Video Game Addiction: Am I or a loved one Addicted?

First I will start by defining and breaking down what the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-V) says about video game addiction. The DSM-V, which is the current standard for diagnosing mental health disorders, describes “Internet Gaming Disorder” as not an official diagnosis but more something they are paying attention to and depending on future research may be added. As of now the criteria for “Internet Gaming Disorder” is as follows:

Repetitive use of internet-based games, often with other players, that leads to significant issues with functioning. Five of the following criteria must be met within 1 year:

1. Preoccupation or obsession with internet games.
2. Withdrawal symptoms when not playing internet games.
3. A build-up of tolerance – more time needs to be spent playing the games.
4. The person has tried to stop or curb playing internet games, but has failed to do so.
5. The person has had a loss of interest in other life activities, such as hobbies.
6. The person has had continued overuse of internet games even with the knowledge of how much they impact a person’s life.
7. The person lied to others about his or her internet game usage.
8. The person uses internet games to relieve anxiety or guilt – it is a way to escape.
9. The person has lost or put at risk an opportunity or relationship because of internet games.

(National Institute of Health, 2019)

More research is needed to officially create a standardized criteria for video game addiction but as of right now this is what researchers are using to determine addiction with video games. Research is very much in its infancy which makes it difficult to have a clear answer on whether it is considered addictive behavior or not. The criteria created above is meant to acknowledge that just because someone spends a lot of time and enjoys online video games, doesn’t necessarily mean its addiction.

Also I want to explain what my bias is on the topic. I personally love video games and have turned to playing video games as a method to cope in the past. I have since found a good balance of being able to play casually but not needing to play out of survival. Having said that I will try to be as objective as possible when discussing the topic and explain how I as a mental health professional and gamer approach the topic.

So what should you look out for as a red flag and when should you seek treatment for yourself or a loved one? The list above is a good place to start, but one important factor would be does the person want to change? Most of the people I met who suffer from video game addiction recognize that it is negatively impacting their quality of life, it is just much easier to turn to than other hobbies or coping tools. If this is the case, seeking therapy to find a good balance could be beneficial.

What I personally look at as a therapist is are they using it as an avoidance tool or not. If they are using it to avoid difficult feelings I want to provide them with a different outlet to cope with their feelings. Typically individuals with video game addiction feel like they don’t have any other way of dealing with things so I want to meet them where they are at and provide them with tools they can actually apply. Many people with video game addiction using gaming to cope because they are clinically depressed and it is a strategy that doesn’t require a lot of physical effort. So my goal as a therapist is to help them find a strategy that they can actually apply. Gradually they can ideally utilize this new strategy and find a better gaming/life balance.