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There is a common concern in
academia that video games can
cause depression. It is a
completely valid concern. There is
a lot of correlation between violent
video games and symptoms of
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depression. That raises
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Coaching
question: Is there a connection
between video gamesCoaching
and Dr. K’s
Memberships Parent About Sh
Guide
depression?
Playing too many video games can
make depression worse. Those
who are addicted to gaming are
twice as likely to be depressed as
those who do not game. Excessive
gaming can lead to dopamine
exhaustion, emotional
suppression, and lack of
motivation, among other issues.
If you or someone you know is
suffering from video game
addiction, we designed this quiz to
help you find a tailored strategy
that can help you overcome it:
Read on to learn more about the
connection between depression
and video games.
Video Games and
Depression Studies
Most research on video games is
based on finding a correlation
between violent video games and
aggression. Few studies have
carefully looked at the
relationship between violent
video games and depression,
especially in preadolescent
youth. However, a study
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conductedWhich
by Susan Tortolero
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al. explored this domain. They
found that when compared withDr. K’s
Coaching
playing low-violence video games Memberships Parent About Sh
Guide
for <2 hours per day, playing high-
violence video games for greater
than 2 hours per day was
significantly associated with a
higher number of depressive
symptoms among preadolescent
youth.
Another study that looked at the
psychological effect of gaming
found that potentially
problematic video gaming was
associated with positive
emotions and social relationships
while playing. However, it was
also correlated with:
Maladaptive coping strategies
Negative emotions
Low self-esteem
A preference for solitude
Poor school performance
Researchers from Beijing Normal
University took a group of more
than 2000 students aged 16 to 21
who had gamed more than two
hours a day over the past four
years. They refined this sample
down to 63 gamers who fit the
gaming addiction criteria and put
them through MRI scans. The
study found that the signals from
the left amygdala (which controls
emotions and is heavily involved
in depression) were disrupting
their prefrontal cortex (which
controls reason). This meant that
they were more likely to stay
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online, which made
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Coaching
depressive symptoms worse.
Psychologist Brian Sutton-SmithDr. K’s
found that work is Coaching
not the Guide
Memberships Parent About Sh
opposite of play. In fact, the
opposite of play is depression.
Researchers have found that
video games mainly stimulate our
reward pathways and our
hippocampus (the center for
learning) and these are the same
areas that get understimulated
and even shink overtime when we
are clinically depressed.
Can Video Games
Cause Depression?
The short
answer is
that almost
no studies
have found
a definite causal relationship
between video games and clinical
depression. Many people with a
problematic gaming habit indeed
exhibit specific symptoms of
depression. However, there is a
difference between clinical
depression and unhappiness. You
can fail to meet the criteria for
depression and still be unhappy.
This is the case for a lot of gamers
because of the way video games
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work. Their video game
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leads to them neglecting other
result, theyDr. K’s
areas of their life. As aCoaching Memberships Parent About Sh
Guide
fall backward in terms of their
academic/professional
performance, self-care, and
relationships. This reduces their
quality of life and makes them feel
stuck and unhappy.
The belief that video games cause
depression is further exacerbated
by the fact that most mental
health professionals do not
understand the effect that video
games have on our brains. As a
result, they diagnose gamers with
depression. While many players fit
a lot of criteria for depression,
their treatment for it does not help
them, because video game
addiction does not work the same
way as depression.
Do Video Games Help
With Depression?
Many people use video games to
cope with depression. This is not
necessarily healthy since it is easy
to get addicted to video games if
you are already depressed. People
start playing games because they
are a safe place to escape the real
world. You can lose yourself in a
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virtual environment and push
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type is right for you? Take the quiz
the emotional pain that you
experience in real [Link] Dr. K’s Memberships Parent About Sh
Guide
It is common for children and
adolescents to start playing games
to escape bullies that threaten
them in real life and online. They
can find people in online
communities who do not judge
them for being overweight, having
acne, or being poor. They feel that
people on the internet judge them
for who they are as a person, and
not the circumstances in their life
that they cannot control as a
teenager. That is why games are
appealing to them, and that is how
they use video games to cope with
depression.
Data from fMRI scans show that
gaming suppresses negative
emotions. This is why video games
are so effective at helping people
cope with depression. They shut
off the negative emotion circuitry
in your brain, and stop you from
feeling sad, ashamed, or lonely.
