Game addiction: Beware of the "mental addiction" in the digital age

Author: Wang Zhe Harbin First Specialist Hospital

Liu Jianping, Chief Physician, Harbin No. 1 Specialist Hospital

Reviewer: Fan Qinyi, Chief Physician, Harbin No. 1 Specialist Hospital

Xiaogang is a 16-year-old freshman in high school. He used to be sunny, cheerful and positive. In junior high school, he had good grades and was keen to participate in various school activities. However, after entering high school, as the difficulty of the courses increased, the study pressure also increased. By chance, Xiaogang came into contact with a popular online game.

At first, Xiaogang just played the game in his spare time as a way to relax. But gradually, he was attracted by the wonderful pictures and exciting plots in the game, and he played the game for longer and longer periods of time. In class, he began to lose focus, and scenes from the game appeared in his mind from time to time; after school, he could not wait to rush home and plunge into the game world, often playing for several hours, even forgetting to eat and do homework.

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As time went by, Xiaogang's tolerance for games continued to increase. He needed to spend more time playing games to feel satisfied. Once he could not play games, he would feel anxious and irritable. He gradually began to neglect other important life activities, such as no longer actively participating in various school activities and communicating less and less with his classmates. His academic performance plummeted, but he seemed to not care at all, because in his heart, games had occupied the most important position.

Game addiction has had a serious impact on Xiaogang's physical and mental health. Long-term computer use has caused his eyesight to deteriorate, and lack of physical exercise has led to poor physical fitness and easy fatigue. Psychologically, he has become withdrawn and sensitive, and his relationship with his family has become strained.

1. What is gaming addiction?

After learning about Xiaogang's game addiction case, let's take a deeper look at the phenomenon of game addiction. According to the definition of the International Classification of Diseases, 11th Revision (ICD-11), game addiction is a persistent or repetitive game behavior pattern, characterized by a loss of control over games, placing games above other life interests and daily activities, and continuing to play games despite negative consequences.

2. The harm of game addiction

The hazards of game addiction are multifaceted. From the perspective of physical health, long periods of sitting and lack of exercise may lead to obesity, cardiovascular disease, and musculoskeletal problems. Lack of sleep can also affect physical health and immune function, and staring at electronic screens for a long time may also lead to problems such as decreased vision. From the perspective of mental health, game addiction may cause emotional problems such as anxiety, depression, inferiority, and loneliness, making individuals disconnected from the real world and difficult to adapt to the challenges and pressures of real life. It may also lead to cognitive problems such as inattention and memory loss.

In terms of social relationships, game addicts often neglect communication and interaction with family, friends and colleagues, leading to alienated interpersonal relationships. They may miss important social events and show indifference and lack of concern when interacting with others, thus affecting the quality of interpersonal relationships. At the same time, game addiction may also lead to individuals lacking social skills and communication abilities in real life, further exacerbating social barriers.

How does gaming addiction develop?

On the one hand, from the perspective of individual factors, Xiaogang may have some psychological characteristics that are prone to addiction, such as lack of self-control and pursuit of excitement. On the other hand, modern games usually have beautiful pictures, rich plots and tense rhythms, which are easy to immerse people in. The social interaction and reward mechanism in the game may also make players unable to stop. In addition, environmental factors such as family atmosphere, school education and social culture may also have an impact on Xiaogang's gaming behavior.

IV. Treatment of gaming addiction

Multidisciplinary comprehensive treatment is needed. Among them, psychotherapy is an important part, and cognitive behavioral therapy can help Xiaogang realize the harm of game addiction and change bad cognitive and behavioral patterns. By setting goals, making plans, self-monitoring, etc., the game time can be gradually shortened and self-control ability can be improved. Interpersonal relationship therapy can help Xiaogang improve interpersonal relationships, improve social skills and communication skills, and reintegrate into real life. Family therapy can improve the family atmosphere, strengthen communication and understanding between parents and children, provide care and support, and at the same time strengthen the supervision and guidance of children's gaming behavior.

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There is currently no drug specifically for gaming addiction, but for some patients with emotional problems such as anxiety and depression, antidepressants, antianxiety drugs and other drugs can be considered for treatment.

In addition, social support is also very important. Schools and communities can carry out mental health education activities to improve students' understanding of game addiction and prevention awareness. Families and friends should give patients enough care and support, and encourage them to actively face the challenges and pressures in life. At the same time, they should also monitor patients' gaming behavior and help them gradually shorten their gaming time.

5. How to prevent game addiction

Preventing game addiction requires multiple approaches. First, individuals should improve their self-awareness, understand their own psychological characteristics and addiction risks, cultivate diversified interests and hobbies, and set reasonable goals. Families should create a harmonious atmosphere, strengthen supervision and guidance of children, and set an example. Schools should carry out mental health education, enrich campus cultural life, and strengthen home-school cooperation. Society should strengthen publicity and education, guide correct game concepts, improve laws and regulations, and strengthen supervision of the game industry.

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In short, game addiction is a serious psychosomatic problem. We should fully recognize its harm, take effective prevention and treatment measures, and jointly create a healthy and harmonious growth environment for young people.