Video games are a blast, right? Whether you like first-person shooters, fantasy RPGs, racing, or anything else, games have advanced to a point that hardly anyone could have imagined when Pong was released in 1972. They are also addicting, and not just for kids.
It makes sense when you consider what an addiction really is. Psychology Today says addictions are present when a person takes something or does something that feels pleasurable, becomes compulsive, interferes with everyday life, and is difficult to stop without feeling at least irritable.
Sound familiar? You are not alone, but Florida addiction treatment can help you take control instead of letting the games control you.
How Common is Gaming Addiction?
The better and more involved the games, the more the population tends to suffer from gaming addiction. Studies date back as far as 1983, according to research by Daria J. Kruss of Birmingham City University in Birmingham, UK. In South Korea, where “the world’s fastest broadband infrastructure” lives, says CNN, gaming addiction is treated as a serious condition.
The United States has not officially recognized gaming addiction in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, but CNN says the American Psychiatric Association wants to include it in the next revision.
What are the Causes?
When you play a video game and feel a sensation of pleasure from it, that is a chemical called dopamine working in the brain. The brain releases dopamine when you do things that are good, says the National Institute on Drug Abuse for Teens.
Problem-solving is good, and it triggers a dopamine release. When used repetitively in gameplay, the brain grows accustomed to those extra dopamine bursts. When you cannot play, you may feel agitated. When you have a controller in your hands again, a euphoric sensation takes over.
What are Some of the Warning Signs?
Irritability is one of the first signs that there is a problem with control over gameplay. If you daydream about games when you are not playing, you might have a problem. If you argue with family members or anyone else who interferes with playing games, that is a bigger sign.
Gaming addiction becomes more problematic when it interferes with responsibilities such as school, work, hygiene, and physical activity. If you feel like life is boring or too stressful and that gaming is fun and exciting by comparison, you might be using games as an escape from reality.
Can Gaming Addiction be Treated in Florida Addiction Treatment?
Usually, gaming addiction is not considered serious enough on its own to merit entering a Florida addiction treatment program. However, people who have an addiction to drugs or alcohol might also find that they have an underlying or co-occurring gaming addiction disorder. Co-occurring disorders may be diagnosed after medical detox from drugs or alcohol.
Florida drug rehab can get to the source of a gaming addiction and help you take back control. It is part of a comprehensive treatment program individually designed with therapies that are best for you. As with any addiction, you may learn about other co-occurring disorders, which together made you more susceptible to gaming addiction than your friends.
Video games were designed to be a fun distraction. As technology has advanced, so has game quality and the overall gaming experience. Unfortunately, games that you can get lost in could create problems in the real world. Treatment helps you replace unhealthy habits with good ones, such as exercise, meditation, and good nutrition as you rebuild your life free from addiction.
If you are suffering from an addiction to drugs or alcohol and use video games to escape, Florida addiction treatment can help you take back your life. Contact us to learn about the programs available to you.
The Recovery Village aims to improve the quality of life for people struggling with a substance use or mental health disorder with fact-based content about the nature of behavioral health conditions, treatment options and their related outcomes. We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed medical professionals. The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider.