It can be easy to let video game addiction slip under the radar as most children these days play video games in some way or another. Gaming can be a healthy pastime in moderation but when left uncontrolled can lead to a problematic behavioural addiction.
What Is Video Game Addiction?
As we previously mentioned video game addiction is a behavioral addiction meaning the affected individual is addicted to the feel-good sensation they get from playing the video game and not the video game itself.
Gaming addiction typically develops when a person plays video games for long hours over an extended period of time. Playing video games happens to be extremely stimulating and activates the brain in many ways. The main way is our sense of reward, it leads to lots of dopamine being released.
Many of us might have heard of dopamine before and it is responsible for us feeling good and accomplished. Sadly a person who plays video games for a very long time overexposes their brain to dopamine. Their brain begins to become desensitized to it and therefore they need more dopamine to feel good again.
Therefore they strive to play more video games, the best way they know how to get their dopamine fix. With the science lesson over we have a better understanding of what fuels this behavioral addiction but the take-home point here is that excessive playing can be very bad in the long term.
Symptoms of Video Game Addiction
With something like video game addiction that is still in its adolescence, professionals are paying close attention to the behaviors and symptoms that we should be looking out for. Many important diagnostic tools for mental health disorders such as the DSM-5 contain important information on this. So let’s take a look at some of the red flags.
Behavioral Signs - The first thing that will often bring video game addiction to your attention is the way that your child is behaving. Things such as losing interest in previous hobbies and neglecting important responsibilities can often be mistaken for laziness when diagnosing video game addiction. However, the underlying cause could be that their habit is beginning to skew their priorities.
If you notice that there's been damage to your child's personal relationships with friends and family then video game addiction could be to blame. Gaming online often allows children to play and interact without any of the effort and problems of the real world. This is particularly prevalent in children who are shy or have social anxiety. We must keep an eye out for their online interactions taking precedence over their real-life friends and family.
Physical Signs - As you can imagine sitting down playing video games all day comes with its own host of physical ailments, some of which might be a lot less obvious than you think. Gaming and sleep problems have a very intimate link.
Looking at a screen minutes before bed increases our exposure to blue light. This light frequency emitted by digital device screens, televisions and monitors interrupts the chemical preparation of our body for sleep. Making it harder for the individual to naturally wind down into bed. This, accompanied by the high stimulation and adrenaline some gamers get from their game of choice and it’s a one-way ticket to insomnia.
Playing video games all day often leads to a very sedentary lifestyle. Children addicted to video games can show little or no interest in wanting to go outside and play as they can get all of the enjoyment, stimulation, and interaction with their friends from their comfy computer chair. The problem with this is, exercise is essential in a growing child's life and has numerous benefits such as strengthening their muscles and bones and also reducing the risk of chronic diseases like diabetes.
At the height of their gaming binge, many children resort to sugary and salty snacks as a quick solution to their hunger so they can keep playing. As you probably see by now this sort of lifestyle if allowed to take place can result in obesity and weight gain. If you begin to notice any of these symptoms then it might be time to intervene.
Gaming Addiction Treatments
Treating video game addiction is slightly different from treating it in adults as we have more control over what our kids do. In kids with video game addiction, we want to cut down their gaming time but also create a healthy relationship with video games that will not cause problems in later life.
Set Healthy Limitations - This is the first and arguably one of the most important steps in helping our little ones overcome this behavioral addiction, as it can really set the tone of how this recovery process is going to go. We want to make sure that when we explain to our kids that they have to cut down on video games that we are not making ourselves the enemy. The last thing we want is for them to view you as the evil tyrant stopping them from playing their beloved video games so we need to get them on our side.
Start by explaining to them the changes in their behavior and how it can cause problems for them as they get older. Things like a fall in their grades, missing out on chores and responsibilities are all due to their unhealthy obsession with video games and so we have to cut down. Reassure them that they will still be able to play but we need them to understand that video games are a luxury and not a necessity.
When we talk so much about cutting down their gaming time parents often wonder “How much is too much?” This is a very fair question. There are obviously unhealthy amounts of gaming such as 5-12 hours on a weekday and weekends. So this is unacceptable. However, finding a healthy compromise can be discussed between you and your child. Consider:
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Allowing gaming for 1-2 hours on weekdays and more on weekends
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A certain number of games a night eg. 10 games of Fortnite per weekday.
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Only allowing video games once homework and other responsibilities have been completed
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Or maybe letting them only play at certain times in the day
The importance of them cutting down is to notice a reduction in their addictive symptoms so be mindful of this when setting limits.
Provide Alternative Activities - It’s safe to say that gaming will likely be their favorite activity once they are addicted so it’s important that when we cut down we fill their free time with great productive alternatives. We need to bear in mind that gaming is a very unique activity that can provide high-intensity stimulation, social interaction, or a relaxing task before bed. So asking our child to simply study, do homework or read a book as their only alternative will often be impossible for them to engage with.
Instead, we have to give them at least three different activities that they could carry out in place of the different things gaming used to offer.
High Stimulation - Something like martial arts, playing an instrument or chess gives them the opportunity to immerse themselves in something equally intense but more productive.
Social Interaction - While we definitely need to keep online friends in the picture as a means to maintain and develop relationships. Children need to meet and interact with each other face to face to build on their communication skills for life. Team sports like football, hockey, and basketball are perfect for these sorts of things. Or maybe an afterschool club of their choice where children can meet with others of similar interests
Relaxing Activity - Many children rush home from school to play video games and relax. In order to substitute this, we need to provide something low energy that can be done anywhere much like gaming. Now is where we could recommend reading a book, drawing or even graphic design.
There’s a lot more to treating video game addiction in children that can be crammed into one article so we thought it would be useful to recap and summarise some of the take-home points.
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Look out for the symptoms of video game addiction like that go deeper than excessive playing
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Set limitations but be understanding and on their side
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Provide them with alternative activities where they can maintain the important features of their development. Exercise, schoolwork, and social interaction
If you’d like to know more about video game addiction, The Mindful Gamer is always here to help.
