How Is Video Game Addiction Treated
Cognitive BehavioralTherapy can reduce problematic behaviors such as compulsive video game use by helping people to identify the template with which they view the world and to develop healthy ways to cope and adapt. Various forms of therapy and medications can treat the mental health challenges that often accompany addictive behaviors, such as depression and anxiety. Inpatient treatment centers and group therapy programs may also be valuable in certain cases.
Move The Console/tv/computer Into A Less Pleasant Room
The likelihood is that by putting your games console in a less pleasant room, youll be less tempted to play it. Stick it somewhere in a cold, noisy room, with an uncomfortable chair to sit on.
Keeping your console in your bedroom is a recipe for disaster, especially if you dont have the willpower right now to keep yourself from playing it.
So move it immediately!
Why Do Some Video Game Addiction Treatments Fail
In addiction treatment, there is an idea that complete abstinence is the only way to beat an addiction. However, video game addiction treatment is different. Many people that used to have problematic gaming habits in the past have taken control of their lives and still enjoy playing video games.
You can become a healthy gamer and enjoy playing video games while leading a balanced life.
Gamers have a hatred of boredom. Gaming creates a steady supply of dopamine with random bursts. As a result, the brain builds a tolerance to this constant supply of dopamine.
This requires a person to generate even more dopamine by playing games to be able to have fun. Otherwise, they feel bored. When a gamer takes up complete abstinence and tries to engage in more productive activities, they misattribute the boredom from a lack of dopamine to that productive activity that they are participating in. This reinforces their aversion to doing anything other than gaming.
here to find out why video games are so addictive.
Therefore, unless you have a large amount of willpower, trying to beat video game addiction by complete abstinence is not a very effective strategy.
Here is the difference between willpower and motivation:
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When Is Gaming A Mental Health Problem
Online and offline gaming can have social and recreational benefits, and most people who play them will not exhibit clinically problematic use. The kind of gaming behavior that concerns mental health experts involves a prolonged or recurring habit that comes at the expense of a persons functioning outside of games and that may damage close relationships or interfere with the pursuit of educational or career goals.
A passionate engagement with games or even an extended bout of intense gaming doesnt indicate a disorder or an addiction if it does not disrupt a persons life. The ICD-11 advises that hard-to-control gaming that crowds out other aspects of life should typically be evident for a year or longer in order for a diagnosis to be made.
Since gaming disorders are defined and measured in different ways, estimates of their prevalence vary widely. Representatives of the WHO, which established gaming disorder as a diagnosis, have emphasized that those who could be classified as having it make up a small proportion of gamers overall. According to the DSM-5, disordered Internet gaming seems to appear most among male adolescents.
What Makes Video Games Addictive Understanding The Addiction
Many video games are often designed to be addictive . Game designers know if they can get people to play their games over a longer period of time, they can often make more money from them by selling them additional content .
Consequently, games are often designed to be as challenging as possible to encourage gamers to feel a sense of accomplishment throughout their playtime. This is somewhat similar to gambling, where the house always ensures gamblers get small wins to encourage future behaviour. There are numerous hooks within games to encourage addictive behaviour:
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The Tragedy Of Shawn Woolley
In 2001, Shawn Woolley killed himself. The online game, Everquest, was running at the time of his death. It was his mother that discovered him dead. His mother blamed the game for her son’s suicide, while the CEO of Sony disagreed.
There was no proof that Everquest resulted in his suicide. His mother stated he was addicted to the game and his suicide could be due to a possible love interest in the game. However, there is no concrete proof that it was the cause.
Video game addiction may have played a big part. Shawn also had a lot of medical issues , which could have been worsened by the fact he was on his computer all of the time. He also stopped working, stopped paying his bills, and stopping interacting with his family.
Who is to blame? That’s hard to say. His mother tried to get her son help, and it was not Sony’s responsibility to ensure people seek help. But this is proof that video game addiction is a real issue.
In 2002, Shawn’s mother founded On-Line Gamers Anonymous to help others with this addiction
It’s up to the addicted person’s friends and family to confront the person about their addiction. They have to take responsibility as much as the addicted person. They can’t just say, “It’s only a video game.” They have to step in and help.
World Health Organization
Video game addiction should be taken as seriously as any other addiction.
Depression And Video Game Addiction
Two recent studies concerning the ties between video game addiction and depression showed an alarming correlation between the two. If you suffer from both conditions, its important to seek help at a treatment facility that can address both issues. If you attempt to treat the video game addiction without treating the underlying depression, the addiction is more likely to recur.
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What Are The Unintended Consequences
Lets first look at the unintended consequences of video game addiction. I missed out on school, friends, family, career opportunities, my health, and my eyesight. The list went on and on.
