How to Curb a Video Game Addiction

It may not sound like a big deal, but video game addictions can be as strong as other compulsions like gambling and narcotics. A video game addiction is an out-of-control mental association leading to the belief that game equals good, while real life equals bad. With the rise of ever more sophisticated and enchanting games like EverQuest and the virtual reality Second Life, video game addictions are on the rise. It's hard for a non-addict to understand how severe gaming addictions can be. Most gaming addicts can get back to reality with a few helpful pointers.

Instructions

• 1

  Try setting time limits. An addict might break right through any arbitrary time arrangement, but if time limits are respected, an addict can be weaned off of a game over time. Set specific hours that are game time, and others that are not. Then monitor gaming activity over a period of time to see if things are getting better or worse.

• 2

  Get family and friends involved. Depending on personality types, a video game addict may respond to persuasion. Family members can talk to the gamer about how the game may be negatively affecting his life.

• 3

  Get organized. If you or someone else is addicted to gaming, that person is probably losing control of the daily rules and responsibilities of the "offline" world. And as we all know, those things are not just going to go away. One good rule for gaming addicts is something all of us can practice, taking time to be proactive about facing responsibilities. Time spent organizing home finances, arranging work contracts or working, or caring for children or pets is time not spent on gaming and will improve your real life quickly.

• 4

  Find appealing real-life events. Cultivating another hobby will often bring a gamer out of oblivion and back to the real world. It can be anything from gardening to a recreational sport; anything but gaming.

• 5

  Pull the plug. Technical interruptions can be a blessing in disguise, whether it's a genuine power outage or a cleverly faked one. Getting the game powered down is the first step to pursuing a balanced life, and in extreme cases, the addict or a loved one may need to take all of the gaming gear and put it away for awhile.