Gaming Disorder
First, What’s gaming? Gaming is playing video games with regularity, whether
through consoles, computer or cellphones.
Also, people who are enthusiastic about video games the are call gamers, no
matter what kind of video game they play.
Now, What’s gaming disorder? Gaming disorder is considered a pattern of
persistent or recurrent gaming behavior (Digital gaming or video gaming), which
may be online or offline.
This year on may gaming disorder was recognized an official mental health
disorder by The World Health Organization that is a specialized agency of the
united states that is concerned with international public health, this organization
added the disorder to the international classification of diseases or the ICD-11.
The ICD is the basis for identification of health trends and statistics globally and the
international standard for reporting diseases and health conditions.
From 0.3 percent to 1 percent of the general population might qualify for a potential
acute diagnosis of this disorder according to a study published in the American
Journal of Psychiatry.
Symptoms
Some of the Symptoms of the gaming disorder are:
1. Impaired control over gaming behavior (frequency, intensity, duration,
termination), like having difficulty stopping when you know you should or the
frequency you play.
2. Increasing priority given to gaming, so gaming takes precedence over other
life interests and daily activities.
3. Continuation of gaming despite the occurrence of negative consequences.
4. Fatigue, Carpal tunnel syndrome and Poor personal hygiene.
The experts say that you should present these symptoms for a lapse of 12 months
to be considered sick of this disease.
Causes
Why are video games addicting? Gaming disorder is complex with several causes
or contributing factors. Addiction can happen in part because video games are
intentionally designed using state-of-the-art behavior psychology to keep you
hooked, games are immersive experiences that provide you with high levels of
stimulation in your brain.
For example, you start to play a video game and in that instant moment you begin
to live in a world where you expect instant gratification. Games are so immersive
that it’s easy to play for hours and hours without even noticing that a minute has
gone by. They allow you to escape and see measurable progress. They are social,
and they create an illusion where you feel safe and in control.
Mental health elements, too, play a part in whether someone develops a gaming
addiction, regarding mental health as cause of gaming addiction, there’s a bit of a
chicken-and-egg debate occurring. Do factors such as poor time management
skills and mental health problems, like depression and anxiety, cause someone to
be vulnerable to gaming addiction? Or, conversely, do gamers develop mental
health problems because of their addiction? Or is it a mix of both?
Effects
Some of the effects of gaming disorder are:
1. Sleep disorder:
It’s common for a video game addict to spend over 10 hours a day gaming,
usually well into the night, and many suffer from sleep deprivation.
2. Diet-related health issues:
Gamers are known to have poor diets consisting mainly of energy drinks full
of caffeine and sugar.
Many are dehydrated and malnourished.
3. Isolation:
Gaming addicts tend to be moody and irritable, depressed, physically
aggressive, and refuse to go to school or work due to gaming, they insolate
themselves.
4. Financial, academic and occupational consequences:
Video games and video game equipment can be very expensive. These
games can also be very time-consuming, leaving addicted gamers with less
time to focus on their education or career.
5. Agoraphobia:
A type of anxiety disorder in which they fear leaving the house
Treatments
Treatment for video game addiction is like that for other addictions.
Some of the possible treatments are:
1. Counseling:
individual and family counseling are powerful treatment tools.
2. Medication:
Antidepressants or anti-anxiety drugs.
3. Psychoeducation
4. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT):
Usually this therapy guides the patient away from the obsessive thought
patterns and obsessive habits of addiction.
Video game addiction is a relatively new disorder that mental health and behavioral
health experts are just beginning to understand. As a result, there are very few
proven treatment methods available for video game addiction and limited inpatient
treatment programs specifically for video game addiction
Quiz
1. Firstly, do you spend a lot of time thinking about games even when you're
not playing, or planning when you can play next?
2. Do you game to escape from or forget about personal problems, or to
relieve uncomfortable feelings such as guilt, anxiety, helplessness, or
depression?
3. And have you lost interest—or reduced participation—in other recreational
activities due to gaming?
4. Have you felt you should play less, but are unable to cut back on the
amount of time you spend playing games?begin
