When you hear the word “addiction,” your mind may jump to someone struggling with a substance addiction like drug or alcohol addiction. However, there’s more to addiction than just substance addiction. For example, unfortunately, more and more teens are developing a video gaming addiction or social media addiction due to the rise of technology use over the years. In fact, research has found that about 1 in 10 children who play video games are addicted.

In this article, you’ll learn more about in what ways is excessive gaming like an addiction so you can better understand if your video game use is potentially developing into a video game addiction. At CTRLCare, we are a mental health treatment center in New Jersey that helps teens and young adults struggling with problematic technology use and mental illness. 

Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you take back control over your life.

What is A Video Game Addiction?

Video gaming addiction is a condition where a person is unable to control their gaming habits, thus resulting in playing video games excessively. This results in the individual neglecting other important areas of their life, such as spending time with friends or family or completing various work or school responsibilities.

Although not everyone who plays video games frequently necessarily has a video game addiction, if you find you cannot control your video game use or experience negative consequences because of your gaming (i.e., you neglect school or work responsibilities), these are some common signs you may be struggling with a video game addiction.

5 Ways Excessive Gaming Is Like Addiction

If you excessively play video games and find it difficult to stop gaming, read on to learn in what ways is excessive gaming like an addiction. 

Inability to Control Their Gaming Use

If you find you have a hard time controlling your video game use, this shows you likely have a dependency on gaming which is commonly associated with addiction. Addicts, regardless of if they are struggling with a substance use addiction or a video game addiction, struggle to control how much they abuse something (i.e., drugs, gaming, alcohol, etc.). Therefore, a lack of control shows a dependency on gaming and that you may have a video game addiction.

Ignoring Other Responsibilities Or Time With Friends Or Family

If your excessive gaming gets in the way of other responsibilities or spending quality time with friends and family, this is another key sign you’re likely struggling with an addiction. This is because addiction typically causes you to neglect important aspects of your life, which can significantly hurt your performance at work or school or harm relationships with friends and family.

Having Intense Urges To Game When Not Online

If you find you experience intense urges to game when you’re not gaming, this is another common sign you may be struggling with a video game addiction. Addiction of any kind oftentimes is accompanied by intense urges, cravings, or desires to abuse a certain substance, do a specific action, etc. 

Lying To Others About Your Gaming Use

Denying, hiding, or lying about your addiction is another common sign of addiction. Therefore, if you find yourself hiding your excessive video gaming use or lying to others about how much time you actually spend gaming each day or week, these are more signs you may be struggling with a video game addiction.

Becoming Angry Or Irritable When Forced To Stop Playing

Last but not least, if you find your become angry or lash out at others when you are forced to stop playing video games (i.e., you have to stop playing to go to school or work), these are more signs you may be struggling with an addiction. Many addicts, regardless of what they’re addicted to, often become irritable fast when forced to suddenly stop abusing what they’re addicted to.

Leading Mental Health Treatment Center In Princeton, NJ

Now you know in what ways is excessive gaming like an addiction. Video gaming addiction can undoubtedly cause many negative consequences, from fracturing relationships with friends and family to neglecting important work or school responsibilities, and more. If you suspect you are struggling with video game addiction, you don’t have to fight your addiction alone.

At CTRLCare, we offer a range of treatment programs to help you improve your mental health and better manage your problematic technology use. We help treat the whole person, not just your disease or condition, to help your overall health and well-being for the better.

Contact us to learn more about how we can help you live a healthier, happier life.