An addiction is defined by two things : first, it has negative effects on your life. Second, trying to stop it makes you miserable.
Food for example is not an addiction, it’s a biological need. The need for socialisation is another one.
Video games can be an addiction. But I’d argue that they’re usually not, they usually a coping mechanism. When they are, the problem is elsewhere, and the video games are helping you to survive through the problem.
overeating and maybe over-obsession with socialising can be though
Everything can be. But for the largest majority of people, eating is normal, eventhough it can seem to have some aspects of an addiction.
And the most important part here is that even if you somehow get addicted to food, you cannot simply stop eating. Because you need to eat for your survival. It’s a biological need.
That’s the point of the example : showing that something you can’t stop doing is not necessarily a bad thing. The details are very important when it comes to addiction.
And video games are unfortunately victim of propaganda when it comes to their dangers.
You can stop over eating though. Which is the common problem with food addiction.
I’m not sure eating is normal for a large majority of people.
For example, about 3/4 of Americans are overweight
Quit eating and tell us about it I guess…
Foods can obviously be an addiction for people that are massively overweight (not in all cases ie thyroid issues).
Depression. Concealment of behaviour and time spent in the game. Withdrawal from normal social relationships. Prioritising the game over other activities such as self care, personal hygiene, etc.
Playing games as a means of coping with negative feelings.
Playing games to escape from reality.
Usually things like this aren’t a problem unless they’re a problem, i.e. causing the player issues in the rest of their life. If you’re choosing games over relationships and responsibilities, that’s a problem. But if they just prefer games to other things, that’s not enough to say addiction.
r/deadbedrooms has a good clue about signs of video game addiction 😅
I don’t think this really applies here. Someone could have a Tetris effect experience after playing for a single day. Addiction is a long term issue.
In medicine I was taught a number of times that diverse addiction disorders are largely defined one thing: persistence of a behavior despite negative consequences. An addendum is difficulty in cessation of the behavior.
I’m :) that games don’t suck me. I play 1 game only – Stardew valley. I enjoy but I can’t play 3 hours straight.
Feeling like you want to play something but no particular game interests you.
Playing games as alternative to boredom, rather than entertainment. Playing, but not enjoying. Playing for the sake of playing.
Playing a lot, so much that it is a detriment to the rest of their life.
First two (as others have mentioned) can be symptoms of Anhedonia
I think the first two are more depression. #3 is addiction.
All are a problem - recognize them as such and seek ways to correct. I think actual therapists have gotten better about taking shit like this seriously. If you can’t afford that, I’d shoot for some kind of hobby (especially one with a social component), but with the understanding that those can murder your time management as well, so proceed with caution.
Yeah, this. I have a history of depression, and the first two are, no kidding, legitimately how I know I’m spiralling down.
Good that you recognize it. Our brains are sneaky little assholes, so shining the spotlight on their bullshit when it starts to pop up is a HUGE first step.
some kind of hobby (especially one with a social component)
Okay, I just joined a guild in WoW and started doing 40-man raids. What’s the next step?
Oh god
Regarding the “no particular game interests you” part… Holy shit does it feel good when a game genuinely interests you. Lately, I’ve been doing chores or errands or having a tough time at work and in the back of my mind I’m like “omg I could be playing Jedi Survivor right now and I’d be having the time of my fucking life, but instead I’m dealing with this fucking bullshit.” I don’t get excited about a game like that very often anymore.
Best part is they’re not exclusive. You can enjoy video games while being depressed and addicted!
Sucking your dick for fortnite-bucks.
“you were addicted to tetris? I used to suck dick for fortnite”
Or robux
if it causes negative consequences and they don’t stop.
you spend thousands on equipment, and more on games, dedicate a corner of your house to it, cant imagine that a person can be happy without your addiction, spend hours every week on it, regularly shift conversation between friends to the subject of gaming, etc
I think you just described a hobby
True, an addiction adds negative effects to the equation.
Your living space being a disgusting mess, but you’re able to ignore it by immersing yourself in your games.
In my (small) experience, people can often be addicted to a specific game rather than to gaming in general. Especially with how games these days are designed to be as addicting as possible because MONEY. A big tell for this kind of addiction is an inability/unwillingness to try new games, even if they’re in a similar genre.
When talking about their gym teacher, they’ll accidentally say gym leader.
They’re not wrong, tho.
