Physical Consequences of Gaming Addiction

Its not just only a simple addiction, it causes a lot of pain for your body...

You've been searching all day. You've traveled hundreds of miles, sometimes backtracking to make sure you haven't missed anything. Some areas are so infested with hostile creatures that you've been prevented from continuing on your journey until the creatures were destroyed. After all that, you've finally ... finally, found what you've been looking for - the secret passage that transports you to another place. You've moved up to the next level! You're so excited that you barely notice how much your back hurts, nor do you notice that you're on the verge of getting a migraine headache ... again.

It may sound like a strange story, but it's all too familiar for video game players ("gamers"). Whether they play on an Xbox or online, they enter worlds filled with witches, elves, dragons, and more, by traveling to mysterious and sometimes secret locations. They spend so much time in this other world, they begin to do physical damage to their bodies.

Physical consequences of gaming addiction include carpal tunnel, migraines, sleep disturbances, backaches, eating irregularities, and poor personal hygiene.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome has long been associated with computer use, so it's no surprise that it's a physical symptom of gaming addiction. Carpal tunnel syndrome is caused when the main nerve between the forearm and hand is squeezed or pressed. This occurs when the carpal tunnel - the area of the wrist that houses the main nerve and tendons - becomes irritated or swollen. Overuse of a computer mouse can cause such irritation and swelling, as can excessive use of a video game controller.

Migraines

Migraine headaches typically start in one spot and slowly spread, getting more painful as they progress. In severe cases, the pain can be so extreme that it causes the sufferer to vomit. Light and noise can cause excruciating pain. Someone who plays video games for extended periods of time is more prone to migraines because of the intense concentration required and the strain put on the eyes.

Sleep Disturbances

The term "sleep disturbances" covers several sleep-related disorders, including insomnia, narcolepsy, sleep apnea, nocturnal myoclonus (periodic leg or arms jerks during sleep), and parasomnia (i.e., night terrors, sleepwalking or talking, and nightmares). Sleep disturbances are caused, in part, by overstimulation of the brain. However, some people can't get a good night's sleep simply because they think obsessively about the game they're playing.

Backaches

Backaches are a common physical symptom of gaming addiction because most gamers stay seated in the same position for hours on end. The lack of movement causes stiffness and soreness, but could deteriorate into chronic back problems.

Eating Irregularities

Eating irregularities are caused by gaming addiction simply because most addicted gamers don't want to take the time to eat properly. Rather than eating healthy, balanced meals, they eat food that is quick and usually unhealthy. In extreme cases, the gamer may choose not to eat at all.

Poor Personal Hygiene

An addicted gamer is not going to take the time to properly care for himself. Showers, face-washing, and brushing hair and teeth all get put on the back burner. It simply becomes less of a priority, if it's a priority at all.

These physical consequences will occur in varying degrees from one gamer to another. Though the severity of physical consequences is often tied to the severity of the addiction, this is not always the case. A gamer that is already in poor physical condition will be more susceptible to these effects early on.

Personally, I do sometime get the backaches, and its then that I have to stop.

Tips that could help

1- Accept responsibility. The problem lies within the individual, not within the game. No attempt at beating 'addiction' can succeed until the individual accepts its existence. The problem is not the existence of video games, the content of games, but the person who chooses to play them.

2- Identify the impact. How many hours a day do you spend playing games? Do you normally go out on the weekend? When was the last time you read a book? Identifying the negative impacts of the addiction will help you focus on positive improvements and getting back the things that you really are missing.

3- Avoid blame. Blaming others for problems that you alone must face does not solve the problems. The 'gaming industry' or manufacturers are not the cause of this problem, and blaming them does not make the problem better. The vast, extreme majority of 'gamers' are healthy individuals, accepting responsibility is the first step.

4-Stay positive. While it is important to identify the negative aspects of the problem, it is also important to focus on the goal and progress that you have made.

5- Set Limits. If you decide that you have 1 hour per day to spend playing games, stick to that. Choose your games correctly! If you are playing a game that requires many hours of gameplay between saves or which is an open-ended game like many MMO's, you likely should consider a different game or different genre of games.

6- Active parental monitoring. You are the parent, and thus you are in control. If your children do not listen to you, removal of the game console or setting of administrative control on the computer may allow you to better handle the problem.

7- Look in your drawer of CDs. Are there more than 5 games that you have played in the last two months? Are these games open-ended (like Civilization, World of Warcraft, or Evil Genius)? This could be a warning sign.

8- Add up the total hours played per week. This includes time spent reading walkthroughs and watching videos and discussing games in real life. Always round up! If this number is over 25, then there may be a problem.

9- Request that your parents put you on a strict time limit for computer playing. There are freeware programs available for download that can help with this. Playing hide-and-go-seek with your parents (hiding your games) is an effective way to minimize gaming overall.

10- Find something else to do. You know the statement "my anti-drug..." This statement is better phrased "my anti-addiction..." or "my anti-bad habit..." The best way to do this is to develop a variety of other things to do, with others.

Hope this helps a bit for some of your friends or maybe yourself!

A bit more details

Video games are becoming increasingly complex, detailed, and compelling to a growing international audience of players. With better graphics, more realistic characters, and greater strategic challenges, it’s not surprising that some teens would rather play the latest video game than hang out with friends, play sports, or even watch television.

Of course, all gamers are not addicts – many teens can play video games a few hours a week, successfully balancing school activities, grades, friends, and family obligations. But for some, gaming has become an uncontrollable compulsion. Studies estimate that 10 percent to 15 percent of gamers exhibit signs that meet the World Health Organization’s criteria for addiction. Just like gambling and other compulsive behaviors, teens can become so enthralled in the fantasy world of gaming that they neglect their family, friends, work, and school.

Video Games Addiction

Hi everyone, topic is simple about video game addiction... I'm myself, sometime addicted to a video game but I manage to control at least, I only play when I have the time... I lost a good friend because of world of warcraft, it was one of my best friends... We where always doing something, going to movies or shows, soccer games... But the day that world of warcaft came out, it was the end of it. Since the first day that the game came out, he has been on it everyday, 24/7... Sometimes, he works but when he gets back home its the game, and some other times, he's goes with is girlfriend do a few things outside but its rare. I really don't know how she does it. Personally, I would not let any of this happen.

It happens to a lot of people around the world all the time. Its quite sad to do nothing except video gaming especially on a nice and warm summer day...

Anyone who has experienced it knows all too well – video game addiction is real. Although gaming addiction is not yet officially recognized as a diagnosable disorder by the American Medical Association, there is increasing evidence that people of all ages, especially teens and pre-teens, are facing very real, sometimes severe consequences associated with compulsive use of video and computer games.