Video game addiction
While most people associate addiction with substances, such as drugs or alcohol, doctors recognize addictive behaviors as well.
Too much gaming may seem relatively harmless compared with the dangers of a drug overdose, but video game addiction can ruin lives. Children who play four to five hours per day have no time for socializing, doing homework, or playing sports. Video game addicts tend to become isolated, dropping out of their social networks and giving up other hobbies.
In older addicts, compulsive gaming can jeopardize jobs or relationships.
According to the Center for On-Line Addiction, warning signs for video game addiction include:
- Playing for increasing amounts of time
- Thinking about gaming during other activities
- Gaming to escape from real-life problems, anxiety, or depression
- Lying to friends and family to conceal gaming
- Feeling irritable when trying to cut down on gaming
Treatment for video game addiction is similar to detox for other addictions, with one important difference. Computers have become an important part of everyday life, as well as many jobs, so compulsive gamers can’t just look the other way when they see a PC. Video game addiction is like a food addiction where you have to learn to live with food. Video game addicts can’t avoid computers, they have to learn to use them responsibly.
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