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At one point in time, video games had the reputation of rock n’ roll in the 1950s. They were heavily blamed as the cause of everything from violence among youth to laziness and antisocial behaviour. The idea of video games conjured up images of a basement-dwelling teenager who only ever stepped away from the screen for a bathroom break, so they were quickly painted as a villain in society that was infiltrating the minds of kids.
One day, however, something changed. Video games didn’t just involve violent, bloody gameplay and mindless button-mashing anymore. It became a major entertainment form that people from every age group took on as a hobby. There were cosy games, simulation games, sports simulators, action-adventure franchises, puzzle titles, and even casual online games that revamped the video game industry and boosted its appeal. Video games crossed over into the music and film industries with their epic soundtracks and iconic characters. It was a whole new world where gaming became a way to experience, socialise, and express yourself.
But none of this meant that video game addiction was erased from the face of the planet. We could even argue that advancements in technology and brand-new features can make them even more addictive. Video game developers want to hook people in and immerse them in their creations—and they have the tools to do so.
Video game addiction might sound like it just means playing video games way too often, but there’s actually a medical term for it—Internet Gaming Disorder. It’s a condition found in the DSM-5, the big black book used by mental health professionals to diagnose mental disorders, in the TR section, which concerns substance-related addictive disorders. People who have video gaming as a hobby might consistently play for hours daily, but this alone doesn’t indicate addiction. What does indicate addiction is generally when video games interfere with daily life and start to take a toll on a person’s mental and physical health.
Here are some of the signs and symptoms:
Video games are essentially likened to how spins are a type of casino bonus that keep players in the pursuit of more rewards. There’s an addictive quality to them due to their ability to trigger a dopamine release, a brain chemical that’s involved in our brain’s reward and motivation systems. It’s the same mechanism as gambling and, to some degree, taking drugs and smoking tobacco. This has been backed up by neurological research that shows similarities in brain imaging between people with video game addictions and substance use disorders. Ultimately, video games are fun, which means we’re more inclined to play them more and more if we’re enjoying ourselves, sometimes to the point of neglecting our responsibilities.
Addiction, as we’ve seen with other vices, impacts just about every aspect of someone’s life. Let’s take a look at the two major areas that could affect social relationships and everyday life in turn.
In the realm of mental health, video game addiction can turn a casual hobby into a full-blown escape route that people look to every time they want to run away from the stressors of life. It’s usually the underlying foundation for the rest of these mental health symptoms, including anxiety, depression, stress, social isolation, sleep problems, and poor self-esteem. The more people prioritise and commit their entire lives to video games, the more likely they are to disregard real life and the important relationships and happenings that come with it. Quality of life naturally suffers, and recovering from this downward spiral can be difficult.
It’s not just mental health that video game addiction takes a toll on; excessive gaming can also affect physical health symptoms. Almost all types of gaming involve sitting in a chair or on a couch for long periods of time, and countless studies have exposed and proven the risks of too much sedentary time on our bodies. By constantly sitting, gamers could increase their risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease—and the consequent lack of time available to prepare fresh, healthy meals often doesn’t help the situation either.
Building onto these consequences are chronic strain from poor posture, eye strain and headaches, and the disruption of sleep patterns. With good sleep directly correlating with brain performance, the outlook isn’t great for those struggling to get those Zs.
If you suspect you’re going down the road of video game addiction, you’ve successfully taken the first step to overcoming it—recognising that there’s even a problem in the first place. Recommended strategies for phasing video gaming back into a once-in-a-while hobby can include setting time limits, designating a specific gaming area, replacing video game time with socialising or other non-screen-based hobbies, and finding other ways to relieve stress and negative emotions. While these are all fantastic strategies to implement, speaking to a psychotherapist to identify the root cause of a developing video game addiction is often most important to develop a healthier relationship with gaming and yourself.
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