Is it relatively easy to get addicted to gaming? Can it be prevented?

how does addiction start in gaming? Is there a way out?SophieeeEB09

It's already too late to prevent if you've purchased Skyrim >_>

-Turn off computer system.

Sorted.

I remember when I started gaming.

I was with a group of friends thinking about what to do, then one of them pulls out a strange box and says "look what I've got" it was a copy of Timesplitters. I felt quite nervous but all my friends started playing it and kept encouraging me to join in. I eventually cracked and joined them, it felt good, i never felt fun like it before. About 4 hours latter we got tired and I went home, I tried my best to avoid my parents until the morning.

About 3 days latter I started feeling really on edge and kept having thoughts about monkeys with guns and looping electronic music. I told my friend about this and he said it was probably nothing and i should go to his house and play some more, I accepted his offer without hesitation, it was like my urges had taken control of me.

Eventually I was playing games almost every week, but that wasnt enough. I decided to buy my own console so I could do it at home. After a while I was getting into more harder games like Halo and CS, but even they could feedmy needs, it was then when I found WoW. It was an expensive habit so I resorted to doing odd jobs like washing my parents car or cleaning the living room, I never felt more dirty.

Eventually my parents noticed that my behaviour was changing, they confronted me about it and offered me support, I've been clean for over a year now. It's hard fighting temptation but with the support of my family I can get over it despite all the advertisements on Tv and the kids in the streets talking about scoring some more pokemon.

Play bad games, that will get rid of a gaming addiction.

only if you have an addictive personality imo.

true, there are some chemical pathways that get stimulated when you game (adrenaline, dopamine, endorphins, if I recall correctly), but I think it is in such a small amount for most people that it doesnt really cause that mental-physical addiction to happen

Play bad games, that will get rid of a gaming addiction.

xdude85

I played Superman 64 for five hours straight.

I am beyond help.

only if you have an addictive personality imomrbojangles25

Go watch the Extra Credits vid on game addiction it gets everything spot on IMO. Game addiction does not happen due to the game itself, it occurs because the person is missing something and video games fills the void. You don't here about a lot of people who have a good job, lving wife and family ect getting addicted to games for good reason. markop2003

You should be aware that some companies in the game industry make a concerted attempt to get you addicted---to the extent that they even conduct, commission or reference established research on human behavior so that they can tailor their games to that end.

If you don't believe me, just take a look at this Cracked.com article ...

Five Creepy Ways Video Games Are Trying to Get You Addicted

:shock:

I remember when I started gaming.

I was with a group of friends thinking about what to do, then one of them pulls out a strange box and says "look what I've got" it was a copy of Timesplitters. I felt quite nervous but all my friends started playing it and kept encouraging me to join in. I eventually cracked and joined them, it felt good, i never felt fun like it before. About 4 hours latter we got tired and I went home, I tried my best to avoid my parents until the morning.

About 3 days latter I started feeling really on edge and kept having thoughts about monkeys with guns and looping electronic music. I told my friend about this and he said it was probably nothing and i should go to his house and play some more, I accepted his offer without hesitation, it was like my urges had taken control of me.

Eventually I was playing games almost every week, but that wasnt enough. I decided to buy my own console so I could do it at home. After a while I was getting into more harder games like Halo and CS, but even they could feedmy needs, it was then when I found WoW. It was an expensive habit so I resorted to doing odd jobs like washing my parents car or cleaning the living room, I never felt more dirty.

Eventually my parents noticed that my behaviour was changing, they confronted me about it and offered me support, I've been clean for over a year now. It's hard fighting temptation but with the support of my family I can get over it despite all the advertisements on Tv and the kids in the streets talking about scoring some more pokemon.

toast_burner

I thought I'd be playing Battlefield 3 forever, I never knew I'd find myself getting bored of it already. Maybe I should stop getting shooters. lonewolf604

i'm not addicted to games anymore, it seems you grow out of it when you get older and finding interest out of gaming really help the proccess.

Like with anything gaming can become habitual. It's also a risk/reward system system that compels people to keep on playing until they win, or keep winning when they are. Plus, they're down right fun and people like having fun.

[QUOTE="SophieeeEB09"]how does addiction start in gaming? Is there a way out?Stavrogin_

i'm not addicted to games anymore, it seems you grow out of it when you get older and finding interest out of gaming really help the proccess.

punkpunker

It's already too late to prevent if you've purchased Skyrim >_>

Celldrax

It can only get addicting if you have nothing productive to do with your time.

Signsof game addiction through my analysis

- Doesn't bath anymore,keeps playing

-Gamer Doesn't pass the controller or if does get's edgy and want controller back soon

-Lose of valuable sleeping time

-Has nothing to talk about but games

-Goes #1 and #2 in their gaming area

-When reality and video game world intertwine with one another

To prevent video game addiction, One should go to a social environment and interact with people and participate in activitys that are fun to them.

Addiction in gaming starts when you play Skyrim. The addiction ends when you beat Skyrim.LiftedHeadshot

You should be aware that some companies in the game industry make a concerted attempt to get you addicted---to the extent that they even conduct, commission or reference established research on human behavior so that they can tailor their games to that end.

If you don't believe me, just take a look at this Cracked.com article ...

Five Creepy Ways Video Games Are Trying to Get You Addicted

:shock:

Stesilaus

[QUOTE="Stavrogin_"][QUOTE="SophieeeEB09"]how does addiction start in gaming? Is there a way out?parkurtommo

Signsof game addiction through my analysis

- Doesn't bath anymore,keeps playing

-Gamer Doesn't pass the controller or if does get's edgy and want controller back soon

-Lose of valuable sleeping time

-Has nothing to talk about but games

-Goes #1 and #2 in their gaming area

-When reality and video game world intertwine with one another

To prevent video game addiction, One should go to a social environment and interact with people and participate in activitys that are fun to them.

TChaivong

Yes, but you grow up, you become older and you lose interest in it. Thats what happend to me. But im enjoying Saints Row 3 tho.

If you're new to gaming and enjoy it then I can definitely see it being very easy to get addicted. I remember when I first got into gaming back in 94 I was on the computer constantly to the point it started to worry my parents. I eventually learned to play in moderation though.

Yes, but you grow up, you become older and you lose interest in it. Thats what happend to me. But im enjoying Saints Row 3 tho.

lilnazar

Gaming addiction is not real. If I get a new game, skyrim for example, I will play it a lot for the first week or two but then just stop and play maybe an hour a week. No addictions work like that. You don't just smoke a pack ofcigarettesevery day for 2 weeks and then go down to 1 pack a week.

Not if you buy Skyrim :P

But serious answer is that I don't know if there is a"gaming addiction". I mean people can in theory become "addicted" to anything like food or sex or even working out. But there isn't any real basis for theaddcition to video games, people that are tend to have other issues going on in their lives and they use games as a way to escape or whatever. But it's not like cocaine or drugs where it's a chemical addiction.

IMO video game addiction isn't really anything to worry too much about. It might exist in a few individuals but as a whole it's harmless. It would be just like saying someone is "addictied" towacthing television or movies or soical networking.Besides even if one was addicted to video games it's not that bad compared to many other things one could develope an addiction too.