Understanding Video Game Addiction: When Gaming Becomes a Problem
It seems like nearly everyone plays video games today. In fact, according to a 2023 survey, 78% of U.S. households included at least one person who played video games in the last 12 months. They are an integral part of modern entertainment. People who play them regularly say that they provide stress relief, social connection, and all sorts of other benefits. They can log on after a long day of work or school, virtually meet up with friends, and have a lot of fun. Unfortunately, there are also a number of individuals who suffer from video game addiction. For these folks, what was once a casual and fun activity has evolved into something that has taken over their lives, interfering with their self-care, mental health, and important relationships.
What is Video Game Addiction?
Video game addiction, also known as gaming disorder or internet gaming disorder, is a serious mental health problem. Although it is not yet included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders, it is officially recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) beginning in 2018.
WHO defines gaming disorder as “a pattern of gaming behavior (“digital-gaming” or “video-gaming”) characterized by impaired control over gaming, increasing priority given to gaming over other activities to the extent that gaming takes precedence over other interests and daily activities, and continuation or escalation of gaming despite the occurrence of negative consequences.”
People with gaming disorder display a pattern of behavior that is so severe that it causes a significant impairment in their functioning. They may have difficulty in their personal or family relationships, problems at school or work, or other neglected responsibilities. Normally, mental health providers will diagnose this condition once these problems have been present for at least 12 months.
Like most addictive patterns, video game addiction can cause a person to lose control over their behavior. They might continue gaming even when it causes negative consequences in their lives, like deteriorating relationships, poor grades, or failing to meet career goals. Depending on how much insight they have into the relationship between their gaming behavior and these life problems, they might wish that they could stop. Sadly, the addiction causes them to experience an overwhelming urge to play that is nearly impossible to overcome without treatment.
Recognizing the Signs of Video Game Addiction
Just like with any addictive substance or behavior, there are plenty of people who can play video games without a problem. So how can people tell if their gaming is becoming addictive? Here are some signs and symptoms of video game addiction:
- Preoccupation with Gaming: Addicted gamers will fantasize about the game when they are not playing it, even during times when they need to focus on other things like schoolwork.
- Lying or Hiding Gaming Use: People with video game addiction might lie to their loved ones about what they are really doing for hours alone in their rooms. They might also make up excuses for not going out or socializing so that they can stay home and game.
- Loss of Interest in Other Activities: When a gamer stops participating in other activities, especially those they used to enjoy, that can be a sign of addiction.
- Social Withdrawal: People with video game addiction might remove themselves from loved ones and friends, preferring to only socialize with people within the game.
- Psychological Withdrawal: This refers to the feeling of loss that addicts experience when they can’t access their preferred games. They might feel intense emotional dysregulation when they are forced to stop playing, and find it difficult to focus on anything else besides the game.
- Defensiveness and Anger: When someone is addicted to video games, they might become defensive or enraged when you tell them it’s time to stop. Some parents of children and teens with video game addiction report that their kids react to restrictions with anger or even violence.
- Using the Game World as a Psychological Escape: When the real world becomes too painful to bear, people often look for a means to escape reality. Distracting yourself from a stressful situation can be healthy in small doses. However, if distraction turns into avoidance of reality, then it becomes a serious problem.
- Continued Use Despite Its Consequences: This is the key to distinguishing problematic game use from a gaming addiction. For addicts, the urge to game is so powerful that they will continue to game even after it has caused real-life negative consequences like failing grades, lost jobs, relationship difficulties, or neglected hygiene.
The Impact on Mental Health and Well-being
It’s no surprise that video game addiction can both exacerbate existing mental health challenges and lead to new ones. For example, gaming addicts often have co-occurring depression or anxiety disorders. This might cause them to get stuck in a cycle where they use gaming as a sort of “self-medication” to relieve distressing emotions, while worsening their overall emotional well-being.
It’s also common for gaming addicts to experience sleep disturbances. Many people who are addicted to gaming stay up late into the night playing, which leads to daytime fatigue and cognitive impairment. And their social relationships might suffer because they are prioritizing gaming over their family and friends. This could cause an increase in isolation and loneliness.
Professional Treatment Options for Video Game Addiction
This is a relatively new problem, and there isn’t yet a ton of research into effective, evidence-based treatment. It is also true that we can develop individualized treatment plans based on what we know works for treating other addiction-related problems.
Here are some steps that might be involved in treating video game addiction:
- Comprehensive assessment: Your provider does a clinical interview and may administer some addiction questionnaires like the Internet Gaming Disorder Scale. They might also screen you for other disorders that often co-occur with this one, like ADHD, depression, anxiety, and autism.
- Psychoeducation: This is a fancy word that basically means your provider is teaching you and your family about your diagnosis. They can help you understand how gaming affects your brain, your emotions, and your behaviors. They can also teach you skills that will help you get closer to your goals.
- Goal setting: You and your provider can work together to set very specific goals for your treatment. For example, you might decide to gradually reduce your gaming time until you reach a certain number of hours per day. Other potential goals might include improving sleep hygiene, increasing social interaction, or improving your grades.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: Your therapist might use CBT strategies to help you identify triggers and thought patterns that contribute to your addictive behavior. They might also teach you coping skills that you can use to resist gaming urges.
- Family Support: This is especially important for children and teens with video game addiction. Parents can limit their kids’ access to video games and provide rewards for reducing gaming time. They can also help structure their kids’ environments to increase their time spent doing other fun activities besides gaming.
- Medication: There is no medication that is specifically meant to treat video game addiction. However, this problem is closely connected to other mental health challenges like depression, anxiety, and ADHD. If you have one of these co-occurring disorders, medication can help. And improving your symptoms with medication might help you recover from addiction as well.
Moving Forward: Recovery and Prevention
Recovery from video game addiction is possible with appropriate support and treatment. Establishing a structured daily routine, setting clear gaming limits, and developing alternative activities and hobbies are essential steps in the recovery process. Building real-world social connections and addressing underlying emotional issues through therapy provides a foundation for lasting change.
At Gladstone Psychiatry and Wellness, we understand the complex nature of video game addiction and provide comprehensive, evidence-based treatment approaches. Our experienced team works collaboratively with individuals and families to develop personalized treatment plans that address both the addiction and underlying mental health concerns.
If you or a loved one is struggling with video game addiction, professional help is available. Early intervention can prevent further complications and help restore balance to daily life, relationships, and overall well-being.
