Video games are no doubt perennial sensation in every decade. They have existed since past many decades. However, the level of parental complaints received today are unlike any era. There are several reasons for this change with children’ unwillingness to spend any family time being the most eminent complaint. Each year World Health Organization (WHO) evaluates various diseases and disorders along with identifying behaviors associated with them. In 2019, International Classification of Diseases (ICD) added Gaming in the list of official disorders as an addiction. Gaming Disorder is now officially included in the list of other addictions like gambling. Excessive video gaming is declared as a psychiatric disorder based on specific signs. It should make parents of gamers ponder and investigate whether their child has Gaming Disorder. They should also search on how to identify this addiction in their child.
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Signs of Gaming Disorder by APA
American Psychiatric Association (APA) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders considers the following as signs of having a gaming disorder.
- Preoccupied Brain with Games: Can’t wait to play games and that restlessness is obvious in behavior all the time.
- Withdrawal Symptoms: When gaming is stopped or taken away, players start acting irritated, rude, sad or angry.
- Increased Tolerance for Games: The person has no issues in sitting in front of game for excessive hours without any complaint of back pain, sore eyes or hunger.
- Using Gaming as Escape from Negative experiences: Starts playing games whenever the person is angry, gets in fight or argument or wants to avoid a conversation or task.
- Unsuccessful Attempts to Control Addiction: When parental or peer controls are placed over game timings, the person is unable to follow them. This can be due to uncontrollable urge to continue playing.
- Misleading facts about time spent on gaming: When asked about their time spent on games, the person is either unaware of time he/she was immersed in gaming or lies about it to cover up for addiction.
- Lack of interest in activities other than gaming: The person or child is no more interested in going out for fun, entertainment, education, professional job, family gatherings, sports or any other recreational activity.
- Risk Education or Profession over gaming: The person has started to lose opportunities in terms of grades in school/college or missing tasks at job because of excessive time spent on gaming.
Arguments against declaring Video Gaming as an illness
WHO found that out of 269 patients for internet addiction, 241 have gaming disorder, making the percentage extremely high. However, a number of people consider this inclusion as biased for several reasons. Firstly, if the players are serious in their games, it can be equated with any other sport or activity like football, cricket or even reading. Secondly, if playing games reduces depression or anxiety of children then it might be preferable for parents. Moreover, the emergence of gaming industry as a high paid profession brings in the factor of child aptitude for gaming. Therefore, parents might not want to suppress their choice.
Despite these arguments, the biggest and most significant reason for serious consideration of gaming habits in a child is the strange addiction and change in behavior. The types of problems found in gaming addiction are less prevalent in children with interest in other sports and activities.
Steps to Identify and Rectify Gaming Addiction in Your Child
Identifying any psychiatric illness in children is a multistep process for parents. It requires a lot of attention, acceptance and patience. With the pandemic of Covid-19 and irregular schedule of classes, parents are dealing with an unusual situation with children. There is an increased relaxation in screen time for kids which includes video games as well. However, parents can still check if their kids are way too much immersed in the games. To the point that they
- Show bad academic performance
- Have no time or attention for family, friends and siblings
- Display no interest in going outside even for a car ride
- Have no time for any exercise, sports or reading activity
- Get irritated when asked to do some chores or help someone with a task
What should parents do?
If your child is showing most of these signs then psychologists recommend taking following actions:
- Try to identify the reason for their immersion in video games. Is it for fun? Or for avoiding house chores, arguments or school work? Check for symptoms of depression, fear or anxiety, ADHD or bullying.
- Parents should take out time to get involved in children’ interests. Play video games with them. Try to analyze if the game has any non-recommended material on it. What makes the game so interesting? Try to play their game with them sometimes just for fun. This way they can feel a bit closer to you and share their inner feelings.
- Sharing time with them on video games will also open a window of communication. Child will perceive that you have accepted his involvement with games. As a result, it will be easier for you to make them understand the negative effects of video games if played overtime.
- Gradually steer them away from engrossing in games by setting time limits while allowing reasonable time for video games. Understand when it is high time to set limits.
- Try to make them reconnect with real life by arranging outdoor trips and friends get together. You can also take them out with yourself to markets and get them to explore other things of interest.
- For extreme addiction cases, parents should not shy away from therapy at right time instead of letting children ruin their studies or careers as well as losing friends and family.
