Are You Suffering From Excessive Gaming?
Video gaming has been around for decades and continues to gain popularity with each passing year. One of the reasons for its continued popularity is that most games can be played on a personal computer. A video game console is another type of game that requires a specific type of computer system in order to play. Personal computers include desktops, laptops, netbooks, and workstations. A gaming computer system includes a main processor, random access memory (RAM), graphics processing unit (CPU) or dedicated random access memory (DAS).
A major cause of the rising popularity of video gaming is the fact that playing games offers an outlet for people to escape from the pressures of everyday life. There are many different types of gaming disorders that exist. The two most common are attention deficit disorder (ADD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). ADD/ADHD affects the ability of a person to focus, stay on task, and complete tasks. Gaming can often be a response to wanting to relieve stress or frustration.
Individuals who suffer from ADD/ADHD may experience a reduction in concentration, impaired judgment, lack of impulse control, and hyperactivity. While there is no cure for ADD/ADHD, playing video games can help them to function normally while at home. They can play their favorite video games for long periods of time without having to worry about stimulating their mind. There are many benefits of playing video games, including relieving boredom, relaxation, reducing stress, improving memory and concentration, and connecting to the family. This reduces the risk of parents watching their child excessively and becoming physically involved in gaming.
Another type of gaming disorder is excessive gaming behaviors. Like other forms of ADD/ADHD, excessive gaming behaviors are a response to wanting to alleviate stress or frustration. For example, people who play games like World of Warcraft or Second Life engage in ritualistic behaviors like spending long periods of time in one place, doing repetitive tasks, keeping to a strict schedule, or engaging in radical behavior such as breaking rules. These individuals may also spend excessive time chatting with friends, complaining on online forums, and searching the Internet for “hot” topics.
The results of these behaviors can be disastrous because it can lead to depression and anxiety, isolation, and substance abuse. Gaming disorders can also lead to addiction because players spend so much time immersed in the game that they become attached to it. If an individual starts losing interest in video games after a while, they may begin to develop a real attachment to their gaming device. This can lead to an obsession or a secret addiction like gambling. The use of drugs or alcohol may become an obvious sign of a problem.
If you feel like you have an addictive personality or have a family member who does, talk to them about how they are affecting their lives. They may have a real problem and need help. Excessive gaming may be the sign of an even greater and more serious gaming disorder that should be dealt with. If you or someone you know is having problems related to playing video games, don’t ignore them; seek help.