DEAR ANNIE: Several years ago, my wife suffered a stroke. As part of his recovery, his doctor recommended a video game to help improve his hand-eye coordination. At first it seemed like a great idea; it gave her a sense of accomplishment and helped her heal. But over time, this once useful activity became a serious phone addiction.

She now spends almost eight hours a day on her phone, playing games and scrolling endlessly. She eats her meals with the phone right in front of her, barely noticing me or anything else around her. I try to start a conversation with her, but it’s like I don’t exist. She no longer contributes to household chores, cooking or activities. Most of the time, she sits in the kitchen watching TV with her phone in hand, totally immersed in her games.

What’s even harder to deal with is that she uses her phone to text her family members, expressing how unhappy she is and implying that I am somehow responsible. Today, his loved ones are mobilizing against me, believing his description of our situation without knowing the whole story.

I’m at the end of my tether. I want to support his recovery, but his phone has taken over our lives and I feel like I’m losing my partner to a screen. I’m definitely considering turning off his phone as a last resort. What should I do? — At the end of my mind

DEAR WITS’ END: First of all, I’m so sorry that your wife suffered a stroke. This must have been incredibly scary and difficult for both of you. Now that she’s on the mend, it seems she’s become addicted to a video game on her screen. She is not alone in this; It is well known that video game designers often make these games intentionally addictive to entice people to play.

Try to channel your understandable anger and frustration into a constructive solution to help your wife break the habit. Have an open conversation with her. She may not even be fully aware of how much time she spends gaming. Limit the time she spends gaming and call her doctor to ask about healthier hobbies to reduce stress and reduce stress. help recover from his stroke.

Send your questions to Annie Lane at [email protected].