Ahmedabad: A woman from the city’s western area contacted the Abhayam 181 women’s helpline after her husband allegedly threatened to divorce her when she objected to his excessive mobile gaming. Counsellors said the man had turned to gaming as a way to cope with frequent disputes with his wife, particularly after the birth of their second child.According to a counsellor, the woman said her husband’s gaming habit began when she went to her parents’ home ahead of her delivery. “When she returned, she found that he spent most of his time after work playing games, ignoring her and the children,” a counsellor said.During counselling, the man claimed his wife had been spending more time with her parents and was neglecting her responsibilities at home. He also said he had wanted a son, and the birth of a second daughter had deepened his anxiety about the family’s future and his ability to provide for them.“We told him that addiction is not a solution to his problems. Both families had earlier spoken to him about his gaming, but he remained firm about how he chose to spend his time. We initiated a discussion between the couple, during which both presented their concerns,” the counsellor said.Counsellors said the man later agreed to work on the differences with his wife and spend more time with her and their children. Abhayam officials said they have seen a sharp rise in cases involving smartphone addiction across age groups in the post-Covid period. Such cases are often recorded as interpersonal disputes.
