Parents all over the country are now stressing about their children spending time on video games after incidents related to PUBG came to news. They have thousands of questions regarding video game addiction.
In 2018, the World Health Organization listed gaming disorder in its medical reference book. American Psychiatry Association, on the other hand, did not include gaming disorder in its manual. However, APA considers it a problem, nonetheless.
Even though studies on video game addiction are in earlier stages, experts still agree on the fact that only 1% to 9% of gamers are addicted. Men tend to be addicted to video gaming more than women do. Men around the ages of 18 to 24 are considered to be most at risk.
What are the signs of video game addiction?
Parents should take their child’s video gaming habits into serious consideration, no matter how rare it is. If your child shows some of these signs within a year, you should consult a therapist.
1. Can’t stop playing
A video game addict will have a hard time quitting games. They often feel bad when they stop playing. Ask your child how they feel when they are not playing video games. A person with gaming disorder would think about gaming most of their time, if not all.
2. No other activities
A person who has video gaming disorder would not want to have other activities. They may also have problems at their school and home because of this. A video gaming addict will play games when they are in a bad mood. You should note if your child has quit the activities they loved previously.
3. Always tired
A gaming addict will not only show mental and emotional signs but physical as well. Feeling tired all the time, having headaches, and lack of personal hygiene are common signs.
4. Strained relationships
If your child is lying to about how much time they spend on video gaming, that is something you should take notice of. A video game addict will not score well at school tests or have a good relationship with their friends and family.
How to treat video game addiction?
Since video game addiction is a comparatively new phenomenon, studies are still in earlier stages.
Do you know video games have only existed for like 50 to 60 years? Tennis for two is considered to be the oldest video game. It was released in 1958.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) has shown promising results in video game addiction treatment. Other than this, parents’ involvement in a child’s treatment has shown better results.
How can I prevent video game addiction?
There are many things you can do to make sure your child has a healthy and active lifestyle. Firstly, you should make sure that you set time limits for video gaming. You can also encourage your child to participate in outdoor activities. Most importantly, your child must not have video gaming gadgets in their bedroom.
What do you think about video gaming addiction’s seriousness? Let us know in the comments below.
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