adamholmanlcsw

In my eyes, "Video Game Addiction" (I really like that you put this in quotes) is most often the symptom of something else. The way I put it, Video Game Addiction isn't a problem, it's a solution that someone has found for their problem. For me, that thing was anxiety, shame, and a crippling fear of failure. For many others they may be understimulated, bored, lonely, disconnected, etc. Video games legitimately meet and solve for these needs in the short-term:

-They are extremely stimulating
-It's very easy to connect with other people who are playing and create community
-They can give a sense of achievement or competence
-They are easy to focus on, often times at the exclusion of other things
-They provide an instant and accessible way to use your time

All of these things are a huge part of why video games are great. That experience gets tainted if it is feeding or covering up some kind of underlying challenge. By addressing the underlying challenge, people can get back to a place that they are purely enjoying the experience of playing again.

Video games are great, and no one will ever be able to convince me otherwise! Up until about a year and a half ago, I was still playing video games regularly. I still play on occasion, however recently I've been much more focused on other things that I enjoy (LoZ: Tears of the Kingdom is on my play list right now).

I'm a firm believer that balance is the right path for most people when it comes to video games, not abstinence. That said, a lot of modern video games are designed to keep people playing which makes finding balance a challenge. It has to be done intentionally, and with a good understanding of your mind and the strategies companies are using to keep you playing.

Often times when I get asked this question, people are hoping for a specific amount of hours. Especially in the age of Esports and games that take 100's of hours to complete, the amount of time that someone can play and still be healthy really varies. Instead of looking at hours, it is best to look at how it impacts the person.

There are two metrics that I use:

-Your video game use is starting to cause other issues. For instance, my playing was causing me to fail school, socially isolate, and even caused me a repetitive stress injury in my wrist that still impacts me to this day.

-You're functioning well in your life, but you're playing video games despite them not being very fun anymore and wanting to do other things. Outside of the basic things needed to function, gaming is the only priority.

Right. Video games can be a tool for growth.

One thing I always tell people is that I have no regrets over the time I spent playing. I learned so much. If I were to give a TED talk it would be:

How Video Game Addiction Taught Me Confidence, Accountability, and Growth

Yeah, I love MMO's, but I know I cannot play them in a balanced way. I'm hungry for the purple items, and that hunger does not get satisfied.