Vadodara: What began as harmless mobile gaming spiralled into a disturbing cycle of violence for a 17-year-old boy in Vadodara, forcing his widowed mother to seek emergency counselling after he repeatedly assaulted family members whenever he lost an online game.According to counsellors with the Abhayam women’s helpline and emergency response service, the teenager, a resident of the Gotri area, became addicted to a popular online game and would fly into uncontrollable rage after defeats. In repeated outbursts, he allegedly damaged household items and physically attacked his mother and two sisters when they tried to stop him from playing.The family’s ordeal was made worse by its difficult circumstances. The boy’s father died several years ago, leaving his mother to raise three children on her own. His sisters made significant sacrifices to support his education, with one of them even dropping out of school so that her brother could continue his studies.“The family had purchased a mobile phone for the boy, but over time he became addicted to online gaming. Every loss would trigger violent behaviour. He would vandalise the house and assault his mother and sisters,” an Abhayam counsellor said.Fearing for their safety and unable to cope with the repeated incidents, the mother eventually reached out to Abhayam for help.Counsellors conducted multiple sessions with the teenager, urging him to limit his mobile phone use, concentrate on his studies and engage in constructive activities instead of excessive gaming. They also guided the family on managing the situation, setting boundaries for screen time and recognising early signs of aggressive behaviour.The intervention, counsellors said, was aimed not only at addressing the teenager’s gaming addiction but also at restoring a sense of safety and stability within the family.
