What Causes Video Game Addiction?
Video games are a favorite hobby for any gender or age group. They are a great way to pass the time or when you need to relax. For many people, video games can also provide a learning experience. It's also a great but passive way to improve hand-eye coordination if someone is not mainly into sports.
However, all good things must be done in moderation, like so much else in life. Unfortunately, there comes a point when a video game moves past being a hobby and becomes a full-blown addiction. How does this happen, though?
About Video Game Addiction
On average, people playing video games will often do so for around six hours a week. Now, video games are more accessible than ever, with games on your phone, a console, computer, or handheld device. It should also be kept in mind that there are no clear-cut guidelines that equate the amount of hours played a week to it being an addiction.
There are many signs that someone is addicted to video games, some of which can be easily missed.
Social isolation from family and friends.
Lying about the amount of time spent gaming.
Becoming visibly upset or irritable when they aren't playing video games or being prevented from doing so.
Neglecting school, work, or home responsibilities.
They no longer participate in other activities they once enjoyed.
Skipping meals or forgetting to eat due to gaming.
Sleeping less due to devoting more time to games.
Additionally, video game addiction can cause physical symptoms as well, such as:
Migraines
Eye strain
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Stiff back/achy joints from not moving
What Causes Video Game Addiction?
With any addiction, there is no clear-cut answer as to why it occurs. In fact, addiction of any type is often attributed to many different factors, not just one.
In some cases, a person becomes addicted to video games because they allow them to lead a very different life. While gaming can be an escape for some, for others, it overshadows everything. Being able to live a different life, as a different person, becomes part of their identity. This is especially true for those who play role-playing games or multi-player ones.
Additionally, the video gaming community can be a welcome presence compared to others in someone's life. We find this most often in children and teenagers, though adults who don't have a social circle can experience this as well. For them, the fellow video gamers they meet become their close friends.
Now, we'll discuss more of the science behind video game addiction. Playing video games releases spikes of dopamine, a feel-good endorphin directly linked to feelings of contentedness and happiness. Video games provide a quick and easy way to experience this dopamine effect.
Unfortunately, many people worldwide lead hard lives, so finding a quick way to feel good becomes addictive. The center of the brain that rewards these endorphins begins to associate them specifically with video game addiction—driving the gamer to seek out this activity continuously.
Can You Break An Addiction to Video Games?
Absolutely. Like any other addiction, the cycle can be broken. It won't be easy, especially the longer someone has been addicted to gaming, but it is definitely possible.
For many people, the answer to this question might be to put the controller/app down and walk away cold turkey. Unfortunately, that often leads someone to pick the habit back up after some time has passed.
In cases of video game addiction, it's best to speak with a licensed therapist about this issue. Whether you, someone you love, or even your child is experiencing it, therapy can help them get to the root cause of what is fueling their addiction to video games.
If you are interested in learning more about addiction counseling, don't hesitate to reach out to us to learn more.
