The long exceptional Corona situation and the second lockdown are affecting many people.
More and more people are looking for their salvation in alcohol, online games or drugs.
In some cases, the advice centers are experiencing significantly increased demand.
Würmtal
- For the past two months, many people have been home most of the time for the second time in a year.
In the absence of compensation, many resort to alcohol or digital devices.
“Since the beginning of the pandemic, the demand for advice has been growing steadily.
The psychological stress is great, which results in addictive behavior, ”says Andreas Ammer, specialist service manager at the Caritas specialist outpatient clinic for addictions in the Munich district.
Alcohol addiction in particular is increasing
Especially in alcohol addiction, the place recorded more cases.
"The online game addiction and media addiction in general is increasing among young people, as they can hardly meet friends or pursue other hobbies at the moment," says Ammer.
Often everyone at home is sitting in front of monitors - the children in front of their smartphones, the parents in front of the computers in the home office.
Many also worried about their financial future because their business was closed or their job was in danger.
There is such tension in many families.
Everything then results in addictions.
It is noticeable, for example, "that the consumption of drugs is increasing, especially the consumption of cannabis," reports Ammer.
The demand for advice on all addictions is now even greater in the second lockdown than in the first.
The Caritas advice center is still open and gives advice on site, observing all Corona rules (phone 32 18 32 21, suchtberatung-landkreis-muenchen @ caritasmuenchen.de).
More relatives get in touch
At the Condrobs advice center in Pasing, the number of people seeking advice has not yet increased.
“The rush is continuously high for us.
However, there have been shifts within the group in that more relatives are turning to us, ”reports head Benjamin Klenke.
The relatives would often come because of alcohol addiction.
"In normal everyday life, there are some things that can be easily concealed that cannot be concealed in the home office and when you are together much more," reports Klenke.
There has so far been no increase in the demand for help from those affected.
“But I believe that we have the calm before the storm at the moment, that it is slowly building up and that there will be a lot more in the third and fourth quarters,” says Klenke.
Because the willingness of those affected to seek help comes only gradually.
Online gambling addiction is also increasing, as the corresponding offers are always available.
The Condrobs counseling center makes initial contact with those seeking help or their relatives, who are mostly between their late 20s and early 50s, currently digitally, e.g. via online video calls.
Depending on the case, further advice is given in person, by phone or online.
Some of the people “don't want to come to us at the moment, which is understandable.
For many others, however, we are an important anchor and point of reference right now as a presence offer, ”says Benjamin Klenke.
Pay attention to your own consumption behavior
Possible help strategies and tips depend on the individual case.
But it is always important now, "to reserve time slots for a balance and to surround yourself as much as possible with people who are good for you," says Klenke.
It is also important to pay attention to your own consumption behavior, for example with media and alcohol (phone 82 07 56 80, pasing@condrobs.de).
The exceptional corona situation and its consequences also hit the self-help groups of the Blaues Kreuz association, which maintains three groups in the Starnberg district alone, with full force.
Since mid-January, the meetings have been limited to a maximum of five people including group leaders.
"But four clients per group in no way cover the current need," says spokesman Norbert Gerstlacher.
Requests from needy people would therefore have to be rejected on a regular basis.
“That is not humanly justifiable.
Anyone who turns to us needs help, ”says Gerstlacher.
In order to allow as many people as possible to take part in the self-help groups despite the adverse circumstances, the Blue Cross has introduced online groups.
This variant is particularly popular with young clients.
The older ones, on the other hand, often have technical problems and would ultimately turn away unnerved.
Gerstlacher: “That causes frustration.
In the long run this is therefore not a solution in self-help. "
Peter Seybold
