What may start out as a fun hobby has the possibility of turning into a serious addiction. Video game addiction is real and can affect people of all ages.

With technology increasing, video games continue to get more detailed and compelling for the players. The graphics are more vivid, the characters are more realistic and the games are becoming more challenging. Video gaming becomes an addiction when it begins to interfere with personal relationships and personal activities.

Video games offer individuals the opportunity to enjoy traits, characteristics, social scenes and virtual worlds that they never thought of before. According to Video Game Addiction “many mental health professionals feel that video games are similar to gambling as an addictive process. By some estimates, as many as 10 percent of gamers exhibit addictive behavior.”

Some symptoms of video game addiction include…

• Spending hours upon hours on the computer or playing video games
• Seeing a decrease in school performance
• Lying about computer games and how much time is spent playing video games
• Choosing to play video games rather than go out and participate in social activities
• Being irritable when not playing video games and thinking about the next time when they will be able to play video games.

According to Video Game Addiction, some physical symptoms of video game addiction include carpal tunnel syndrome, sleep disturbances, backaches or neck aches, headaches, dry eyes and neglecting personal hygiene.

Video game addiction should be treated just like any other addiction. If you or a loved one is suffering from video game addiction, contact Solace Counseling. We can create a customized treatment plan to suit the specific needs of the patient. We also offer family counseling. This can be a great tool to help loved ones understand what the person suffering from video game addiction is going through.