Computer Game Addiction

Computer game addiction generally refers to an excessive, unhealthy

amount
of playing computer games. Rather than engaging in the real world, an addic
ted userdevotes the majority of his or her time to gaming (Conrad, 2011).
The issue of game addiction is getting spread widely and uncontrollable.
Gaming addiction became a mysterious problem which is still difficult to
treated, more terrifying than alcohol or drugs addiction. Whereas, in fact, Dr
Shumaila Yousafzai (2009) from Cardiff Business School said popular online
video games warned players not to overuse their products.

These warning messages also suggest that the online video game
industry might know how high the percentage of over-users is, how much
time gamers spend playing and what specific features make a particular
game more engrossing and addictive than others (Yousafzai, 2009). In other
hand, Cyber psychologist Dr Zaheer Hussain, from the University of Derby,
said warning messages were not enough. As a first step online game
developers and publishers need to look into the structural features of the
game design, for example the character development, rapid absorption rate,
and multi-player features which could make them addictive and or
problematic for some gamers(Hussain, 2008).

Parents across the globe are increasingly concerned about their sons
online gaming habits. They are sure that there is a problem but counselors
unfamiliar with

Online gaming addiction dont understand how seductive they can be (Young,
2009,
p.4). Fraser (2012) mentions that kids are among the most vulnerable to vid
eo gameaddiction, experts said, and may become violent when their "drug"
is taken away. Video game and Internet addiction usually point to other
mental problems including anxiety, depression and trouble forming healthy
relationships.
 Kimberly Young (2009, p.12) says, not only are children, teenagers, and
college students effected by online gaming addiction, but a growing number
of adults
are becoming hooked to online gaming. While such cases are rare, mental-
health professionals say the fantasy worlds offered by computer and video
games can become the stuff of very real addictions that destroy marriages
and careers. People of all ages are quickly becoming immersed in this virtual
fantasy world whereby they can easily escape problems in their lives.

As in any treatment program, the primary step to take in the path,

according to

Kimberly (2009, p.18), to recovery is to accept and not refute denial, a

defense
Mechanism that addicts frequently employ and that effectively stops them
from accepting treatment. Once this obstacle is conquered, treatment can be
performed more effectively than it would otherwise. Tracy Miller (2013) add
because computer game addiction is a new development in the world of
mental health, treatments are not as well established as those for
depression, anxiety, anger, etc. Most interventions take a cognitive-
behavioral approach which involves changing how the addict thinks about
the addiction.

Computer game addiction generally refers to an excessive, unhealthy

amount of playing computer games.
Rather than engaging in the real world, an addicted user devotes the
majority of his or her time to gaming. The addicted gamer often isolates
him/herself from others, ignores more important responsibilities, and is often
obsessed with obtaining higher status / rankings / achievements in his/her
favorite computergame.According to the DSM-
IV (the current manual for classifying emotional, psychological, and mental di
sorders), no. Although there have been calls from some mental health
professionals (and parents) to recognize computer game addiction as a real"
disorder, it has not been granted official diagnostic status. As more research
on the effects of excessive gaming is conducted, many believe that it is only
a matter of time before computer game addiction is classified as a
compulsive behavior similar to gambling addiction.

Reference
Kuss, Daria and Griffiths, Mark (2012). Internet and Gaming Addiction:
A Systematic Literature Review of Neuroimaging Studies. International
Gaming Research Unit. Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham NG1
4BU, UK. Received: 28 June 2012; in revised form: 24 August 2012 /
Accepted: 28 August 2012 / Published: 5 September2012

Young, Kimberly (2009). Understanding Online Gaming Addiction and

Treatment Issues for Adolescents. The Center for Internet Addiction Recovery,
Bradford, Pennsylvania, USA

Young, Kimberly (n.d.). Understanding gaming addiction. The Center for

Internet Addiction Recovery, Bradford, Pennsylvania, USA

Conrad, Brent. (n.d.). Computer Game Addiction - Symptoms,

Treatment, & FAQs.Retrieved from
http://www.techaddiction.ca/computer_game_addiction.htmlConrad, Brent.
(n.d.). Computer Game Addiction-Ten Arguments For and against the
disorder. Retrieved from http://www.techaddiction.ca/computer-game-
addiction.html

Parent Further: Guide to Video Game Addiction. An online resource

from Search Institute , Minneapolis, MN; 800-888-7828; www.search-
institute.org. All rights reserved.