The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies video game addiction as a mental health disorder. Currently, video games are once again in the spotlight following recent cases involving adolescents addicted to video games.
Are they a problem or entertainment? They can be both. Video games are a form of leisure for young people who use them to have fun and pass the time. In fact, if played responsibly, they can have benefits. However, misuse can turn them into a problem because addictive behavior from playing video games can develop.
My Child Is Addicted to Video Games: What Can I Do?
If your child is exhibiting concerning behavior and you believe they may be developing a video game addiction, it is advisable to seek help from professionals who specialize in addictions.
It is common for behavioral addictions—those that do not depend on a substance but on a behavior—to go unnoticed. Even once detected, it is common to minimize their importance. Therefore, it takes longer to seek help because people think that <<it is not that serious>>, but it is important to seek solutions because video game addiction has harmful effects on health, both physically and mentally. Apart from the consequences generated by the addiction, the person will be more vulnerable to developing mental health problems, such as depression or anxiety.
Addiction Prevention: Safe Use of Video Games
Preventing an addiction can be complicated because it depends on various factors, but it is always possible to take a series of actions to prevent video game addiction and ensure that children and adolescents use them responsibly. At CCAdicciones, we offer you some recommendations, such as:
- Establish rules. It is important to set limits. Do not give them absolute freedom to play whenever and as much as they want. They must understand that playing video games is not prohibited, but they must first complete their responsibilities, such as their homework.
- Monitor the hours they play. Set maximum hours for playing and it is advisable that it not be excessive time. Limit the moments dedicated to video games.
- Promote other types of leisure activities. They should not only entertain themselves by playing video games, no matter how much they like them. There are other alternatives. Suggest activities they enjoy that are healthy and/or help stimulate their creativity and imagination.
- Minimize the use of screens and technology. In today’s society, technology plays a central role, especially among those who were born in the technological era. Mobile phones, tablets, computers… They are part of their daily lives. Try to get them away from these new tools for at least a few hours so that they are not their only way of being distracted and so they do not depend exclusively on them when they want to be entertained.
- Know what video games they play and with whom. Knowing the games they like most, which is their favorite, whether the content is appropriate for their age, whether they play alone or with friends… This information will help you better understand their relationship with video games.
- Good communication. It is important to maintain a good relationship based on dialogue and communication in order to prevent an addiction, and in the event that one develops, to identify it as soon as possible.
- Raise awareness about the consequences of video game addiction. Warn them about the dangers that excessive abuse can pose.
Symptoms of Video Game Addiction
If you have doubts about whether your child suffers from an addiction, we present the most common symptoms of video game addiction, such as:
- Social isolation. Gradually, they distance themselves from their friends and closest circle. They abandon their social side. They prefer to be alone playing rather than in company.
- Behavioral changes. They show anger and irritability if they cannot play video games. They may experience withdrawal syndrome.
- Neglect of responsibilities. In the case of adolescents, their academic obligations. There is a deterioration in academic performance.
- Neglect of self-care. They do not care about their physical appearance or personal hygiene because they only focus on playing. Other aspects of their life take a back seat.
- Eye strain. Eye discomfort from spending so many hours on the computer playing. Looking at a screen without rest has negative consequences for vision.
- Physical pain. Spending so many hours in front of a screen and making the same gestures and maintaining the same posture causes muscle pain. Furthermore, as it becomes a daily habit involving many hours, it promotes a sedentary lifestyle, which is harmful to health.
Why Do Video Games Generate Addiction?
Video games are pastimes, but they are designed to be addictive, to capture the attention of players, and this is what makes them interesting to young people. There are a series of components that make these technological games addictive.
Visually, they are designed to captivate adolescents: perfectly created virtual spaces, captivating characters, striking colors, infinite possibilities for each game played… In short, they tell an engaging story, making the player a direct participant in each adventure. They are one of the protagonists or the sole protagonist and can affect the course of the narrative. These elements make young people want to keep playing.
Competitiveness is an element that contributes to making a video game addictive. Often, a behavior of wanting to win and obtain rewards is reproduced. Playing game after game until winning to have the personal satisfaction of having overcome obstacles in the game.
This type of game can represent an escape route for adolescents, especially those who are having a hard time or have difficulty relating to others. They can be an unknown character, without anyone identifying them, and establish contact with other players.
Hikikomori, the Extreme of Addiction
In the most extreme cases of addiction, the addicted person sacrifices any element of their life that prevents them from carrying out the action of playing video games. Even if this means leaving their life behind, sacrificing hours of sleep, or losing real contact with people. This is known as hikikomori syndrome. This term derives from the verb “hiki,” which means “to withdraw,” and from “komoru,” which means “to enter.”
Hikikomoris are people who live locked in their homes, without any type of social contact beyond interaction through screens. They do not usually leave the house unless strictly necessary and do not speak to anyone.
Video Game Addiction Treatment
A video game addiction requires treatment by specialists in order to leave this behavior behind. Since it is a non-substance addiction, detoxification as such will not be necessary, but treatment based on therapy to control the behavior will be. It is also important to address the origin of the addiction—whether it developed due to personal difficulties, a mental health problem… It will be necessary to identify it in order to treat it and thus prevent video games from being used as an escape from problems.
Request Help
If you need professional help for video game addiction, at CCAdicciones we can help you. Our addiction specialists will offer you treatment for any type of addiction, dependency, or behavioral disorder, and will accompany you throughout the recovery process. Contact us to start a new life, free from addiction.
