The pandemic exacerbates personal crises.
Addicts are also severely affected by this.
The advice centers in the Freising district have to be creative.
Freising
- The psychosocial counseling and treatment center Prop e.
V. in Freising is struggling with the adversities of the pandemic.
Only with a great deal of commitment is it possible to accompany those affected through a wide variety of crises.
A common problem: The loneliness of those people who didn't have it too easy even before Corona.
"We just have to see the people," says Prop manager Bärbel Würdinger in an interview with FT.
This personal contact is now possible again thanks to tests and vaccinations.
In addition, however, contact is still made with those seeking help over the phone or a video call.
Even home visits, for example to clients of assisted single homes, are on the agenda - because they add a pandemic loneliness.
Lack of infrastructure problematic
In general, the psychosocial burden of those who seek help from Prop has increased because of Corona.
There are more relapses due to isolation or related family disputes.
The biggest problem is the infrastructure, which has been significantly restricted by the pandemic.
According to Würdinger, for example, it was often not possible to find an urgently needed detoxification place at short notice, as many facilities were simply closed.
In cooperation with general practitioners, the association had to bridge these times without "private" alcohol withdrawal at home, which can be life-threatening, explains Würdinger.
"In such cases we have advised: 'Drink as much as necessary and as little as possible!'"
In 2020, more than 900 people were cared for
Over 900 people were cared for by Prop eV in 2020 - alcohol continues to be the top drug, followed by cannabis, polytoxic addictions and opiates. Nowadays, some game consumption is also toxic, explains addiction therapist Anne Krüger. And this has increased significantly in the pandemic due to the lack of alternatives.
That means: addicts in the media field no longer focus on a trendy game, but choose different games for PC and consoles depending on their mood - and that over a long period of time.
According to Krüger, this regulates various feelings such as fear or the search for recognition.
Krüger cannot confirm that first-person shooters intensify aggression.
In fact, in her experience, most of the controllers broke during the soccer game “Fifa”.
Media addiction difficult to detect
It is not even that easy when it is possible to speak of addictive behavior in the media area - it becomes clear, however, when those affected can no longer cope with their behavior, that is, are in "need" and want to change something.
The problem: Often there was no social contact outside of the virtual world - those affected often suffered from a social phobia.
Although social media are also a not insignificant topic in terms of duration of use and frequency, this is not as problematic as gaming - especially since many parents themselves make extensive use of social networks, explains Krüger.
On average, there is a problem awareness among addicts from the age of 20.
Often the PC is then the best friend.
KoB team designs its own newspaper
On the other hand, the best friends cannot currently meet the clients of the contact and meeting center (KoB).
As a result, the usual daily routine is no longer given for many, reports the deputy management Brigitte Limmer-Urnrieder.
“There was always something to do, that is all gone now.” Many are plagued by a great loneliness, which they bridge as well as possible with daily phone calls.
In addition, the KoB team came up with something: For the third time, the KoB-Blatt, a small newspaper of its own, was delivered to the clients.
In addition to classified ads, there are puzzles, recipes and small reports.
A project "by us for us", says Limmer-Urnrieder.
The paper is to be continued and expanded even after the pandemic - perhaps it will even result in an extra editorial newspaper group among its clients.
Richard Lorenz
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