Technology and Gaming Overuse
Many parents view gaming as a relatively harmless addiction when compared to the dangers of the real world. When they’re home, we know what they’re doing and who they’re playing with (well, sort of). But video game addiction can ruin lives. Children and adults who play four to five hours per day have little time for socializing, doing homework, or playing sports.
Who is at risk
Parents are not the only ones struggling to deal with this activity, spouses are too. Although commonly seen as an adolescent past time, the lure of video games is far wider than that. Research indicates that contrary to popular belief, the average age of a gamer is 33 years old. A gaming widow is the term given to a wife/partner who has to live and deal with her husband being hooked to the computer instead of to herself and his family.
Signs of technology and gaming overuse in adults:
- Lying about how much time you spend playing computer or video games
- Playing computer or video games results in intense feelings of pleasure or guilt that seem uncontrollable
- Spending more and more time playing video or computer games to get the same enjoyment
- Withdrawing from friends, family, or your spouse to the point of disrupting family, social, or work life
- Experiencing feelings of anger, depression, moodiness, anxiety, or restlessness when you’re not gaming
- Spending significant sums of money for online services, computer upgrades, or gaming systems
- Thinking obsessively about being on the computer or playing video games even when doing other things
Signs of technology and gaming overuse in adolescents and children:
- Most non-school hours are spent on the computer or playing video games
- Falling asleep in school
- Falling behind with assignments
- Worsening grades
- Lying about computer or video game use
- Choosing to use the computer or play video games, rather than see friends
- Dropping out of other social groups (clubs or sports)
- Being irritable when not playing a video game or being on the computer
Child and adolescent therapy for technology and gaming overuse
Often especially with younger children, it will be the parent who will come for therapy to learn ways to help their child. However, the model for technology and gaming addiction often follows this basic format and is based on a cognitive behavioural approach:
- Assessment of the nature and severity of difficulties
- Detailed self-monitoring of online or gaming use for at least one week.
- Identification of the most problematic areas using information from the self-monitoring week.
- Clearly identify strategies which will be used to reach these goals.
- Monitor progress using mutually agreed upon strategies.
- Re-evaluate goals and strategies. Discard techniques which are not working, modify when necessary, or add new interventions.
Benefits of therapy for adults
The amount of time spent online or gaming is not the best measure of problem severity. Instead, you need to assess the negative impact your technology and video game use is having on your work, relationships, or psychological functioning. Also, just because there are people who are struggling even more than you doesn’t mean that you cannot address your own difficulties. If you have tried to cut back with little success, treatment from a qualified psychologist or therapist may provide the extra help you need to reclaim the your real life back.
Technology and Gaming Overuse Counselling & Psychotherapy in London
If you are looking for a qualified and experienced counsellor & psychotherapist in London, then please contact me for more information on how I can help you.
My Standards
Our practice adheres to the rigorous standards set forth by the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP). We are committed to providing evidence-based, effective therapy to our clients. Our therapists undergo extensive training and adhere to strict ethical guidelines to ensure the highest quality of care. We continuously engage in professional development and adhere to ongoing supervision and monitoring processes to maintain our standards of excellence in therapeutic practice.
