Causes and effects of computer game addiction

If these injuries are allowed to progress, numbness and weakness can develop, and permanent injury can result. Overuse injuries of the hands and arms are rampant among gamers. One common example is carpel tunnel syndrome, which many gamers develop. Carpal tunnel syndrome, often seen in office workers, involves inflammation of a nerve in the wrist, which causes pain and numbness. Gamers are also at risk for trigger finger, or stenosing tenosynovitis, which is when a finger gets stuck in the bent position due to chronic inflammation.

Gamers can also get tennis elbow, a painful inflammation of the place where the tendon inserts into the bone on the outside of the elbow. Gaming is also associated with obesity in teens and, plausibly, the same would be shown in adults, if studied. The obesity is also thought to be due to increased food intake while playing video games.

Vision problems are common complaints of gamers. The most common vision problem is eye strain, which can lead to headaches and poor concentration. Gaming has been reported to result in seizures , leading to warnings on the packaging. Gaming has also been associated with psychological problems.

It is still an open question whether video game addiction, or internet gaming disorder IGD , is a unique syndrome. According to the American Psychological Association, IGD is defined as experiencing at least five of the following nine criteria over a month period:. According to one study from the American Journal of Psychiatry , between 0. There are even support groups, such as Computer Gaming Addicts Anonymous , which leverage the power of group support — also helpful in the treatment of other addictions — to the realm of gaming addiction.

Gaming has also been associated with sleep deprivation, insomnia and circadian rhythm disorders, depression, aggression, and anxiety, though more studies are needed to establish the validity and the strength of these connections. There has also been concern that exposure to the extreme violence that is commonly found in video games can desensitize teens and young adults to such violence, causing emotional problems and even leading to young people committing acts of violence.

Another cause is the service of the game. Player can exchange items easily and view all traditional items in the screen. Therefore they can save it in the store or take it out of the game.

Order custom essay Cause and Effect of Games Addiction with free plagiarism report. Players keep characters in their account for the next time they will play. Thus game services attract people to upgrade level of character. There more exercise, the better the character will be compared to others.

For example if people saw their character less level than their friends they feel shy and spend more time to play online games for winning in the future. Players can get virtual money in the virtual world. They can buy something in game by this money or put real money into game system.

So game provider sells account cards for player check and save money or use it in the virtual world. Many players spend a lot of time to playing online game and have too little time to exercise and study. In addition, players are bad at communicating in real life because it is they can easily talk in the game and they not only act in the play but also send message for others.

Player can get sick because they play too much, which means they do not get enough rest and see the computer screen a lot. Some people play action games or violent game that have a lot of strategy to kill so they act the same way in real life. Online game addiction is a serious problem for everyone. There are benefits, but there are also problems. When players play every day, they will get addicted to online games.

The game can include friends so people will play together or against each other and become competitive. Other than the benefits from playing online games, there are also problems from online games. Two main causes…. What causes it? Is it inherited, psychological, a social….

Internet use has been categorized as an actual disorder, and has been termed 'Internet Addiction' because of its similarity to addictions like smoking, drinking, and watching too much TV. There are several reasons and causes why people get addicted to the internet; boredom, loneliness, online TV, social networks, etc. They could be lonely in the way that they're the only child, or they have no friends…. Cause and Effect in Gambling Addiction Gambling becomes type of addiction for most people who are involved in game.

People may look that gambling can be a pleasure in seeking behavior; but sometimes, it can be really difficult to stop this kind of activity or even avoid a certain type of emotional pain once they started it.

Interacting with others may become increasingly difficult, leading to a vicious circle of increasingly entrenched solitude. The essential meaningless of gaming can lead to existential angst and the consolidation of a sense of purposelessness which, again, can contribute to depression and even suicidal ideation. Although no firm evidence exists to prove the connection, there have also been links proposed between compulsive video gaming and acts of violence, including murders.

A lack of exercise and a typically poor diet contributes to obesity in many gaming addicts, with consequences for health including cardiovascular and respiratory problems, diabetes, and a range of other conditions related to poor fitness.

Prolonged periods without sleep can cause permanent neurological damage as well as various mental health disorders including psychosis , and can even result in death. As mentioned above, carpal tunnel syndrome and repetitive strain injury, along with various other musculoskeletal and neural problems, can result from the repetitive motions associated with gaming.

Although video game addiction is only immersed comparatively recently and despite the lack of diagnostic clarity discussed previously , there are now numerous facilities throughout the UK treating the condition, with an increasingly high level of expertise. While treatment methods and models may vary significantly from one facility or organisation to the next, treatment tends to be grounded in therapy in a similar way to that provided for other behavioural addictions and substance abuse disorders.

Cognitive behavioural therapy CBT is at the core of many offerings, but other models such as motivational therapy MT , motivational interviewing, art therapy , fitness therapy and many others are all available, often in combination with each other; the precise composition of a treatment plan would typically be determined after an assessment of each individual by the relevant facility staff. Various tests are now available online purporting to allow for self-diagnosis of gaming addiction.

The calibre and reliability of such tests vary hugely, while some may be of deeply dubious origin for example, existing to capture data for nefarious purposes.

If you are concerned that you or someone close to you may be suffering from an addiction to gaming, it is always recommended that you discuss this with your GP or an addiction specialist, who will be able to conduct or recommend a reliable and confidential assessment. Self-assessment online is not regulated and may not provide any useful data, regardless of the legitimacy of the assessment provider itself.

While research is ongoing into pharmaceutical approaches, any such cure will still be years off, if it is ever developed at all. However, some of the side-effects of gaming addiction — especially physical health conditions which may have developed — can be treated with medication. Always consult your GP before taking any such medication. As with any addiction, behavioural or otherwise, the only way anyone can be absolutely certain of not developing a gaming addiction is never to play video games at all.

However, such complete abstinence in those who have not developed an addiction may be overcautious: as mentioned earlier, as part of a balanced life gaming can be a harmless recreation providing a great deal of enjoyment and a good and cost-effective way of relaxing.

Indeed, some studies show that some games enjoyed in moderation can actually be beneficial in terms of their impact upon problem-solving skills, coordination and even general knowledge. For those who would like to participate in video gaming, but wish to take some steps to prevent the possibility of addiction developing, some safeguards can be put in place:. In every relevant study conducted, boys have shown to be significantly more susceptible than girls to video gaming addiction.

Online game Fortnite — which now has over million players globally — was cited in over divorces in the UK in If you have been struggling with a gaming addiction, help is out there if you are ready to request it.

As with any addiction, your gaming addiction need not be a terminal condition if you are prepared to take back control of yourself and your future. A range of high-quality facilities across the UK are now providing treatment to gaming addicts, and countless individuals are now in recovery and enjoying lives, which previously they could not imagine could ever be theirs. Draw a line under that damage today and begin the process of healing, and taking back control of your own life; do not let gaming addiction determine the course of your future, regardless of the impact it has had on your past.

Help is out there: reach out for it today. No matter where you live, there is a drug rehab center that can help you overcome your addiction. We'll help you find it. Home Behavioural Addictions Gaming Addiction. Gaming Addiction Explained.