We are living in a time in which a significant portion of the population has grown up playing video games. The effects of having been raised in this virtual world are still being determined by the medical and psychological community. Some players, however, display behaviors that resemble an addiction.
Although the definition of "video game addiction" has not been fully agreed upon by the medical or psychological communities, most experts agree that any behavior that consumes and damages parts of a person's life can be defined as an addiction.
Signs of Video Game Addiction
There are a handful of signs that indicate a person's video gaming may have escalated from a hobby to an addiction. Spending significant amounts of time and money on the activity and neglecting important responsibilities and relationships is one of these indicators. For instance, if you know someone who is spending money on downloadable gaming content instead of paying rent or insurance, they are likely addicted to video games.
Players who have become addicted will sometimes emotionally attach themselves to the outcome of video games. Losses or difficulties can trigger outbursts of violence or depression. Many times, a person who is addicted to a game will compulsively play it over and over again until a certain level of proficiency is achieved. People addicted to video games frequently abandon real-life interaction to continue playing. They may become increasingly isolated from close family and friends and consider their only friends to be the people that they meet in online games.
In severe cases, people who are addicted to video games may actually begin to hallucinate or envision the game as more of a reality than reality itself. They may call themselves by the handles they use within video-gaming worlds or refer to real-world objects using game terminology.
Treatment for Video Game Addiction
Treatments for video game addiction are still being studied. Researchers have found that a change in the physical environment of the player is often very helpful. This is because that part of the addiction to video games is actually neurological; people who play video games have been shown to have distinct brainwave patterns.
