Video game addiction
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video game addiction
Video game addiction, also known as internet gaming disorder, is a serious problem.
It can lead to you ignoring tasks you need to perform. Skipping lectures, phoning in sick from work, failing to pick up the children from school in time.
Some people are so caught up in the addiction that they spend days, literally, sat in a chair, urinating in bottles so they don't have to get up.
They eat dried snack food and the only thing that will stop them is a a power cut or an internet black out.
Millions of people in the UK play video games with no adverse effects.
Only a very small number of people will go on to develop an addiction.
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What is video game addiction?
Video game addiction is where someone lacks the control to be able to stop playing.
Even thought the person knows they have a serious problem, they just can't help it.
Losing a job because you keep missing deadlines or calling in sick too often, failing exams or putting your children at risk because you are fixated on a screen all register with you but makes no difference.
People die from extreme cases of video game addiction.
They become dehydrated which, quickly, renders them unconscious.
Left untreated, you will not recover.
Sometimes they drink so much water that they poison themselves and it becomes irreversible.
video game addiction
Is video game addiction a mental illness?
A good question!
This is open to debate.
Unlike gambling addiction, there is no monetary gain from playing video games.
However, the rush experienced when you win is exactly the same.
Feel good chemicals, that naturally occur in the body, are released leading to a sense of euphoria and pleasure.
Whether it is a mental illness or not doesn't detract from the serious problems such an addiction causes.
Unlike some other behavioural addictions, video game addiction can kill.
Not because of suicidal thinking but from exhaustion, dehydration or hypernatremia (drinking too much water).
It is usually young men in the teens and early twenties that experience this problem.
Researchers believe up to 10% of the population have video game addiction.
Because there is disagreement on the diagnostic criteria the estimation range is quite large.
Video game addiction
Are there any symptoms?
Unlike heroin and alcohol addiction there are, usually, no physical signs.
Someone caught up in video game addiction will not be performing well at work, home or university.
Tell tale signs are:
Tiredness during the day with poor performance at school, university and work.
Not completing tasks around the home
Extreme withdrawals when unable to play.
Having to spend more and more time to achieve a sense of enjoyment
Unable to stop even though they know the effect it is having
Being dishonest with others about the time spent playing
Playing video games to relieve stress
Self medicating against low mood, feelings of hopelessness and guilt by playing.
Video game addiction
What causes video game addiction?
Addiction is addiction.
It matters not what it is you are addicted to, the cause is always the same.
When you drink alcohol and take drugs elements of them sit on receptors in the brain.
These cause the release or retention of naturally occurring chemicals.
Playing video games releases dopamine which is responsible for pleasure, reward and motivation.
In time, the only way you you will be able to trigger the release of these chemicals is to play.
Video game addiction
Dopamine and tolerance
When you constantly trigger the release of dopamine, the brain adjusts the way it works.
In time, you will need more and more dopamine to have the same effect as when you started using.
This means that whereas you played for 30 minutes to get a rush, you now have to play all night.
Dopamine makes you feel good.
It gives you a boost. It helps to regulate your normal emotional responses.
If you stop playing you will experience dopamine withdrawals.
This is perfectly normal.
Video game addiction
Signs of dopamine withdrawal
inability to feel pleasure
Heavy arms and legs
Overthinking decisions
No motivation
Feeling detached from others and situations
Mental fatigue
Exhaustion
Persistent anxiety
Your brain, in time, will rewire itself.
Within a fortnight you will start to feel better.
Video game addiction
Behavioural changes
Due to the chemical changes that occur, someone experiencing video game addiction can present with some very worrying behaviours:
Extreme reactions to perceived threats: The amygdala in the brain, because it is starved of dopamine, goes into high threat mode.
Any noise can be misinterpreted as hostile.
Restlessness and agitation: Dopamine withdrawal leaves your motor control circuits in a state of flux.
This means you will feel significant physical tension. Pacing up and down is common.
Panic: Your threshold will be completely lowered.
If you experience panic without dopamine you will feel worrying heart palpitations, difficulty breathing and impending doom.
Video game addiction
What about home treatment for video game addiction?
This is possible if the addiction is not severe. Where the person is in the grips of a severe and chronic addictive episode home treatment can not be arranged.
Residential treatment is essential.
Call and speak with an expereienced addictions clinician for free, independent and confidential advice.
Therapy
All centers who provide treatment for addiction provide a fully immersive therapy programme, either along a 12 step approach or a SMART based recovery model. These run seven days a week and , those in treatment, are obliged to attend all sessions if physically well enough to do so. For new admissions, it can be 24-48 hours , on occasion, before someone is able to take part.
Sitting alongside this programme, many centers also offer adjunctive treatments and therapies such as:
Yoga
Mindfulness
Art therapy
Gentle exercise and group walks
Music therapy
Individual sessions (for those staying more than a week)
Clients, before leaving, are linked in with support groups in their local community, be they voluntary or statutory. A psychological tool kit is built up so that clients have a selection of techniques to employ.
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