What is Gaming Disorder and How Can it Be Overcome?

Play and having fun are a necessary part of life. It’s possible to be trapped in the mindset that you always need to be doing something useful. However, taking time to rest can help restore you so that you can work harder. Play allows us to exercise our freedom by doing something that brings joy and isn’t tied to necessity. This means, ironically, that play is something to take seriously.

Having said that, it’s important to note that how and why you play also matter. This is because there are ways in which you can become trapped in unhealthy behaviors with play. Gaming disorder is one such way play can become distorted and unhealthy.

Gaming Disorder Explained

Gaming disorder, which is also called video game addiction, is when a person can no longer control their gaming behavior. Gaming includes any activity using an electronic device or gaming platform, as well as on the internet. Most people who develop significant gaming issues, however, mainly play on the internet.

It’s estimated that between around two to ten percent of the population in the United States is affected by gaming addiction. It impacts children, teens, as well as adults. It isn’t known exactly what causes gaming addiction, though research suggests that the process of playing and winning a game may trigger the release of dopamine, which is a neurotransmitter that plays a key role in inducing the feeling of pleasure and motivation.

Gaming disorder affects a small percentage of the people who play video games online or on other platforms. What this means is that if you play video games, it won’t necessarily lead to a gaming disorder. However, do pay close attention to how much time you’re spending playing games, especially if you find yourself unable to stop. If you begin to neglect other activities or interactions with others, you could be addicted.  

How Gaming Disorder Affects People

When a person has a gaming disorder, they can’t stop gaming even when it begins taking over their life. Gaming disorder will often lead to a person giving increasing priority to gaming over other activities such as self-care, school, work, or relationships with loved ones. Even after experiencing negative consequences such as relationship breakdown or failing to meet deadlines and obligations, one will continue or even escalate their gaming.

Gaming disorder can thus affect a person’s relationships, daily activities, and wellbeing. Some of the signs of gaming disorder to look out for in yourself or a loved one include the following:

• Not dealing with issues but using video games as a means to escape stressful situations or to avoid conflict.
• Deceiving loved ones about the amount of time spent playing video games.
• Poor or declining performance at home, school, or work.
• Not meeting obligations because of time spent playing video games.
• Experiencing withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety, irritability, or sadness when games are taken away or gaming isn’t possible.
• Relieving negative moods such as guilt or hopelessness using video games.
• Spending more and more time playing video games to get the same level of enjoyment as before.
• Struggling to reduce playing time and unsuccessfully attempting to quit gaming despite the negative consequences it’s producing in your life.
• Poor or declining personal hygiene, grooming, or health due to excessive video gaming.
• Not engaging in other previously enjoyed activities or social relationships because of gaming.

Gaming can be a lot of fun, but it’s important to be able to recognize when it’s negatively affecting your life. There is help available to deal with gaming disorder.

Overcoming Gaming Disorder

Proverbs 4:23, NIV says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” What we devote ourselves to becomes our lives. If anything takes over your life, even though it’s permissible, it has stopped being beneficial. Something needs to change.

There are various treatment options available to help address gaming disorder once a doctor or mental health professional diagnoses it. The main means of treating gaming disorder is through psychotherapy (talk therapy). By talking through what’s happening, you can identify troubling thoughts, emotions, and behaviors that are undermining your wellbeing, and work to change these.

By using therapies such as group therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), or family and marriage counseling, the effects and impact of gaming disorder can be addressed. CBT can help you better understand how your thoughts affect your actions. It can also help you pinpoint unhealthy patterns of thought and behavior such as avoiding conflict or not dealing with issues directly, replacing these with healthy habits and patterns.

Family or marriage counseling can help reconnect broken relationships as a result of the gaming disorder. It can also function as a tool to educate family members about how best to support their loved one with gaming disorder. Where necessary, guidance can also be given to nurture a more stable home environment. The family can be better equipped to handle conflict in a constructive way.

Where there may be an underlying mental health condition such as anxiety, depression, or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), certain medications may be prescribed to help treat the symptoms of the condition.

If you think you or your loved one is struggling with gaming disorder, reach out to our offices today. We can create an appointment for you to speak to a Christian counselor so that the joy of play can be restored to its rightful place in your lives.