How dangerous is gaming addiction?

By Lewis Dickson

Image: Man holding two gaming controllers (Source: WikiCommons)

Gaming addiction is on the rise with young people in the United Kingdom and people aren’t aware of how truly dangerous gaming addiction can be.

Between 2021 and 2024 the number of people being treated by the NHS for chronic gaming addiction has increased by more than half with many of the cases being in teens aged between 13 and 16 years old.

Gaming addiction can cause a rapid decline in mental health and negatively impact someone’s social life It can cause them to neglect their own mental and physical wellbeing typically avoiding eating, sleeping, bathing, school and social interactions to be able to maximise their time on their game.

An addiction to gaming is when someone is playing more than five hours a day and is acting antisocially towards others such as friends and family members

NHS National Centre for Gaming Disorders founder and director Professor Henrietta Bowden-Jones said: “Gaming disorders can have a significant impact on children and their family to the extent it can take over and stop them from living their normal daily life. ‘’

There are many studies that show similarities between gaming addiction and drug addiction, as both release dopamine in the brain which gives the same feeling of euphoria to drug addicts when they get their hands on their desired substance.

There are also similar changes in the brain over long periods of time where the brain’s dopaminergic mesolimbic system can become worn down and cause gamers to seek more time playing. This could be an excess of up to 15 hours a day.

Adam McDonald, a student of City college Glasgow 19, said: ‘’When I was a young guy I was heavily addicted to video games playing seven to eight  hours a day. I shut my friends out and ignored things like visiting family just so I could spend more time on the game.

“Autistic people can become hooked to something to the point it has to be physically removed from them.

“Gaming addiction negatively affected me. ‘’

Jaime Findlay, 19 said: ‘’Fortnite was the worst, I was so heavily addicted to gaming I was spending 12 hours on the game with my friends a day playing the game.

“I wasn’t talking to anyone outside of my games console and hadn’t spoke to anyone in person aside from my parents in a while. ‘’

Gaming itself is not a bad thing when monitored and played responsibly it helps a lot of people destress and have fun with their friends online. It helps promote problem solving skills and social skills. There are many things you can do to help stop you from getting addicted and help you if you already are:

1. Make sure you don’t procrastinate important work. Game after you are done with everything for the day, doing this helps you destress so you know you have nothing to worry about and everything that needs done has been done.

Gaming at the end of your day can help you feel like you have rewarded yourself for your hard work which is much needed for good mental health.

2. Limit your time. A maximum of three hours of screen time a day is more than enough for you to be able to get your work done, see friends and family and still get your gaming time in. It’s about monitoring gaming and playing responsibly not about cutting it out completely. You can still have fun.

3. Don’t be afraid to reach out for help. Gaming addiction Is a mental health problem and has been recognised by the NHS. If you feel like you need help please do reach out, there will always be a helping hand.