How to Avoid Video Game Addiction

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Co-authored by Wes Pinkston

Last Updated: July 30, 2024 Approved

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What is video game addiction?

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Overcoming Addiction

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Q&A

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Tips

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Warnings

While some moderate playing is fine at any age, video game addiction can be very detrimental to one's health and social life. The following is a list detailing how to avoid becoming addicted, and how to recover if you are already addicted.

Section 1 of 2:

What is video game addiction?

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Gaming addiction occurs when play habits interfere with someone's life. The addiction usually happens with internet-based games but can occur with any electronic device. The player can’t control how much time they spend on the game, meaning their lifestyle becomes unhealthy, and they fall behind in self-care, relationships, school and work.^{[1]
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Trustworthy Source

Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals

Go to source} Common symptoms include:
- Poor performance at school, work or household responsibilities as a result of excessive video game playing
- Sadness, anxiety or irritability when games are taken away or gaming isn’t possible
- Giving up other activities or social relationships for gaming
- Lying to family members or others about the amount of time spent playing video games
- A decline in personal hygiene or grooming due to excessive video gaming
- Using video games to relieve negative moods, such as guilt or hopelessness

Section 2 of 2:

Overcoming Addiction

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Accept responsibility.^{[2]
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Research source} The problem lies within the individual, not within the game. No attempt at beating 'addiction' can succeed until the individual accepts its existence. The first step is realizing there's a problem and deciding that the place you're in, is not working for you. It is not the existence of video games, nor the content of games, but the person who chooses to play them.
- Video game is habit-forming, you must consciously decide to end the practice. Know that playing video games is not an addiction until you let it take over your life; so much so that you become dysfunctional. If you are unable to complete daily routine activities, then it's time to sit down and make conscious choices.
How many hours a day do you spend playing games? Do you normally go out on the weekend? When was the last time you read a book? Identifying the negative impacts of the addiction will help you focus on positive improvements and getting back the things that you are really missing.
Blaming others for problems that you alone must face does not solve the problems. The 'gaming industry' or manufacturers are not the cause of this problem, and blaming them does not make the problem better. The vast, extreme majority of 'gamers' are healthy individuals, accepting responsibility is the first step. Also, do not make excuses, take responsibility.
While it is important to identify the negative aspects of the problem, it is also important to focus on the goal and progress that you have made.
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Set limits.^{[3]
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Research source} Set a certain time amount of time each day when you allow yourself to play. If you decide that you have one hour per day to spend playing games, stick to that and choose your games accordingly. If you are playing a game that requires many hours of gameplay between saves, or which is an open-ended game like many MMOs, you likely should consider a different game or different genre of games.
- Set a reminder on your phone to alert you when to start and stop playing.
- If you find yourself unable to stop when the notification is up, it is a sign that you should quit playing completely.
Are there more than 5 games that you have played in the last two months? Are these games open-ended (like Civilization, World of Warcraft, or Evil Genius)? This could be a warning sign.
This includes time spent reading walk-throughs and watching videos, or discussing games in real life. If this number is over 25, then there may be a problem.
There are freeware programs available for download that can help with this. Playing hide-and-go-seek with your parents (hiding your games) is an effective way to minimize gaming overall.
^{[4]
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Research source} You know the statement "my anti-drug..." This statement is better phrased "my anti-addiction..." or "my anti-bad habit..." The best way to do this is to develop a variety of other things to do, with others.
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Work on developing self-control, a little at a time. This can be difficult in the best of times, but have faith in your own judgment. Developing your confidence level is essential, know beating an addiction is a challenging goal; and every minute of every day will count. Always stay ahead of your addiction by changing your brain activity, thinking, and doing other things for stimulation e.g. going for a walk, getting interested in nature, practising positive behaviors.

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Why do people get addicted to video games?

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There is a multitude of reasons why people become addicted to video games. A few are: depression, stress, enjoyment taken too far. They can be a way of escaping from real world pressures.

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If my brother plays a game 24/7 and gets angry about it, is he addicted?

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Yes. If playing is the main focus of his life, or if it affects his mood and emotions, he is addicted.

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What should I do if I already escaped the addiction, but I am tempted to go back to it?

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What helped you to escape it? Is there something you were doing before (some way you were filling that video game time) that you've stopped doing? If boredom is driving you back, make a list of activities you could do instead and start doing one of them asap.

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Tips

Try spending more time with friends outside of gaming. Play outside, start a book club, or do other puzzles and activities to sharpen your mind. You can even come up with your own games!^{[5]
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Important to change your pattern of behaviors; consciously seek other activity that can offer comparable excitement, and be part of a healthy choice regime.

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Be an active parent. Teach your child to engage in positive decision-making. Children with gaming problems often do not spend enough time interacting with their parents in parent/child activity. Go out to a pizza place or well lit restaurant. Sign up for a family softball league. Go swimming. There are many, many activities that are enjoyable where computers or video games are not even available. Sometimes, "distraction" is the best way to start.

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Warnings

The computer is a device essential to stereotypical life in today's world. Addiction must be treated like an eating disorder: very carefully.

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