Video game addiction, recognised by the World Health Organization as a gaming disorder, is a pattern of gaming marked by impaired control, giving gaming increasing priority over other interests and daily activities, and continuing to play despite negative consequences. [1] A person with this condition spends more and more of their time on video games, often at the cost of everything else.
Video game addiction is a growing concern among children and teenagers. Handing a child a mobile phone to play games at an early age may keep them entertained for a while, but it can lead to habits that are hard to break later.
Excessive gaming can take a real toll on mental health. The good news is that gaming addiction is treatable with the right professional support.
Effects Of Video Game addiction
There are lots of bad effects of video gaming addiction on an individual’s life and mental health.
- Unable to cope with the day to day life
- Lack of socialism, the worst gaming addiction symptoms
- Hesitation while going outside with family members or friends.
- Lack of focus on studies and other works
- Not doing the work you love to do in the past
- Avoiding working, school, or college just to play games
- Thinking a lot about games, even in your dreams too, you are seeing yourself playing.
- The most important video gaming addiction fact is it stops the ability to work on an individual's mental health.
- Lying to your friends and loved ones about how much time you are spending playing video games.
- Start playing video games even when you’re ill.
How To Stop Video Game Addiction?
Nowadays, we are especially noticing that children are getting very addicted to video games. It is very tough to cope with this addiction.
It is very tough to see the problem in yourself. You cannot tell whether you are spending lots of time playing video games or not. If your close ones are telling you to cut back your time on playing video games, then avoid repeating the same thing.
If you are noticing that you or your loved ones are addicted to video games and looking to stop this addiction, then here are some points for you.
1. Get Help or Give Help
If you have noticed your video game addiction yourself, that is a good start. You can ask your parents or siblings for help and talk to them about what you are going through. If you are a parent worried about your child, you can consult a psychiatrist and talk to them about it. Specialist gaming disorder services involve psychiatrists, psychologists and family therapists, and treat family members as well as the young person who games. [2]
2. Accept the Addiction and Work on Overcoming it
Video game addiction facts show that If you want to avoid using your mobile phones or other devices while playing video games continuously, then accepting your responsibility is the best way to do so. If you become responsible, then automatically, you get distracted from your addiction.
3. Contact Rehab Centres
If you or a loved one is struggling with an addiction, whether to video games, alcohol or anything else, a rehabilitation centre can help. Treatment can help you break the habit and rebuild your relationships with the people closest to you. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) has shown the strongest results in reducing gaming disorder symptoms, and involving caregivers can make it even more effective. [3] Jagruti Rehab Centre has centres in several parts of India.
4. Set Some Limitations on your Timing of Playing Video Games
If you set separate times to perform some work, then it is very easy to protect yourself from video game addiction. Do not bother yourself by spending lots of time playing video games. Try to engage yourself with other physical activities too.
5. Find your Interest Somewhere else
If in the past you used to play some sport or you have some other hobbies, perform that. It will be the best option to protect yourself or cope with your addiction. Making yourself social will help you now as well as in your future.
What Causes Video Game Addiction?
Spending lots and lots of time playing video games is an addiction to it. Not paying attention to what your parents or elders tell you to do. See, if you are a parent looking to cope with your child’s video game addiction, then it is very important for you to know that it’s not every time your child makes a mistake. It can be yours too.
If your child is asking you for something and becomes stubborn towards that and just to stop them for a while, you are giving them mobile phones or laptops to play video games; then it’s very bad.
You are making the biggest mistake of your life towards a child. We mean, why do you want to give them mobile phones to play games if they are not listening to you?
You can make them understand or tell them something different like you will take them to their favorite destination or buy them their favorite book or food and many more. This is how you are treating your child and nothing else.
Harmful Effects of Video Game Addiction
Too much screen time can make it hard for children to sleep at night and raises their risk of attention problems, anxiety, depression and obesity. [4] Long hours at a screen can also leave the eyes tired and strained. A person who is addicted may feel mentally unwell, and when they cannot find time to play, they may become anxious or irritable. In children, difficulty focusing on studies is a major effect.
Conclusion
We hope the points in this article help you take the first steps towards overcoming the problem. If the problem feels too big to handle alone, seeing a psychiatrist is an important step. As a parent, make yourself approachable to your child and spend as much time with them as you can.
Follow these tips on how to stop video game addiction. If they are not bringing the results you hoped for, reach out to Jagruti rehabilitation centre in Delhi. With the right support, recovery from gaming addiction is possible.
