Video Games
Is it possible to be addicted to video games? This is a good question that deserves some serious considerations. As difficult as it is for some people to accept, any behavior can become addictive. For quite some time the behavioral health field struggled defining gambling, sex and work as possible addictions. Today we see growing acceptance that these behaviors can be addictive. To see if video game addiction exists we need to explore what an addiction is:
- A preoccupation or obsession
- Loss of control
- Acting out despite negative consequences
A person can become so involved in a game they think about it almost all of their waking hours. That individual may find it difficult to keep up with occupational and family responsibilities because they are spending so much time playing (or thinking about) the game. Game players have been known to play for days without proper rest or eating well. There is even a death that occurred in China that is blamed on a role-playing game being played non-stop for three days straight.
These types of circumstances are present in all addictions, whether the addiction is to a chemical or a behavior. Therefore, we must conclude that a person can actually become addicted to video games. The American Psychiatric Association (APA) is considering adding “internet/video game addiction” to the next version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). Currently, video game addiction might fall under the diagnosis of “impulse control disorder.”
Two other considerations that play a major role in all addictions are: 1) the chemical changes in the brain; 2) the “escape” factor that games provide. Playing games causes a release of dopamine. The compulsive gambler experiences the same dopamine rush. It has been described as a mild “cocaine rush.” Video games also offer the person an escape from reality. The individual gets to escape to a fantasy world where they feel “in control.” This “escape” is one of the effects drug users seek in chemical dependency.
Internet and gaming addictions are a growing problem. More research is needed to determine causality and appropriate treatment options.