Do I Have A Video Game Addiction? Understanding The Research And Solutions
If you are concerned with your gaming habits, you aren't alone. Video games can be enjoyable and come with advantages, but an unhealthy relationship or dependency on gaming can have negative consequences on an individual's functioning in daily life.
Recent statistics reveal that about two-thirds of the adult population in the United States plays video games; the same is true for 76% of US children. Dependency on gaming habits can involve more than spending hours playing or finding pleasure in these games. To understand this compulsive behavior in more detail, looking at the statistics and solutions surrounding video game addictions can be helpful.
Is video game addiction a mental health condition?
Video game addiction is often called gaming disorder or internet gaming disorder. Though it is a relatively recently identified condition that continues to undergo clinical research, gaming addiction, gaming disorder, or internet gaming disorder is a mental health concern acknowledged by medical professionals.
In 2013, internet gaming disorder was included in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) as a condition needing further research. In 2019, gaming disorder was included in the ICD-11 (the 11th edition of the International Classification of Diseases) by the World Health Organization as a clinically significant and recognizable disorder. Children, adolescents, and adults can develop this mental illness.
Signs of video game addiction
Gaming addiction, gaming disorder, or internet gaming disorder is not characterized by the amount of time someone spends playing video games. Instead, according to the World Health Organization, dependency results in significant distress or impairment in familial, social, educational, occupational, or personal functioning. In addition, it involves compulsive gaming, which may feel uncontrollable or distressing for the individual.
Signs a person may be facing video game addiction, internet gaming disorder, or an otherwise unhealthy relationship with gaming include but aren't restricted to:
Preoccupation or fixation on gaming
Difficulty reducing play time or stopping the video game, even if you want to
An urge to spend more and more time playing video games
Withdrawal symptoms like sadness, irritability, agitation, or nervousness, when it is not possible to play video games
Giving up time for other activities in favor of gaming or a loss of interest in activities once previously enjoyed
Continued gaming despite work, school, relationship, or personal challenges
Reliance on gaming to relieve negative feelings, such as feelings of guilt or hopelessness
Actual or risked loss of a job or relationship due to gaming
Eating and drinking while you play video games
Peeing in a cup instead of going to the bathroom during a game
Forgoing sleep to play a game
Five out of nine of the above symptoms must be acknowledged for someone to meet the criteria for internet gaming disorder. The estimated prevalence of internet gaming disorder or gaming addiction is high, and it's seen at higher levels among certain groups.
For example, internet gaming disorder is associated with severe symptoms of depression, poor quality of sleep, the total portion of one's free time spent gaming, and gender. It is also more common in those with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). While estimates vary substantially based on several factors, in 2021, around 1.96% to 3.05% worldwide faced a video gaming addiction.
How video games affect the brain
Gaming, in general, can have benefits and disadvantages. In the case of internet gaming disorder or gaming addiction, the related brain activity may be a primary culprit, which is comparable to the patterns seen in substance use disorders and gambling addictions.
If you are struggling with substance use, contact the SAMHSA National Helpline at (800) 662-4357 to receive support and resources. Support is available 24/7.
Gaming interacts with the reward system in the brain. It can lead to dopamine release, sometimes called a "feel-good hormone" or "happy hormone," known to elicit positive or pleasurable feelings. For this reason, there may be a crossover between internet gaming disorder, ADHD, and depressive disorders.
An affiliation with dopamine release in many activities doesn't necessarily mean something is unhealthy. For example, the release of dopamine also occurs during physical activity, time spent outdoors, sex, or when smelling certain scents. A dopamine release becomes a problem when a person depends on that release for their well-being. If you feel like you have to play video games in order to feel well, you may have an addiction.
Treatment for video game addiction
Symptoms of gaming disorder, internet gaming disorder, or video game addiction can improve. Below are a few treatment options.
Cognitive behavioral therapy
Research indicates that cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) effectively treats internet gaming disorder. CBT is a standard, non-invasive therapy that may be paired with other interventions like practicing mindfulness, increasing physical activity, group therapies focused on video game addiction, and other techniques. Goals in therapy can include but aren't limited to a reduction in video game usage, improved social relationships, and lower levels of depression or anxiety.
Talk therapy
As it is common for those who face symptoms consistent with internet gaming disorder to experience co-occurring mental health conditions, talk therapy with a licensed therapist may also be beneficial. There are hundreds of therapeutic modalities, and some people may find a structured program helpful.
For example, if a person with internet gaming disorder also meets the criteria for depression, they may wish to get support for depression symptoms simultaneously. Similarly, a mental health professional can teach social skills and offer exposure therapy training if a person faces concerns related to social situations and interpersonal relationships.
Support groups
It can be beneficial for individuals to find avenues for connectedness to others, such as support groups. Support groups are often free of cost, can be found in face-to-face settings or online, and may be able to bridge gaps related to social anxiety. Reductions in social anxiety symptoms may improve one's aversion to leaving home due to playing games.
How to find support for internet or gaming addiction
Various therapy modalities, including cognitive-behavioral therapy, can be conducted online and in face to face settings. Research reveals that online therapy is effective for individuals facing a range of related mental health conditions, including but not limited to obsessive-compulsive disorder, depression, and anxiety.