Effect of Video Games
on Mental Health
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When we thinkWhichof the effect of
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video games on our mental health,
we usually only think Coaching
of the Dr. K’s
Memberships Parent About Sh
Guide
adverse effects. We believe that
video games keep us stuck in life,
cause anxiety, depression, and
create strain in our relationships.
While it is true that video games
can contribute to these issues,
they are not necessarily the cause,
nor are their effects limited to the
negative.
The Good
Video games create a sense of
community. If someone is lonely
in real life, then they can find
friends online. These friends can
be very authentic. The
relationships formed online can
last for a long time, because the
usual barriers that limit long-term
friendships, such as geographical
distance are no longer a factor. In
fact, these friends are sometimes
the only support structure some
people have, and as a result, they
help them get through tough
times, including dealing with
mental illness.
Video games can be an enjoyable
recreational activity. Many of us
have experienced LAN parties as
kids, and those were the best
times. Hanging out with a group of
friends. The sense of
competitiveness and
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camaraderie thatCoaching
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experiences in gaming can be
truly authentic. One can quicklyDr. K’s
turn to video games Coaching
in Memberships Parent About Sh
Guide
moderation to spend time with
friends online during hard times,
such as the COVID-19 outbreak.
Video games train your analytical
mind. A systematic review of
several studies found that gamers
demonstrated an above-average
ability to focus their attention on
a single stimulus intensely and
multiple stimuli simultaneously.
Video games develop excellent
problem-solving skills under a
time constraint, which makes
gamers prime candidates to
thrive in fast-paced professional
environments, such as startups.
Dr. K talks more about what
purpose gaming serves for us, and
why we get addicted, in this video:
Authentic Relationships T…
T…
The Bad
Video games can easily lead to
dopamine addiction. Dopamine is
the neurotransmitter that governs
our experience of pleasure, and
that is why video games are fun.
However, when a gamer needs to
play more and more to have the
[Link] 8/15
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same amount of Coaching
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theyis right for you? Take the quiz
are most likely addicted to
dopamine. Dr. K’s
Gaming hacks intoCoaching
a Guide
Memberships Parent About Sh
psychological pattern in our mind
called the Triumph circuit. This
circuit is responsible for making
us feel good when we overcome a
challenge. If someone gets all
their sense of success from
playing games, then they can get
stuck. They cannot get motivated
to move forward in other areas of
their life.
Video games suppress negative
emotions. This is one of the main
reasons they are used as a means
to cope with depression and
anxiety. Long term usage of video
games can lead to a condition
called Alexithymia, which is the
inability to determine your
internal emotional state. This can
make mental illness worse
because people cannot pinpoint
specific emotions that contribute
to their current state.
Finding a Mental
Health Professional
for Depression
You do not need to have a problem
to see a therapist. Go to a
therapist to narrow down your
issues when you feel stuck. This
will allow you to make healthier
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decisions to address those type is right for you? Take the quiz
Which Coaching
problems.
Dr. K’s
Coaching Memberships Parent About Sh
Depression and anxiety are Guide
common mood disorders, and
there are quite a few resources
that you can use.
Try simple google searches such
as “psychiatrists near me” or
“therapists near my location”.
More often than not, you will find
a provider near you. This is also
highly dependent on your country
of residence.
If you are in the US, you can call
your insurance company and ask
them to refer you to a mental
health provider.
Websites such as
PsychologyToday, BetterHelp and
TalkSpace are great options if you
want to connect with a licensed
professional online.
If you need financial aid to get
therapy, then Rise Above the
Disorder (RAD) is an excellent
choice. RAD is a non-profit that is
dedicated to making mental
health care accessible to
everyone. You can use their
resources here.
Moreover, it is important to
understand that mental health
professionals are all about “fit.” If
you think that your therapist does
not understand you, do not give up
on therapy. Instead, look for
[Link] 10/15
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another therapist
Whichwho is younger
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and, if possible, has experience
helping people with problematic Dr. K’s
Coaching Memberships Parent About Sh
Guide
internet/gaming use.
Dr. K goes more into seeing a
therapist for depression, in this
video:
Psychiatrist's Guide to Th…
Th…
Conclusion
Video games do not cause
depression, but they can
undoubtedly mask it and make the
problem worse. People sometimes
misattribute pre-existing
depression to video games. Video
games can sometimes make your
quality of life worse via addiction.
While they may not make you
clinically depressed, it is possible
to become unhappy if you struggle
with problematic video game
usage.
If the answer to that question is
yes, then you have a problem that
you need to address.
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