What is video game addiction?

Video game addiction is real mental health that has been affecting millions of people all around the globe. It is basically a persistent gaming behaviour that might be online or offline that has been affected with the uncontrolled gaming and thus increasing the priority to give more time to gaming so to extend and take precedence over other life activities. Although there are millions of people who play video games, most of them do not have an addiction and the WHO has said that only 3-4% of the world population struggles. The basic difference between a healthy fun gaming and addiction is the negative effect that it causes to a person’s daily life.

What causes the video game addiction?

Video games are intentionally designed using the state of the art behaviour of a person to keep them hooked. Games are hypnotic experiences that provide the gamer with a huge amount of dopamine and exposure to a different level of stimulation that can cause structural changes to their brain.

You start living in a world where you expect instant gratification and you can go on for hours and hours without even noticing that a minute has gone by. It allows you to escape reality and it creates an environment which makes you feel safe and in control.

Some of the common symptoms of the video game addiction

Experts have found out 9 of the different warning signs to watch for comes to the videogame addiction. Although this can help you better understand and the level of the situation, it is very important to always seek the advice of a professional.

1. Preoccupation with the video games: The individual keeps on thinking about the previous gaming activities that he or she has had, or he is anticipating or planning the strategy of the next game. Thus, gaming becomes the most dominant activity in a person’s daily life.
2. Withdrawal symptoms: This withdrawal symptoms are similar to the drug addiction ones and happen when the game is taken away. These are typically described as irritability, boredom, cravings from anxiety or sadness.
3. Tolerance: The craving of spending more and more time being engaged in video games. This can also be motivated by the need of completing a level, time-consuming or other difficult goals to achieve mental satisfaction or reduce the fear of missing out.
4. Unsuccessful attempts to control participation in video games.
5. Loss of interest in other hobbies and entertainment thus leading to doing nothing other than playing video games.
6. Continued excessive usage of the game despite knowing the psychosocial problems and the negative impact that it has on him.
7. Has deceived his family members, the therapist or other people regarding the gaming.
8. Usage of the video games to escape and avoid negative moods like the feeling of helplessness, guilt or anxiety. Has lost a significant relationship or a career goal opportunity due to the excessive participation in video games.