These were years off of my youth where I could have put my energy towards real life skills. Maybe I could have learned to play the guitar, master golf or become a full time lumberjack. The possibilities are endless, but I chose the easy route. I chose RuneScape.
My addiction stemmed from a combination of two things: playing the game required less time and effort than developing life skills, and avoiding my problems. Those problems eventually got worse because I chose to delay the inevitable. By not doing homework, I had to make up for it by studying even harder. By not exercising I developed a hunched back which required mending and physical therapy.
When I didnt face my problems head on, it just led to more problems down the road. My video game addiction didnt get any better until I admitted it was a problem and faced it head on.
Adhd And Video Game Addiction
Many individuals with ADHD, who can barely spend ten minutes doing mundane tasks such as paying bills or preparing their taxes, can easily lose themselves for hours on end playing video games. The stimulation, novelty, and excitement grabs and maintains their interest. Without these stimuli, they can be apathetic, fatigued, or spacey.
A recent study found that gamers with ADHD symptoms may be at a greater risk for developing video game addiction. Up to 23 percent of people who play video games report symptoms of addictive behavior.
If you know someone who cant put down the controller, here are some practical strategies that can help them overcome Video Game Brain:
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Children And Video Games
About 90 percent of adolescents report playing video games of some kind, according to a 2018 survey by Pew Research Center. With the amount of time children and teens spend gaming, its natural for parents to wonder how video games affect their children, if they should implement rules around screen time, and whether they should be concerned about their childrens mental health. It can especially difficult for parents to know how to proceed because children’s entire social lives may take place through gaming. Identifying why a child plays video games is often the first step of understanding how to curb video game use and help cultivate balance in childrens lives.
How Does Video Game Addiction Interact With Substance Use
The behaviors associated with video game addiction are highly similar to those associated with substance abuse and drug use disorders. As a result, those who suffer from video game addiction may be more susceptible to substance abuse. For example, consuming prescriptions pills to help stay awake and continue gaming, could lead to a substance use disorder.
The co-existence of video game addiction and a substance use disorder or mental illness is known as a dual diagnosis or co-occurring disorders. Since many symptoms of these disorders tend to overlap, treating co-occurring disorders at the same time is necessary to experience a full, long-term recovery from both disorders. Failing to treat both disorders at the same time can lead to worsened symptoms of the untreated disorder or relapse of the treated disorder.
Many addiction treatment centers offer dual diagnosis treatment to help people overcome co-occurring disorders. Substance use disorders are treated using detoxification and therapies that treat the underlying cause of drug addiction, while video game addiction is commonly treated using behavioral therapies.
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Minute Read By Warren Wong
Video game addiction has been silently creeping up on us in the past few decades. While drug, alcohol, and pornography have had the spotlight in the media, video game addiction is often times more relevant and just as dangerous.
My own experience with video game addiction began back in 2005, in middle school.
As a 11 years old with not many friends and time on my hands, I turned to video games. Lots and lots of video games.
My poison of choice: the PC, short for personal computer.
How To Beat Video Game Addiction
Published by Dutch on 28 December 2017
Video game addiction has been a phenomenon that has seen a huge rise throughout the 21st century. And its easy to see why the enormous number of immersive titles released over the last fifteen to twenty years has made it increasingly difficult to just turn it off. Gaming is fun, but its important that you dont overdo it, as getting too addicted can seriously affect you both mentally and physically.
Physically, the lack of exercise that is often a side effect of video game addiction can make you weak, tired and overweight. Exercise is super important for feeling fresh and full of beans, and so missing it out of your day can affect you mentally too. Additionally, the physical strain of battering a controller all day can cause problems with your muscles and in the nerves in your hands and wrists.
But the physical effects are often only the tip of the iceberg. Mentally, addiction is an even bigger strain. A lack of productivity outside the gaming world can mean a loss of productive time and a decrease in your grades which makes you stressed. Family and friendship ties can become strained, making you feel isolated, and the money you spend on games can cause a financial burden.
So how do you beat that addiction?
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What Are The Criticisms Of Gaming Disorder
Experts are critical of creating a gaming disorder diagnosis for several reasons. One is the fear of pathologizing normal human behavior, which treatment providers could potentially exploit for profit some argue that the proposed symptoms of Internet gaming disorder may reflect passion for a hobby rather than a clinical condition.
Some argue that there is not enough compelling evidence for a gaming addiction and its discerning criteria. An addiction may reflect underlying psychological conditions that problem gamers are likely to have, suggesting that gaming disorder is not a discrete condition.
