technique differently.
• Start walking or hanging out with friends more often.
• Step away from signing with pseudonyms and start using your first and last name.
When you part with your addiction, remember to give God what is bothering you. Trust Him with your problem and ask Him to give you the strength to overcome your sin.

4. What should you do if someone close to you is addicted?

The first step to solving this problem is a frank conversation. If your interlocutor immediately wants to change the topic, do not put pressure on him, but periodically remind him that you remember this conversation. A conversation that takes place under the coercion of one of the parties will not bring the desired results and can aggravate the situation.

When the addict can't stand it and finds the courage to talk honestly about their addiction, show understanding and be extremely gentle. Don't comment on it. Focus on the interlocutor and move away from subjective thinking. Allow the interlocutor to speak longer. If the conversation goes smoothly, don't stop and ask questions. Wait for the interlocutor to tell you about everything. It's trust and respect for the other person.

5. When a child is addicted

Parents seek to immediately get rid of the child's problem, for example, by turning off the Internet "until further notice." Some of them, after turning off the Internet, do not allow the child to speak, but immediately send him to the room to reflect on his behavior. This is not true. A child cannot think the same way as adults. Children treat the Internet like a toy, and when someone cuts off access to it, they start crying because their pleasure has been taken away from them.

So, parents, talk to your children. Do not raise your voice at the baby, the child may not be aware of his addiction. Approach him anxiously. The most effective way to distract your child from the computer or TV is to ask your child to do the time-consuming work. Instead of buying another pack of cartoons, enroll your child in a sports or music school. There he will discover other abilities, and when meeting new people, he will not have time to play games.

6. When a Parent Is Addicted

When children see that their mom or dad prefers to spend time at the computer rather than with them, the likelihood that they will become addicted in the future increases dramatically. So what can a little man do to distract parents from the screen? As in other cases, first the conversation. Small children are very nice and at the same time demanding. A child who approaches his parents to cuddle requires a sense of security and attention. When a parent rejects them, they internally lose their sense of self-worth. At this point, the child begins to look for help where it can be provided to him and goes to his grandparents.

Yes, a school-age child cannot be completely cut off from accessing the Internet, because more and more schools require multimedia presentations or homework on special platforms. Here, the parent should explain that the Internet is not only for entertainment, but also for learning.

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