Internet & Video Game Addiction

Video game and Internet addiction are two afflictions that affect people of all ages and backgrounds. While not recognized as an official disorder by the American Medical Association, addiction of video games and the Internet has been studied by addiction specialists, and the condition is treated in similar fashion to more "traditional" addictions such as to drugs and alcohol. As the Internet becomes more advanced and games come up with more interactive ways to engage the player, these addictions are likely to continue occurring for many years.
  1. Stats

    • The "Washington Post" reported a study that was conducted by Stanford University researchers where 2500 adults were polled via telephone. Approximately 6 percent of the people polled reported that their relationships had suffered significantly due to excessive Internet usage. About 9 percent said that they tried to hide their non-essential Internet use while 4 percent claimed that they were preoccupied with the Internet even when they were not online. MyAddiction.com reports that 8.5 percent of young adults aged 8 to 18 are possibly addicted to video games.

    Causes

    • Many people develop addictive tendencies towards the Internet and video games because they are depressed or feeling overwhelmed in their daily lives. While games and websites can provide a brief escape for normal people, addictive personalities begin to require those activities to quell anxiety and to escape from daily responsibilities. Games and online relationships make up for the low self-esteem that addicts frequently suffer from.

    Symptoms

    • Internet and gaming addicts will often begin to lie about and hide their activities from friends and family members, and they will withdraw further from responsibilities and relationships in favor of their gaming activities. They can frequently get depressed and moody when not playing games or surfing online.

    Prevention

    • The key to preventing these addictive behaviors from forming is to limit the amount of time playing games or surfing the Internet per day and to also have other activities in your life that you can focus on and enjoy. Improving self-esteem through social interaction and the pursuit of other hobbies can reduce life stress and therefore make the Internet and video games less important as escape mechanisms.

    Treatment

    • Treatment programs for Internet and video game addictions have developed that are similar to other addiction programs in that a therapist works with the patient in a singular and a group format to discuss the underlying psychological reasons for the addiction and to put together a plan on how to better handle stress without reverting back to addictive behavior. Gaming addicts then need to stop playing games entirely while Internet addicts need to limit their usage to only the essential activities required for their jobs or family connections via email.

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