What Factors Might Contribute To Video Game Addiction
A number of risk factors have been linked to video game addiction. Male adolescents seem especially prone to problematic gaming. Researchers have linked excessive gaming to traits such as impulsiveness, higher acceptance of violence, and lower social skills. Related mental health diagnoses include ADHD, depression, and anxiety. Motivation also matters people who game for fun or to be social seem less likely to become hooked than people who game for status or to escape from their problems.
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Understanding Video Game Addiction
Over 2 billion people play video games worldwide, and the market for video games was estimated to be a $90 billion industry in America in 2020. The average gamer plays for about 6 hours every week. For most players of all ages, playing video games is a fun pastime: a way to relax, connect with friends, and enjoy a challenge. Unfortunately, for some players, a video game hobby can escalate into an addictive disorder which takes over their lives.
In recent years, the smartphone has surpassed the computer and the console as the most common gaming device. Video games are now available on apps and social media. Furthermore, massively multiplayer online role-playing games continue to be immensely popular. Every day, games like League of Legends, World of Warcraft, Fortnite, Final Fantasy, and The Elder Scrolls Online draw millions of players into their virtual worlds. About 160 million Americans play MMORPGs and other internet-based games every day.
Like all good things, videos games are best in moderation. Adults and children alike can develop unhealthy, obsessive relationships with video games that they love.
Featured Center Offering Video Game Addiction Treatment
The Rise In Gaming Addiction
The video game industry continues to grow at a rapid rate. In 1999, the industry generates $7.4 billion in revenue, compared to $131 billion in 2018. Some reports speculate that the video game industry could make $300 billion by 2025.
Video game accessibility is also on the rise due to technological advancements. Individuals can now play video games on televisions, cell phones, desktop computers or notebook computers. This accessibility has allowed more individuals to play video games more often.
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Are Video Games And Screens Another Addiction
In our increasingly digitalized world, where most of us, and even our children, own electronic devices with screens, many parents and adults worry about the impact of screen use for themselves and their children.
There is much controversy over the effects of screen use and exposure to violence in video games. This year, the American Academy of Pediatrics rolled back some of the strict guidelines for screen time, citing that not all time children spend in front of digital devices is negative. The AAP sought to strike a balance between the increasing dependence on technology and what is healthy for young, developing minds.
Yet, a reason for concern and thoughtful monitoring of screen use remains. A 2014 study conducted by Zhejiang Normal University in China found that young adults who were addicted to online gaming showed lower volumes of gray and white brain matter than young adults in the control group who were not addicted to online gaming. Lower volumes of gray and white matter in some areas of the brain translates to increased difficulties with decision-making, impulse control and emotion regulation.
In addition, recent studies have found that excessive video game and screen time interferes with sleep, mood and social learning in children and adolescents.
Is screen time damaging?
How can gaming become an addiction?
What can we do?
Jennifer Wickham is a licensed professional counselor in Behavioral Health in Eau Claire.
Topics in this Post
The Crossover Effect: From Entertaining Gaming To An Addiction
How can playing a video game be harmful? After all, its just a game and not a physical activity to the extent that youre putting yourself in potential physical danger from opponents. Going beyond the question of whether video gaming can be harmful, how can the activity be considered addictive? Research is divided on both questions, although studies continue to explore the behavior.
For many parents, educators, video game advocates, and fans, the fact that their child, friend or peer plays such video games is a positive development, since the activity helps sharpen focus and cognitive ability and promotes working in a collaborative manner with others. What they may not recognize for some time, however, is when their son or daughter, classmate, co-worker, neighbor or friend spends time gaming instead of taking care of homework, sports, participating in social get-togethers, family events, or getting much-needed physical exercise. At that point, the positives associated with video game playing start to wane, replaced or outweighed by a number of negatives.
In a key rebuttal to a direct comparison of video gaming to gambling addiction, an article in Psychology Today says that the premise is flawed for the simple fact that video games do not involve losses of a material nature or financial wagers or stakes. The major contention here is that playing a video game is more dependent on utilizing sharp reflexes and innate cognitive ability, while gambling is more luck-related.
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Think About What Others Your Age Are Doing Every Day
This point is mainly aimed at younger individuals, either in their teens or early twenties. In fact, the whole article is but this point especially!
Take a moment to think about what others your age are doing with their time, instead of sitting around playing games. Your answer will highly depend on which age range youre in, but will most likely include the below:
- Applying to jobs with great companies
- Studying for important exams and upcoming interviews
- Spending time with friends and meeting new people
- Improving themselves
- Doing a little partying and living life to the full
- Travelling
- Building the foundations for their futures
If youre in your teens/early twenties, take a look at how much you could seriously be doing instead of being in-front of a TV the whole day!
The possibilities are endless
