No one would question the legitimacy of alcohol or drug addiction, but the thought of someone being addicted to video games is often met with some skepticism. The solution seems simple: just turn off the Xbox. But just like alcoholics can’t stop, neither can video game addicts.
Although the American Medical Association has not identified video game addiction as a disorder, many psychologists at the top of their field recognize it is a real problem, especially for teenagers and young adults. Approximately 6 to 15 percent of gamers exhibit signs of addiction, according to the University of New Mexico.
Types of Addiction
As there are different types of video games there are also different types of addiction. Single-player games often involved an addiction to completing a mission, such as rescuing a princess, beating a high score or collecting a certain number of hidden items. Online multiplayer games involve playing with other people, usually in games that have no ending.
An online gaming addiction tends to be more serious because the ongoing nature of the game. When you play a game online addiction can become a very real consequence. The game serves as a type of escape from reality, where a person can become the character he or she is playing online. The addiction becomes even deeper because a gamer can create very real relationships with other online players creating a community where they can feel more accepted than in real life.
Causes of Addiction
How can an online video game addiction happen? The nature of the video game industry is to create games that people will want to play. The more people want to play, the more profits the industry will make. Oftentimes game developers will design a game that is challenging enough to be enjoyable but not too difficult that gamers give up.
Video game developers sprinkle games with buildable characters, downloadable content and extra missions to keep gamers coming back for more. The gamer always feels there is one more mission to accomplish or one more item to collect. Throw in the community aspect and the relationship building and it’s no wonder that this escape from reality can become an addiction for some.
Signs and Symptoms to Look For
Have you ever asked yourself: Do I have a gaming addiction? There are both emotional and physical signs of online game addiction to watch for. The emotional symptoms include feeling irritable when unable to play, feeling anticipation for the next online gaming session, lying about the actual amount of time spent on video games, and isolating from friends and family in order to play. The physical symptoms of online game addiction can include eye strain due to excessive amounts of time in front of a screen, migraines, carpal tunnel syndrome, neglect of personal hygiene and fatigue due to lack of breaks for food and sleep.
Long-Term Effects
Video game addiction is in essence a compulsive disorder and can have both short-term and long-term effects. Isolating oneself to play an online game in the short term leads to difficulty in personal relationships in the short term but can cause loneliness and depression in the long term. Not sleeping or eating in order to play video games can cause fatigue and malnutrition in the short term but can lead to much more serious issues, such as sleep or eating disorders. Video game addiction can also lead to substance abuse to treat the symptoms that arise.
There are also much larger social and economic long term effects of video game addiction. Playing video games online can get expensive, thanks to equipment, Internet connection and subscription costs. This may have an economic impact on a person. Because of the time consumption taken up by video games, less time is dedicated to academic or occupational pursuits. An addicted gamer’s education or work life may suffer, thereby affecting their earning potential.
Treating an Online Game Addiction
Treatment for a video game addiction can be similar to alcohol abuse treatment. There are 12-step programs that can help. There are also different types of therapy used for treatment. Because it is a compulsive disorder, medications can also be prescribed to control the addictive behavior.
Because video game addiction can lead to isolation and depression, some doctors recommend treating it with antidepressants. Although many people take these types of drugs safely, there are side effects, such as becoming addicted to the drug or anxiety and irritability.
Although associated with something that is supposed to be entertainment, video game addiction can be just as serious and life altering as other addictions. The first step in treating the problem is recognizing that a problem exists. Parents should monitor their children and look for the signs of addiction. Adults can seek help from healthcare professionals who can lead them to the most effective treatment options.
Do you know anyone with an online game addiction, whether it’s a PlayStation addiction or an Xbox addiction? Have you ever felt like you may be suffering from an online game addiction? Let us know how you coped with it in the comments below.
