Let’s call it as it is. Video game addiction is a pandemic. It’s been a pandemic for a while but has no “proper” treatment. First let’s address what even is video game addiction and how it starts. Video game addiction is like any other addiction: a compulsive and uncontrollable act that impairs an individual’s ability to function in various areas of their life. In this case the act being video games. How does it start? Let me TELL you. I speak from experience here. Before we get to that let me give you some brief background on me (your author): Early 20-year-old, born and raised in the suburbs, and a recovering video game addict.
For me video games were an Escape, Entertaining, and Euphoric drug. I call it the three E’s. You see the three E’s are the construct of any addiction especially the kinds of addiction that releases dopamine aka “the feel good” chemical into the brain. However, gaming never started out like any of that. Honestly, at first it provided me with the same amount of entertainment as anything else did like talking to my friends, playing basketball, or even reading a good fiction book. It was when life got stressful that gaming became more than what it was supposed to be. It became an addiction when I tied a negative emotional connection stronger than “this is fun” to the dopamine I was receiving. The worst part? I believe this connection can happen without you even realizing it.
You probably witness it every day or experience it yourself. Watching your kids come back home from school and immediately hop on the game, or maybe even yourself as you come back from work and just want to unwind on the game instead of doing anything else. While this may not seem like a problem at first, you should keep in mind that it is not the action of gaming, which is a problem, but the reason why gaming is happening. Are you gaming because you feel safe from the rest of the world? When you play games do you feel more alive? The questions can go on and on but the one thing that I realized is if you were asking yourself any of these types of questions or got approached with them out of genuine concern, it’s too late to pretend the addictions are not real. Keep a look out for symptoms such as:
-Compulsive and Uncontrollable Behavior
-Negative Impacts on Social Relationships
-Academic/Occupational Performance Issues
-Sexual Performance Issues
-Mental and Physical Health Issues
-Continued Gaming Regardless of Problems
-Loss of Control
Now that we have got the dreary and dramatic part out of the way let’s talk about solutions. How do we solve the issue of video game addiction and how does one that has it work their way to being cured. Sadly, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) has not officially classified gaming disorders as a psychiatric disorder in the same way other substance disorders have been, however the World Health Organization (WHO) has. Lucky for us the brain is a malleable organ. Just like how it was wired towards wanting that easy dopamine it can also be rewired back to its original state. While this is good news the path to healing is the same as it is destroying. The path of time. Since addictions are built over time the way to losing it also takes time. Of course, this healing process is independent of each individual but some variables such as willpower, a plan, time, etc. will be consistent across the board.
So, what are some steps one takes to get over video game addiction?
Let’s not sugarcoat it. The process is ugly before it’s clean. If you’re dealing with gaming addiction, your brain has become wired to seek fast dopamine with minimal effort. The goal here is to slowly and deliberately reprogram those pathways. The first step is recognition. Not passive acknowledgment. I’m talking about real, uncomfortable, look-in-the-mirror-and-admit-it recognition. You’ve got to see what it is: a maladaptive coping mechanism that gave you a place to hide.
Second step: accountability. This doesn’t have to be a big intervention, but it does mean involving someone. A friend, therapist, journal, whatever. The point is to make your recovery real trackable. You’ll need structure. That means scheduled detox periods. Replace the screen time with alternative dopamine sources like exercise, social interaction, or doing hard things that give long-term reward instead of instant gratification.
And while there’s no FDA-approved pill or clinical gold standard for treatment (yet), organizations like the World Health Organization have officially recognized gaming disorder in the ICD-11. According to their criteria, gaming becomes a disorder when there’s impaired control over gaming, increasing priority given to gaming over other interests, and continuation despite negative consequences (World Health Organization, 2018).
Now here’s something you might not know: a massive 2020 review found that IGD (Internet Gaming Disorder) prevalence can range wildly—from 0.21% to 57.5% depending on location and measurement method, with common correlates being depression, ADHD, and anxiety (Darvesh et al., 2020). That’s not a fluke. This stuff is tied deep into the nervous system and often coexists with other mental health issues.
But here’s the good news: the brain is plastic. Meaning it can be rewired. And just like you built that addiction one decision at a time, you can undo it the same way one choice at a time. It won’t happen overnight. But it can happen.
And now, let’s pivot for a moment. Because while we’ve been talking about the dark side of gaming, let me be real with you, it’s not all evil. Just like not every drinker is an alcoholic, not every gamer is an addict. The National Institutes of Health conducted a study in 2022 that found video gaming may be associated with better cognitive performance in children. Kids who played video games for three or more hours a day performed better on tasks involving impulse control and working memory than those who didn’t play at all(NIH, 2022). According to a 2014 paper in American Psychologist, video games can offer some real-world benefits across cognitive, emotional, motivational, and social domains. Games have been shown to improve problem-solving skills, resilience, and even social connection, especially in cooperative or prosocial game settings (Granic et al., 2014). The authors wrote, “Video games provide youth with immersive and compelling social, cognitive, and emotional experiences. Further, these experiences may have the potential to enhance mental health and well-being.”
Let that sink in.
The same thing that ruined me…was also trying to save me. It’s a double-edged sword. Gaming gave me community when I had none. It gave me purpose when I was depressed. It gave me control when life felt chaotic. But it also became a prison when I didn’t know how to use it responsibly.
So what’s the conclusion here?
Gaming is powerful. It’s not inherently good or bad. It’s a tool. Just like food, or money, or the internet. The question isn’t whether gaming is dangerous. The question is how you use it, and more importantly, why you use it.
If you’re using it to live, you’re fine.
If you’re using it to escape life, then you need to reevaluate.
Join us on the journey. This isn’t just about quitting games, it’s about reclaiming control. Whether you’re a parent worried about your kid, or someone like me who fell too deep into the digital abyss, know this: you’re not alone. And better yet, you’re not broken. You’re human. You’re rewiring. Let’s walk this road together one level, one challenge, one win at a time.
Sources:
– World Health Organization. (2018). [Gaming Disorder – ICD-11] (https://www.who.int/standards/classifications/frequently-asked-questions/gaming-disorder)
– Darvesh, N., et al. (2020). Exploring the prevalence of gaming disorder and internet gaming disorder: a rapid scoping review. *Systematic Reviews*, 9, 68.
– National Institutes of Health. (2022). Video gaming may be associated with better cognitive performance in children.
– Granic, I., Lobel, A., & Engels, R. C. M. E. (2014). The Benefits of Playing Video Games. *American Psychologist*, 69(1), 66–78.
Suggested Readings/Watches:
http://ted.com/talks/michael_zhang_confessions_and_cries_of_a_video_game_addict
https://gamequitters.com/case-study-andrew/
https://www.vice.com/en/article/compulsive-gaming-addiction-video-gamer-treatment-prevention/