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You might have said to your mate, "You are addicted to gaming on your phone," or to your child, "You spend too much time playing video games." Is it really addiction? The World Health Organization says video gaming can become an addiction. Others say no. Either way, it can become a problem.
From WebMD, here are a few questions to consider:
• Do you spend a lot of time thinking about that video game?
• How do you feel when you don't have time to play?
• Does it take more and more time for you to get the same level of pleasure?
• Is it impossible to play less, to quit and walk away from the game?
• Is your gaming interfering with your daily life, things like your relationship with your life partner, your children, or other loved ones? Is your school work suffering? Is your job at your workplace adversely affected?
• Do you keep playing anyway?
• Do you lie about how much time you spend playing video games?
• Do you play video games to feel better when you are angry or upset?
Whether it's addiction or not, and if you have answered yes to five or more of the above, it might be time to think about playing games less and becoming more a part of your "in-your-face" world rather than the virtual one.
If your children are doing well in school and you have a good relationship, video games aren't likely to be problematic. However, families are beginning to discover their children exhibit symptoms not uncommon with addiction. Have you heard your child ranting at the game because it isn't going right? Have they thrown the controller in anger?
In the old days parents would call that bad behavior and discipline the child by taking away the privileges of playing. Some parents still do this today.
There are ways to prevent a gaming problem.
• Before starting to play the game, decide the time limit and stop when time runs out, even if you are in the middle of a game.
• Don't keep electronic devices in the bedroom. There is too much opportunity for playing late into the night and not realizing the time.
• Get up and move around. Find something else to do - shoot hoops, bake brownies, take a walk, spend time outside, enjoy being with friends. Enjoy the world around you.
• Play the games with your children, making sure that they are playing games appropriate to their ages.
Parents can teach their children healthy gaming habits. It's important to know about the compulsion loop, which game developers employ when they are creating games that keep pulling you into the next challenge, the next reward, the next addition of lives, the things that can lead to the compulsion of gaming. They say that gaming disorder is more widespread than compulsive gambling but less than compulsive shopping. I urge you to visit https://happiful.com/gaming-addiction-teen-officially-diagnosed-and-child-admitted-to-rehab/ where you can read about some families who are struggling with the issue at this time. It is more common than you might think, according to a source at the happilful article.
Too much game time has been linked to things like weight issues, sleep issues, impulsivity, anxiety and depression, eye strain and a host of others, advises the Mayo Clinic. Too much of anything is not a good thing. Critical thinking is a must as you determine what is best and right for your family.
Addiction has no address, but Family Recovery Center does. For more information about the education, prevention and treatment programs for substance abuse and related behavioral issues, contact the agency at 964 N. Market St., Lisbon; phone, 330-424-1468; or email, info@familyrecovery.org. Visit the website at familyrecovery.org. FRC is funded in part by Columbiana County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board.