Through an online platform like BetterHelp, you may be able to find counseling that is more affordable than traditional, in-person therapy. In addition, you can answer a brief series of questions to be paired with a mental health professional who meets your needs and has experience in treating your symptoms. When you attend therapy, you can do so from home, which might be beneficial if you're not ready to let go of gaming.
Takeaway
You're not alone if you feel dependent on your relationship with gaming. Many people live with gaming and internet dependency and compulsions. However, support is available; you don't have to go through this process alone. If you’ve noticed warning signs of a game addiction and you're interested in getting started by speaking to a professional, consider signing up for an online platform or talking to a provider in your area about your goals.
How many hours of gaming is considered an addiction?
No set number of hours determines whether someone has a video game addiction. Instead, a proposed diagnosis of a gaming disorder is made when video games cause “significant impairment or distress” in a person’s life. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders indicates that a person must experience five of the following signs and symptoms within one year:
- Preoccupation with gaming
- Withdrawal symptoms such as sadness, anxiety, or irritability when gaming is not possible
- Needing to spend more and more time playing the game to satisfy the urge
- Unsuccessful attempts to quit gaming
- Loss of previously enjoyed activities due to gaming
- Continuing to play games despite awareness of problems
- Deceptive behavior surrounding the amount of time spent on gaming
- Using gaming to manage difficult moods, like guilt or hopelessness
- Having jeopardized or lost a job or relationship due to gaming
Is gaming a mental disorder?
Gaming is not currently defined as a diagnosable mental disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). The DSM is used by most medical and mental health professionals in the United States to make educated diagnoses about mental health conditions. Although gaming isn’t currently defined as a disorder in clinical practice, the DSM does define gaming addiction as a condition requiring further study. It contains a proposed condition called internet gaming disorder (IGD), which is diagnosed when a person’s video game activity causes an adverse impact on their life. However, because it is defined as a condition for further study, IGD cannot yet be diagnosed by professionals.
How do I stop being obsessed with a video game?
Finding alternative hobbies to diversify your recreational activities may be helpful. You may also want to consider what motivates you to play video games that you enjoy. For example, if you prefer first-person shooters, you might consider joining a local paintball or laser tag league. If puzzle games are your thing, you may want to look into local escape rooms or mystery groups. You may also want to consider what factors lead to you playing video games for an excessive amount of time.
While video games can be a valuable source of recreation, they can also be an easy distraction that may help you avoid other facets of your life. If you’ve tried to reduce the amount of time you spend playing video games and have not been successful, you may want to consider reaching out to a mental health professional for assistance. They can help you address underlying factors that make it hard to change your habits and may be able to evaluate whether you are experiencing a form of game addiction.
How are video games addictive?
Although playing video games excessively is not yet a diagnosable form of addiction, many experts are concerned about their potential addictive properties. Evidence suggests that games may induce changes in the brain similar to other forms of behavioral addiction, such as gambling. In essence, an enjoyable stimulus releases dopamine within the brain, producing pleasure and euphoria.
If that stimulus (in this case, gaming) is accessed excessively, the brain may become dependent, requiring the person to progressively increase the amount of time they spend gaming to achieve the same result. Over time, that dependence may interfere with a person’s school, work, relationships, or physical health. The formal symptoms of video game addiction are still being studied, but there is substantial evidence that suggests gaming alone can interfere with a person’s well-being.
Is 4 hours of gaming bad?
It is not possible to determine if four hours of gaming are good or bad. While four hours per day may be concerning for some, it is unlikely a person would be similarly concerned if they gamed four hours monthly. Experts report that it is not the amount of time spent playing that defines an addiction to video games but whether the gaming leads to impairment or distress in a person’s life. If you’re playing games for four hours per day but can maintain healthy social relationships, a career you're satisfied with, and your physical health, it is unlikely that amount of time would be considered bad.
How many hours is OK for gaming?
There is no set number of hours that are considered okay for gaming. A person might play video or other games for a length of time that may seem excessive to some, but as long as the person playing games isn’t adversely affected, it is unlikely that they have a problem.
Who suffers from video game addiction?
The proposed symptoms of video game addiction suggest that those who game so frequently that it negatively impacts their life are most likely to be suffering from an addiction. There isn’t a specific number of hours or days that define whether someone is addicted. Rather, addiction occurs when a person habitually chooses to play games instead of attending work or school, maintaining social relationships, or making healthy decisions.
Is gaming good or bad?
Whether gaming is good or bad is a personal decision based on your own criteria. It is not possible to say whether gaming is good or bad except to say that some evidence suggests that excessive gaming may lead to an addiction. However, it is not possible to determine how much gaming leads to addiction, as the threshold is different for everyone. If you’re concerned that gaming is negatively impacting your life, you may want to reach out to a mental health professional for assistance.
What are game quitters?
“Game quitters” is a colloquial term commonly used to refer to those who voluntarily abstain from gaming due to its negative impact on their lives. Many game quitters consider themselves in recovery, similar to someone abstaining from alcohol after being diagnosed with an alcohol use disorder.
Is internet gaming disorder rare?
The prevalence of internet gaming disorder (IGD) is unclear due to the lack of approved diagnostic criteria and ongoing empirical research. IGD is not currently a diagnosable condition, and further research is required to illustrate how severe the problem may be and to help differentiate it from other conditions.
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