ADHD and Internet AddictionADHD and Internet Addiction
ADHD Focus
Gaming/Internet addiction. Excessive screen use. How can you tell the difference? What do you do if you or someone you... The post https://webtalkradio.net/internet-talk-radio/2026/08/04/adhd-and-internet-addiction/ appeared first on...
51:40•4 Aug 2026
ADHD, Screens and Gaming: When Fun Turns Into Internet Addiction
Episode Overview
- ADHD can make fast-paced, highly rewarding screen activities more appealing and can worsen impulsivity and focus when overused.
- Addiction is suggested when gaming or internet use causes more harm than good, cannot be reduced despite efforts, and triggers withdrawal or strong anger when restricted.
- Warning signs include hiding playtime, losing interest in other activities, arguments at home, sleep problems, and using games to avoid stress.
- Viewing screen use in three categories – productive, entertainment and social – helps families spot imbalance and adjust habits.
- Clear, agreed family rules and parents modelling their own limits around phones and screens reduce conflict and support healthier routines.
“Addiction is something where we don't have that level of control that we maybe think we do and we don't have.”
How do different strategies aid in addiction recovery? This ADHD Focus episode takes on screen use, gaming and internet addiction, zeroing in on how these habits hit differently for people with ADHD. Dr David Pomeroy chats with gaming disorder counsellor Jeremy Edge, who shares how he first noticed clients struggling with video games and pornography back in 2013, and how that led him to specialise in screen-related problems.
He explains that addiction can be to a substance or an activity, and that it tends to show up when something brings "more harm than good" and you "cannot stop" even when you try. Jeremy and David break down why ADHD brains are especially vulnerable to gaming. Fast-paced games offer instant rewards, easy structure and quick decisions, which can worsen impulsivity and executive function.
As Jeremy puts it, gaming is often a source of that "dopamine hit", making homework or long-term tasks feel painfully slow by comparison. You’ll hear clear warning signs that gaming or internet use might be crossing the line: hiding playtime, arguments at home, losing sleep, dropping other hobbies, or using games to avoid stress.
Jeremy references the Lemmens 9 criteria for internet gaming disorder and suggests parents look for patterns over time, rather than panicking over one weekend of heavy play. The conversation also turns practical. Jeremy likens screen use to diet, suggesting three "buckets": productive (work, learning), entertainment (games, videos) and social (connecting with others). If everything’s piled into entertainment, it’s a red flag.
The pair talk about family screen contracts, setting clear bedtimes and game-off times, and parents modelling their own limits instead of scrolling news or shorts late into the night. If ADHD, gaming and screen habits are causing tension in your home, could this be the nudge to sit down, talk honestly about screens, and start reshaping them into something healthier?
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