Gaming Addiction is a Real thing

Have you ever found yourself unable to cut down on your gaming? Have you failed to do what was expected of you, perhaps even missing a doctor’s appointment or a work assignment, as a result of your gaming habit?

If so, you (or one of your loved ones) may be diagnosed with having a “gaming disorder” under new guidelines established by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Gaming Addiction!

So, are video games really a problem? Yes, says the WHO.

 

Gaming addiction is to be listed as “gaming disorder” in the 11th International Classification of Diseases (ICD). The new edition will be published in 2018. This is the first time that the ICD has included an entry for gaming addiction.

 

In the ICD, gaming disorder is described as a severe pattern of gaming behaviour in which the participant’s gaming “takes precedence over other life interests”.

In most cases, doctors will need to see evidence of abnormal gaming behaviour for at least 12 months to make a diagnosis.

 

The main symptoms of gaming disorder are

 

Impaired control over gaming (frequency, intensity, and duration).

Increased priority being given to gaming.

Continuation or escalation of gaming, despite negative consequences.

It’s important to distinguish between a healthy enthusiasm for gaming and a gaming disorder. Gaming can be a harmless, even sociable, way to relax. But it’s when gaming leads to negative consequences — and the patient is unable or unwilling to make changes — that the hobby may become a disorder.

Taken to extremes, gaming can have negative consequences.

 

First, there are negative consequences to health. Gaming for long periods of time can prevent people from getting enough exercise, contributing to health problems such as obesity. Sitting for long periods of time is also associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular diseases, not to mention damage to the hands and eyes as a result of excessive keyboard and screen use.

Still, the more we play, the more we look at the TV or the monitor, and the more dopamine is released…the more we impact our brains. Dopamine is the chemical that contributes to concentration and learning. When we game too much, it’s possible that the high level of dopamine would make it hard to concentrate.

 

Further, violent video games can take away the ability to have empathy, making it harder to not get aggressive. You would get mad easily.

 

But the social and emotional damages of gaming disorder can also be severe. Excessive use of video games is linked to depression and anxiety, and gaming is being cited as a reason for divorce in 15% of cases.

When that point is reached, it’s likely that treatment is needed to overcome gaming addiction. As with most kinds of addiction, treatment will include therapy. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is an approach which has successfully helped others overcome addictive behaviours. In CBT, a patient and a counsellor or therapist will examine thought processes and challenge those that lead to addictive behaviours. Over time, destructive thought processes are replaced with healthy ones.

 

Alongside CBT, gaming disorder can be treated by therapy sessions. One-to-one therapy sessions are important, but we also encourage patients to explore couples therapy or family therapy. This is particularly useful when the negative consequences of gaming disorder are putting a strain on the patient’s relationships.