I’m not sure why they call it a “game”, it’s clearly not something I would consider any fun. But the new rage for teenage euphoria is none other than “The Choking Game”.
CBS news recently called it the “newest deadly trend” among teenagers, and I personally have heard stories of kids as young as ten trying this out. What they’re doing is choking each other or themselves to reach a sort of high. This is usually being done with a rope, or a tie, belts or shoelaces. The point is to cut off the flow of oxygen containing blood to the brain. When the pressure on the arteries is released, it then causes a rush of blood to the brain, thus causing the high. When played with a friend, the friend who is doing the choking is responsible for letting the noose free at the right time. When played alone, children are passing out and actually suffocating themselves, as they do not have enough control to loosen the noose once they’ve passed a certain point.
Children are dying from this game, and there isn’t enough information out there. You may not have heard of it, but chances are your child has. What should you be looking for?
According to www.stop-the-choking-game.com you should look for the following:
1. Unexplainable bruising or marks on the neck.
2. Frequent severe headaches
3. Belts, ropes, even shoelaces tied in knots in their bedroom.
4. Possible cuts or bruising from falling.
5. Locked bedroom doors
6. Being disoriented after being alone for a long period of time.
If you notice any of these signs, talk to your child. If you should get a defensive reaction, it is best to have your child seek help immediately to find out if they have participated in this activity.
For more information, please visit: www.stilllovingmygabriel.tripod.com – it’s a great site with a lot of resources for parents who want to learn more.