My wife won’t face up to the fact her son has a severe gaming addiction

DEAR DEIDRE: IT’S obvious to me that my wife’s son has a severe gaming addiction, but she says I’m overreacting.

The issue is now driving a wedge between us.

I’m 51 and my wife is 49. Her son is 21 and lives at home with us.

He started university just before the first lockdown. But when it closed, he came home and learned online.

He still hasn’t gone back. I estimate he plays up to ten hours a day and I think his mental health is being destroyed.

At his age, he should be out with his mates and meeting girls. He’s withdrawn and barely speaks to us.

His mum thinks it’s just a phase.

When I suggested we should make him get a job, she called me cruel and old-fashioned.

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I told her she was being naive and too soft. Now we’re not speaking.

How can I help the boy without wrecking my relationship?

DEIDRE SAYS: It does sound like your wife is in denial about her son’s gaming addiction.

Perhaps she doesn’t want to upset him, or feels guilty about splitting from his dad and remarrying.

But she isn’t doing him any favours by ignoring this. Being a stepdad is tricky.

You can make your opinion clear, but not overrule her parenting decisions.

Ask her to have a look at the National Centre for Gaming Disorders website together (, 020 7381 7722). It may change her mind.

Or talk this through with Family Lives (familylives.org.uk, 0808 800 2222).

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