Video Game Addiction

Video Game
Addiction

Addictions to drugs or alcohol are quite common and usually easy to understand. People develop a physical and mental dependence on a substance that puts their health in danger, as well as the well-being of those around them. Most addiction treatment centers focus primarily on these types of addictions. However, other types of addictions exist which aren’t always looked at with the same level of understanding, but they’re just as real. For example, there are gambling and sex addictions. Eating disorders have many traits of addiction and also use similar treatments. But could gaming be an addiction too? You probably know people who love to play video games, but can they get addicted to them? A growing number of mental health professionals think so.

Addictions are categorized by a person’s inability to stop using a substance or engaging in a behavior, even when it causes negative consequences. Without the addiction, the person may feel irritable, unhappy, or sick physically or mentally. Gaming addictions often display these same symptoms.

Understanding Video Game
Addiction

Video game addiction is now being considered a process addiction, much like compulsive gambling. They are very similar in that it is a clinical impulse control disorder for both. Just like gambling addicts, video game addicts need more and more of the source over time and become agitated and sad when they cannot access it. The high from winning becomes one of the main reasons to keep playing video games.

While the harm in addiction to substances is apparent in physical symptoms, it is often less clear with behavioral addictions like video game addiction. Video game addiction can control and ruin a person’s life just like any other substance addiction. Addicts play for hours each day, at the cost of work, school, or socializing. This lack of responsibility often leads to younger addicts missing out on important parts of their education and development, while adults face problems with friends/family and employers.

What is video game addiction?

Gaming disorder is defined as a pattern of gaming behavior that often results in impaired control over gaming, increased priority given to gaming above other activities, and continuation or escalation of gameplay despite any negative consequences.

Things to Consider About
Video Game Addiction

Most Gaming Addictions Occur in Young Men

According to addiction specialists, the majority of gaming addicts are young men under thirty. Many of these individuals have low self-esteem and face challenges when socializing. They may be highly intelligent and creative but still struggle to make or keep friends. In some cases, other members of their family also suffer from addiction.

Certain Signs could Indicate Addiction Rather than Enthusiasm

Enthusiastic gamers are not always gaming addicts. The duration of time playing a video game does not determine an addiction. Also, a person’s intensity for the game is not necessarily an indicator. One may be eagerly looking forward to a new release and get home to start playing immediately but have no trouble stopping later to socialize or take care of responsibilities.

Generally, there are a few warning signs that show a person might be addicted to gaming. For example, an individual might play obsessively even when they know it’s interfering with other areas of their life, like family or work. Usually, the addicted person is aware of how much control the game has over them but feels powerless to stop playing. 

Treatment for Video Game Addiction is Similar to Food Addiction Treatment

Like those who suffer from compulsive overeating or other eating disorders, people with gaming addiction must be treated, bearing in mind that it is impossible to avoid the trigger entirely. 

An individual who compulsively overeats will need to retrain themselves on how to eat normally around food that would usually trigger their addictive response. Similarly, compulsive gamers must learn how to use digital technology in moderation, for things like work or school, without being consumed by their addiction. It is difficult, but it can be accomplished.
 

The Body Responds Physically to Gaming

When a person takes an illicit substance or alcohol, the body responds physically. Eventually, that physical response can cause withdrawal if the drug is stopped suddenly. With gaming, the response may be subtler, but it exists nonetheless.

 For individuals with a gaming addiction, spending time in a detoxification environment is essential to refrain from addictive gaming behavior. This is similar to what other types of addicts experience. They spend time in an addiction treatment center where they learn how to use technology without enabling their addictive gaming behavior. It’s crucial to understand that gaming addiction can ruin a person’s life, including their career and relationships. Some people cannot overcome this addiction on their own and require help from an addiction treatment center. 

When Does Gaming Becomes an Addiction

Video games can be addictive, just like drugs. They stimulate the release of dopamine in the brain, which reinforces unhealthy behavior. When someone “needs” to play video games to be happy and feels miserable when they’re not playing, they may have an addiction that is just as real as alcoholism or drug dependence.

What Causes
Video Game addiction?

Researchers believe that elevated dopamine levels contribute heavily to the problem. The neurotransmitter is released during activities most people find pleasurable, including eating and consuming certain drugs.

Therapists view all addictions as functioning essentially the same way. In the case of non-substance addictions, such as those to sex, gambling, and gaming, the behavior takes the place of a substance. The action of playing generates a feeling of pleasure, which ensures the addict will repeat the action as often as possible.

