Introduction
“I have a problem,” I confessed. “I wake up in the middle of the night and play Snake on my phone.” For many years, I’ve been an addict. Not just to gaming, but specifically to Snake. Many of us enter adulthood with our own versions of this addiction — whether it’s video games, board games, gambling, or even social media. And we need to talk about it: addiction is a disease that affects millions of people around the world. In this article we will explore how the addiction works and what you can do about it if you think you might be one of them.
What Type of Addiction to Games is there?
The term “gaming addiction” is a controversial one. It’s not officially recognized as a mental disorder by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM), but it’s been proposed multiple times over the years. Gaming addiction is often referred to as a form of behavioral addiction, impulse control disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), hyperactivity or attention deficit disorder (ADD).
It’s important to remember that there are several different types of addictions that can affect people differently. For example, some people may become addicted to prescription drugs while others become addicted to alcohol or gambling instead. It really depends on what type of person you are when it comes down to it!
Role Betrayal: when a spouse or partner becomes a participant in the game.
Role betrayal is when a spouse or partner becomes a participant in the game.
In some cases, it’s a form of addiction in itself. A spouse or partner can be a participant in the game, but this may have consequences for the couple as well as for their children and others close to them.
Consider these examples:
- One spouse has become addicted to video games that he plays on his phone constantly at home and away from home. He spends most days playing them instead of making money or performing household chores or spending time with his family members by choice. When he does spend time with his family members, he often acts distracted or irritable and ignores requests for attention from others such as his wife, children and friends. He explains away this behavior by saying that “he needs some downtime.”
- Another woman plays online poker games on her laptop while watching TV shows with her husband in front of him every night after dinner until they go to bed together at 11 p m sharp every evening before heading off into separate rooms (with their laptops) because they are not comfortable sharing space together anymore due to all of her attention being focused on winning money rather than enjoying each other’s company at home during free times throughout each day when she isn’t working full-time either inside or outside their home depending where one lives geographically speaking.”
Sleep Deprivation.
- Sleep Deprivation. This is a serious problem among those who play video games. It’s a common occurrence for gamers to stay up all night playing games, or to stay up all night doing homework or studying for an exam, only to sleep for a few hours the next morning and then go back to playing video games. This can cause serious health problems including depression, obesity, diabetes and heart disease.
- Sugar Addiction. Many people become addicted to sugar because it gives them a quick boost of energy when they feel tired or depressed after being up all night playing video games! The problem is that this high will eventually wear off and bring on feelings of guilt and shame because you know deep down inside that the amount of sugar you’re consuming each day isn’t healthy (unless your doctor has prescribed it).
Physical Comfort.
One of the biggest reasons that we play video games is because they offer us a sense of comfort and relaxation. We are able to get rid of all our stress, worries, and anxieties while playing our favorite game.
The problem with this method of relaxation is that it can become an unhealthy habit if overused. Playing video games can lead to obesity, heart disease, diabetes and other health issues due to lack of physical activity. Video games which require more movement such as Dance Dance Revolution have been shown to reduce the risk factors associated with these diseases but studies still show that overall time spent on sedentary activities such as gaming is responsible for most cases related to them.
There are several ways you can find physical activity while playing video games such as using Wii Fit or Kinect Sports; however there are also other ways you can include movement into your routine in order not only improve your health but also make gaming more enjoyable! You could even start by simply going up stairs instead of taking the elevator every day once or twice per week until you’re able – make sure not go too fast though because then again we’d be back at square one!
Isolation and Depression.
Depression is a common side effect of gaming addiction. Depression is a mood disorder that can be a symptom of other psychological disorders, such as anxiety and bipolar disorder. It can also develop independently from any mental illness.
Depression can be treated with medication and therapy, or even without treatment if you’re able to manage your symptoms with exercise and healthy eating habits. However, it’s often best to seek professional help when dealing with depression so that you have someone who understands what you’re going through in order to help you overcome your condition.
Game Overload.
Game Overload
It happens to all of us, whether we like it or not. The more time you spend playing your favorite games, the more likely you are to get hooked on them. However, there’s no need to be embarrassed about this—it’s an addiction that many of us share! What can you do about it? Here are some hints:
- Play new games instead of replaying the same ones over and over again. You’ll find yourself enjoying them more if they’re new experiences for your brain (and body).
- Get up and move around every once in a while; give yourself and your eyes a break from staring at screens all day long! Even just standing up every 30 minutes counts as movement—and doing so keeps blood flowing throughout your whole body which is good for health benefits like reducing stress levels too!
Video game addiction has similar traits to substance abuse disorders, and it can be treated in similar ways
- Video game addiction can be compared to substance abuse disorders.
- Both video game addiction and substance abuse share similar traits:
- They are both chronic conditions, meaning they do not go away on their own and symptoms persist over time.
- Both video game addiction and substance abuse also have common side effects, such as withdrawal symptoms when an individual stops playing or using the substance, or when they are unable to play or use it regularly.
- The main difference between the two is that with gaming disorder, people often experience cravings for more videogames than they would with drugs or alcohol.
Conclusion
People who play games need to be more aware of the dangers of addiction. It has been proven that gaming is not a good thing for your health or family life and yet there are still millions who play every day. Even though it can be fun, there are always risks involved when playing any type of game. Do some research before you start playing so that you know what could happen if things go wrong. There are also many resources available through programs like Gamers Without Borders which help people understand their own behaviors and learn how they can change them in order to live healthier lifestyles!
