Addiction is a disease characterized by intense, compulsive craving, withdrawal, and loss of interest in other areas of life. There is an imbalance in the different areas of life, ranging from social, interpersonal, professional, emotional, psychological and so on. The person looks for short term relief or gratification from the object of their addiction inspite …
Addiction is a disease characterized by intense, compulsive craving, withdrawal, and loss of interest in other areas of life. There is an imbalance in the different areas of life, ranging from social, interpersonal, professional, emotional, psychological and so on. The person looks for short term relief or gratification from the object of their addiction inspite of long term negative consequences. For many it is a progressive illness, it gets worse as time passes, to the point that the object of addiction tales over one\’s life. Being an addict is emotionally, cognitively deteriorating and comes with a lot of comorbid issues like anxiety, depression, self esteem issues, anger, and so on. The person\’s life, their thoughts, feelings and behaviors revolve around what they are addicted to, the most common being alcohol and drugs. There is a powerlessness that the person doesn\’t want to admit and the illusion of control, that the person can control their behavior, remains.
What is Gaming Addiction?
Gaming Addiction or Video game addiction is a behavioral addiction, which is sometimes seen as an extension of internet addiction. Since the rise of video games from the 1950s, people have been getting addicted to playing games. Commonly seen in children and adolescents, but also a growing concern in adults in these times. Video games include computer games, console games, arcade games and even mobile phone games. Video game addiction is seen commonly in players of the persistent multiplayer gaming universe, or Massive Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game—MMORPG games for short. MMORPGs make up 25% of gaming revenue worldwide. These games hold many attractions for gamers—they are interactive, social, competitive, and happen in real-time. However, a person can be addicted to any types and number of games at the same time.
Video games provide a dopamine hit to the brain which is a chemical responsible for reward, learning and pleasure. Due to short tasks which provide a sense of achievement, it is very easy to get hooked on to the gaming world to feel a sense of pleasure, excitement and achievement. A person who maybe lacking conscipusly or unconsciously these feelings can be at greater risk for gaming addiction. Once a person starts playing, their brain gets dependent on gaming for getting pleasure, dopamine is released mainly through gaming, and hence the person loses interest in other things. Breaking this reward cycle associated with gaming is at the heart of treatment for this addiction.
Symptoms of Gaming Addiction
Here are some of the common signs and symptoms of gaming addiction:
– Excessive gaming or thinking about video games
– Neglecting duties or responsibilities at work, home or school in order to play
– Not being able to decrease playing even when you try
– Loss of interest in other areas of life
– Continuing to play despite Negative impact on financial, social, emotional, professional, and other areas on life
– Feeling upset when you can\’t play
– Using gaming to escape or cope with negative feelings and emotions
– Hiding how much time you spend in gaming
Not everyone shows all symptoms and to properly diagnose a behavioral addiction, professional assessment is needed. Some people who are enthusiasts may play excessively but not be addicted. Some may have subtle signs which may not be anxious to the world. The thing to note is that when gaming starts affecting functionality in different, if not all areas of life, then it has to be regarded as an issue. This may not be immediately seen by the gaming addict who may be in denial about how gaming is affecting his or her life. This denial allows the person to remain stuck in their ways and resistance to treating the gaming addiction is very common.
Treatment for Gaming Addiction
Gaming addiction, though it may seem harmless at first, can be pretty crippling for the person. Especially because it is not taken as seriously as addiction to substances, people take longer to get help and support to come put of gaming addiction. Denial is very strong and difficult to challenge when someone does not realise that their life is revolving around gaming. Treatment for Gaming addiction though is more and more accessible. Just like any addiction, the psychological treatment consists of learning to manage the intense desires for Gaming, learning to cope with its absence, and learning to balance thoughts and emotions in day to day life without relapsing into compulsive gaming. The reward and pleasure parts of the brain need to move onto other, more balanced ways of stimulation.
At ZorbaCare Rehabilitation Center, behavioral addictions are treated with psychological interventions based on research backed therapies.
Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) has been known to have positive impact on treatment for Gaming addiction. In this modality of therapy, the dysfunctional thoughts and beliefs of a person which are keeping him or her tied to their addiction are identified and challenged. Denial about addictive behavior, instant gratification, impulse control and managing stress, along with many other areas of addiction recovery are a part of CBT.
Along with this, behavioral patterns that are unhealthy are also identified. Positive changes in lifestyle and behavior are reinforced for the client. Learning to find new interests, reset one\’s reward cycles is also reinforced. Behavioral modification is a big part of treatment for Gaming addiction.
Motivational Interviewing is also a common therapy style in which the discrepancy between what the goals are what actions are taken is identified. A client is then motivated consistently to make the changes needed.
Among other popular modalities is Acceptance and Commitment therapy in which a person learns to accept certain things about themselves which they are fighting and commits to values that align with them.
Whichever types of therapies are used, the end goal is to help a client to live a fulfilling life where they don\’t need to seek instant pleasure and focus on doing various activities which can generate long term satisfaction rather than short term gratification. Understanding that excessive and compulsive behaviors, however rewarding they may seem, are detrimental to one\’s mental health is the primary goal. Through professional interventions, this process becomes smoother and helps one achieve holistic well-being in all areas of life.
