Nic Hope is the first to admit he is "not the best at keeping off the computer".

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Watch Duration: 7 minutes 6 seconds 7 m Dr Philip Tam speaks to Lateline about internet addiction

The Brisbane grade nine student is addicted to technology. He eats dinner in front of his computer, he plays games late into the night and he is tired every morning.

His mother, Angela, says his obsessive gaming has prevented him from making friends and having a close relationship with his younger sister, Rachel.

She tells Lateline she is at a loss.

"I'm exhausted," she says.

"I've tried many different things for Nic to try and help him break his addiction. It's depressing. I feel defeated.

"This technology, I feel like it's grabbed him and it's taken a hold of him and taken some of the best parts of him."

Previous detoxes failed, were 'sudden, forced'

Nic's addiction first reared its head about four years ago and has become progressively worse.

Nic doesn't join his mother and sister for walks or other family activities. ( Lateline )

If he's not on the computer, he's playing his Nintendo DS.

The family have tried digital detoxes before but they have always failed. Last year, Ms Hope became so fed up she confiscated his devices.

"It was very sudden and quite forced," Nic says.

"Back then, I was really addicted to the computer."

Nic did not react well. He barricaded himself in his room and the family was forced to relent. They fell back into the same routine.

This time they are trying something new.

Nic and Angela Hope meet with Jo Formosa, who has designed a treatment program for him. ( Lateline )

Nic's detox has been designed by Jo Formosa — a practitioner of an alternative medicine branch called Ayurvedic medicine, which originated in India.

Ms Formosa's plan for Nic is to get him to reflect on the pattern of behaviour he is in at home, and find something to replace technology.

"The digital detox was going to fail if he didn't have something else, or something to work with, because if you take something away from someone and don't give them something else, it's always going to fail," she says.

"I don't want this to fail for him," Ms Hope says.

"He has got a bright future ahead of him. He has to want it as much as everyone around him."

'I know I need balance'

During the two-week detox, Nic cannot use technology, unless it is required in his lessons at school.

His entire family is also on board — Ms Hope and Rachel will not be using technology at home either.

"I think it'll be great," Nic says, the night before the detox begins.

"I need more balance in my life … I always knew I needed it, but I didn't know how to say it."

He struggles for the first week. Then, there's a turning point.

Ms Hope buys her son a bike. This proves to be a catalyst for other new activities.

Nic and his sister Rachel now go on regular rides together. ( Lateline )

When Lateline visits Nic two weeks later, the change is remarkable. One day, he is not even there, having left the house to take his sister on a bike ride.

The keen tinkerer becomes interested in building electrical circuits, is spending quality time with his sister and cousins and has started teaching family dog Gizzy new tricks.

The changes have been physical, too. "It's easier to get out of bed," he says.

"Usually, I just couldn't get out of bed, I couldn't move, I was always tired.

"Now I'm not so tired, I can get out of bed and get on a bike and ride a bike. It's very different."

Family 'excited about Nic's future'

Musing on why this plan to break Nic's addiction has worked so far, where others have failed, Ms Hope puts it down to her son's willingness to make a change.

"Nic has been choosing to keep on the technology detox, and I'm very proud of him for that," she says.

"I think what's different this time than the last time we did the technology detox is that he's driving it more this time. He wants it for himself, he wants better things for himself."

Angela Hope is happy to have her son back. ( Lateline )

Ms Formosa agrees Nic has been driving his own recovery.

"For Nic particularly, I knew that he had a lot of potential, but I am really blown away by the impact," she says.

"I think it's definitely come from his discipline. He's got a very strong mind. It wouldn't have happened unless he was willing."

Ms Hope says the best advice for other parents is to never give up.

"Even if you are in the background trying your hardest and you feel like you're getting nowhere … keep searching for the right kind of help because when you find the right help and it connects with your child, you never know what's going to happen," she says.

"I'm … really excited about [Nic's] future and the fact that he can see he has the potential for something other than gaming and hiding from life.