Recently there has been a renewed cry for video and computer game addictions to be recognised by the greater community. More and more material is coming to light that confirms obsessive and addictive behaviour is increasing among people, especially young people, who engage in computer games for long periods of time.
In Australia, Professor Vladan Starcevic of Sydney University, a gaming obsession expert, has called for the establishment of a treatment resource in Australia designed to deal with video game addiction. He said "we have people in this country who do have a problem with that just like with gambling and other addictive behaviours”.
A recent study by Professor Starcevic and the department of Psychological Medicine at Sydney’s Nepean hospital revealed that up to 10% of gamers who took part showed signs of addicted behaviour. His findings were recently published in The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry.
Extended time spent playing computer games also cause other problems, such as cyber-bullying, lack of social skills and the inability to interact in a ‘live’ situation. Teenagers can also become withdrawn, depressed, agitated and have difficulty concentrating with poor attention spans. Professor Starcevic has seen an increase in young patients presenting with these obsessive symptoms.
The increase of violent outbursts amongst teenagers in the UK who are addicted to computer games has now seen the opening of a special technology addiction unit by a private hospital in London. The service will help teenagers through either group therapy or in-patient treatment.
These new “screenagers” as they are becoming known spend hours in front of their computer screens playing games. When asked to leave their computers and become involved in face to face interaction with other family members they fly into violent rages.
"I’ve been contacted by parents who see their children going into a rage when they’re told to turn off their computer," Richard Graham, lead consultant at Capio Nightingale Hospital in London. Many begin playing for the social interaction, but Graham said "it gives them a sense of connection so they end up playing all the time."
"Mental health services need to adapt quickly to the changing worlds that young people inhabit, and understand just how seriously their lives can be impaired by unregulated time online, on-screen or in-game," Graham said.
Writer Helen Splarn. Editor Dr Ramesh Manocha.
Yeah, Its a huge problem. I’ve seen it first hand as I used to play way to many video games
About 2 years ago I got addicted to Starcraft. I played it nonstop, ditched friends and family to play it. I would be up until 4am in the morning playing it. It was causing me to be really frustrated and have mood swings constantly.
I finally realized my problem and stopped completely, but I hear that for most people its not as simple as that, i guess most people would be in denial about it
I lost 2 years of my life cos of Couter Strike and other stupid games. for 2 years i havent slept one night and got really big heath issues.
My son plays World of Warcraft + is addicted! He has cut himself off from friends, is withdrawn, depressed, has no motivation to complete hsc + lacks any vision for his life apart from his alter ego life he leads on screen. I think that a rehab facility is needed as I am certain he is not alone + there are other parents concerned for the health + welfare of their children! Please help?
My son (11) is pretty much addicted even though there is no computer at home. He will steal time out of the house and lie about his whereabouts so that he can get to a computer games store; he will steal money so that he can fund his obsession. I am not sure what can be done because increasing levels of discipline do not seem to have any effect. Does anyone have any similar experience and can offer a course of action that has proven effective?
My son is so addicted he playings 24/7 he hasnt moved his chair has got a groove in it and his eyes have become squares iam concerned for his health how do u stop a 40 yearold addicted gamer. i want him out of my basement and back to his chess club help someone
My 13 year old son is addicted too I reckon. He pretty much stays in his room playing on his laptop, only comes out for food and drinks. He pretends to be sick so he can miss school, he is not very social except online of course. This weekend we are going to remove his laptop from his room. He will have to earn it back with good behaviour then he can only use it in our living areas of our home not in his room with the door shut. I hope this works to get him to go back to living a more healthier and real life!
My 13 yr old son has all of the addiction signs .It is controlling and destroying his life.
It has all but torn the family apart so far ,but the recognition of the problem and where to get some real hands on help is nowhere …………….
I have resentment that the creators of the games and the devices used are not held accountable .
I established and run the Video Game Addiction Treatment Clinic. I am a psychologist and offer individual couple and family therapy. I would be happy to help and exist for this specific issue. My email is [email protected]
I look forward to being of assistance.
Emil
My situation is exactly the same…………..I am FURIOUS that these billion dollar gaming companies are destroying our children whilst raking in the dollars AND are getting away with it!!! Time for a REVOLUTION I say…………..something HAS to be done!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Our 15 year old son will play xbox continually hardly breaking for meals from 6am until we get him off at say 11pm. We had to take his laptop off him because he was playing Runescape at 4am. We won’t let him play during the week but on weekends if we do not try to control it, he would probably rack up 30 hours of play time. We have just decided another strategy, for every hour of school homework he does, he gets 2 hours of game time, maximum of 8 hours in a day. Our next step is too get rid of the system. We do not like the swearing they do online and am sure the aggression is rubbing of onto our 8 year old who is suddenly becoming disobedient and rude. Your comments would be most appreciated.
tbh, I don’t really think there is any wrong with playing game for however long you wanted. I mean I am an otaku as well, I read manga, play games and watch tv and don’t care. But in saying this though I don’t see any problem. I mean, you can do whatever you want in when ever you feels to do it sa but It just a matter of managing your imaginative time with reality.
Look seriously Parent, I don’t mean to be rude, but in all honesty, there isn’t a single corruption with games,addiction towards anything. Let them be just be wary of the time consumption and how it’ll be effecting them….
I am 17 this year and I play games, read manga when I feel so and write story and ignore my family in my gaming or manga times but that doesn’t mean I neglect them everyday and or I actually lose myself to reality.
Not really… >>!!!
Just note to all otakus no matter what you are….. just be wary of your environment. Cuz literally I am reading the comments and I kinda find parent very obliviously dang… ok, um… not looking in for us otaku but…. they are an outsider as well as someone we’ve depend on so its only fair that they would worried over us. But in saying this, it doesn’t mean for them to point out the obvious negative and throw a tantrum around us for not caring for them.
ok, let say that yes a lot of my time as an otaku I litereally didn’t care for my family and keep on doing whatever I want. But in times with slow approch and times of thoughts I calm down and talk to my parent.
This though doesn’t solve my issue as an otaku however but by just talking towards my family and myself I come into realisation that I’ve got to accept the truth and make sure I manage well… if I honestly want to keep this stabalized relationship with my environment.
However note that all of these are just a mere figuring of my theory. It doesn’t comply to the fact that you have to agree or disagree or note with me.
I am just given my fact. that is all….
I literally don’t care about opinion since I don’t take any side but just expression my expression upon certain things I think parent as well as their childrens should look out for.
tbh, I really feel pity and sad with parents comment on this… I mean please don’t be negative just help us. I know that we can be selfish but I know from my experience I do care just not in a good way…….
I tbh, do care just don’t force me, make me angry……….