Those who study video game addiction also believe that the problem has a psychological component. They contend that compulsive gamers retreat to a fantasy world to escape their real-life troubles and unpleasant emotions. Online video games host large communities of players where many people feel welcome, appreciated, and useful. For the player, feeling like they are part of something and have a role to play can mean the world. This is especially real if the player doesn’t experience social gratification in their everyday life. For lots of people with a video game addiction, playing the game isn’t just a pastime. It’s their social life and how they derive self-esteem. Video games that are based on or existent on social media platforms often add to social media addiction which primarily feeds off feelings of belonging and being accepted by peers.

How are Video Game
Addictions Diagnosed?

In order for internet gaming disorder to be diagnosed, your gaming behavior patterns would have to significantly interfere with your personal, family, social, educational, or occupational life. Things to look out for include:

• Disrupted sleeping and waking patterns
• Having problems at work, school, or in relationships because of gaming
• Needing more playing time to feel the same level of enjoyment
• Irritability and anxiety when not playing a game
• Using gaming to deal with bad moods and feelings
• Cravings to play a game when away from their preferred gaming device
• No interest in other things that you used to like
• Lying to friends and family about how much time you spend playing

The more of these warning signs a person exhibits, the more likely they are to need professional help to cope with gaming addiction. These patterns usually have to be present for at least one year.

Of course, not everyone who plays a lot has a problem with gaming. Some experts say that it’s harmful to label people who might just be very enthusiastic about gaming. But it’s important to pay attention to how your life is affected. It can be hard to see a problem in yourself. The amount of time you spend gaming might seem fine to you. But if people close to you say it’s too much, it might be time to think about cutting back.

Video Games Addiction
Treatment Options

The main treatment options for video game addiction are behavioral psychotherapies. Psychotherapy is a broad term that covers various treatments aimed at helping you change troubling behaviors, emotions, and thoughts. If you struggle with video game addiction, working with a mental health professional may be able to provide much-needed support, guidance, and education for not just you but also your family. Some specific types of psychotherapy that could benefit someone with video game addiction include:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: CBT, or cognitive-behavioral therapy, is a type of therapy that helps you understand the connection between your thoughts and emotions. You’ll learn how to identify negative and obsessive thoughts and behaviors patterned after video games and eventually replace them with healthier ones.
• Group therapy: In group therapy, people meet to discuss their problems together with a supervisor, which is helpful for motivation and support. This resource is beneficial for those who suffer from video game addiction and have lost touch with friends because it provides an outlet to talk about their addiction.
• Family or marriage counseling: Loved ones aren’t always aware of what goes on inside the mind of someone with a mental disorder, but this type of therapy can help change that. It also leads to creating a calmer home environment.
• Medication: Your psychiatrist may recommend medications to treat the symptoms of an underlying mental health condition, such as depression, anxiety, or ADHD.

What are the risk factors for developing video game addiction?

Spending hours at a desk or on a couch may lead to serious physical consequences. However, compulsive video gaming can have negative effects on the mind and body. Listed below are a few of the key concerns for excessive video gaming:

• Sedentary lifestyle: Too much time in front of a screen can be detrimental to your health. From weight gain to poor posture and an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, the lack of physical activity from video gaming has caught the attention of public health officials.
• Lack of social engagement: Although video games require engaging with others in computerized environments, they don’t necessarily prepare individuals for socializing in the real world. Learning how to interact with others is an important social skill that may be neglected by those who spend too much time gaming.
• Problems with concentration and attention: Some research suggests that the quick movements and fast-paced action of video games might cause players to lose concentration. People who play video games a lot might become less interested in reading books, for example, which require a longer attention span.
• Avoidance of developmental tasks: Adolescence is crucial for both self-discovery and personal development. In order to become capable adults who are able to take on whatever life throws at them, teenagers must learn how to confront painful emotions and navigate awkward social experiences. When used appropriately, fantasy roleplaying video games can help children learn practical character traits that may assist them later in their interactions with others outside of the game. However, when video gaming becomes an escape mechanism for children, it allows them to avoid havingto face the developmental challenges characteristic of growing up.
• Increased aggression or violence: People who spend significant time playing video games with violent content may exhibit more aggressive behaviors than those who don’t play these games.
• Seizures and repetitive stress injuries: Some video gamers may suffer from seizures because of the flashing lights and colors in game displays. Compulsive gaming can also lead to repetitive stress injuries in the wrists or hands.

Seeking Video Game
Addiction Treatment

Although many people enjoy playing video games or internet games without developing any problematic behaviors, it is possible to become all-consumed by gaming and have it negatively impact your daily life.

If you or someone you know is struggling with video game addiction, there are many resources available to help you get started. Psyclarity Health provides treatment programs all over the country, as well as in-person treatment methods and online support groups, which are dedicated to helping people break free from their addiction. 

If you’re worried about your gaming habits or those of a loved one, reach out today. We’re always available to help you.