Gaming Disorder: Are You Addicted to Video Games?

Last week, the World Health Organization revealed plans to classify excessive video gaming as a mental disorder. WHO defines “gaming disorder” as “persistent or recurrent behavior pattern of sufficient severity to result in significant impairment in personal, family, social, educational, occupational or other important areas of functioning.” Naturally, there are those who take this very seriously, and there are those who think it’s unnecessary or downright stupid. More importantly, there are those gamers around the world who are now questioning their own sanity.

Gaming Disorder: Is Video Gaming Bad For You?

Video game addiction is not new. In fact, concern over excessive consumption of entertainment has been around since the idea of entertainment itself. In 1907, the Journal of Education vol. 29 expressed concern over magazine addiction. They worried that at a “modern family gathering, silent around the fire, each family member has his head buried in his favorite magazine.” What then, makes gaming addiction different? What makes it so serious as to be classified as a mental disorder?

To be fair, video gaming in itself does not cause harm. Research has shown that gamers on average tend to have better vision, focus, and multitasking skills than non-gamers. This is in contradiction to much of popular belief. And yet, it still makes sense because video games are in essence, an exercise of cognitive skills. The problem arises when something good for cognitive development, such a fast-paced first-person shooter, is taken in excess. That is where the term “gaming disorder” comes into play. True mental illnesses cause harm to the self or others. Excessive gaming, as we will soon see, does cause harm to the self and others.

The Dangers of Gaming Disorder

When a 14-year-old plays a game of League of Legends at 8 PM before bed, that does not in itself cause harm. When he loses and in his frustration plays another game to try and “win one before bedtime,” that may cause harm. And when he refuses to go to bed until he gets his first win at 2 AM that definitely causes harm. Now imagine this same 14-year-old knows he has school at 7:30 AM. Imagine he sets his alarm to 4 AM so he can “get one win before the school driver arrives.” This is only one way in which gaming becomes a threat to the individual. And when chasing losses fail to relieve this stress, the frustration can build up to lethal results.

Confirmed cases of deaths linked to “gaming disorder” are uncommon, but always tragic. Oftentimes, such cases occur when gamers binge specific titles and neglect their health. But there are more frightening cases linking video games to nothing short of suicide and murder. In December 2004, a 13-year old gamer from Beijing leaped from a building. He left behind a suicide note saying he wished to “join the heroes of the game he worshipped.” In February 2014, a 16-year old from Malolos, Bulacan stabbed an 11-year old over a DotA 2 account hack. A quick Google search reveals a list of fatalities related to video games, the youngest of which are less than a year old.

“My Name is _____ and I am a Video Game Addict”

Addiction to anything is dangerous. It is hard to admit to having an addiction. It is even harder to start recovery. But it isn’t impossible. Countries like China and Korea have camps dedicated to recovery from Internet and video game addiction. For those less interested in military-style training, there are effective alternatives. The ever-popular 12-step program of Alcoholics Anonymous has been adapted for many purposes before. Several Internet addiction groups have done so, in fact. AA heavily emphasizes the religious aspect of recovery, but the American Psychological Association summarizes the model to six key steps:

• Admitting that one cannot control the compulsion;
• Recognizing a source of strength;
• Examining past errors;
• Making up for these errors;
• Learning to live with a new code of behavior;
• Helping others who suffer from the same compulsion.

It may seem strange for an avid gamer to write about the dangers of gaming. But the truth is, all leisure comes at a price. There is nothing innately wrong with losing oneself in a fantasy world. There is nothing wrong with being a hero in an RPG. Everyone needs some manner of escape.

However, neither does anything good come from failing to differentiate the digital world from reality. This is clearly demonstrated by the aforementioned 13-year old from Beijing. The Philippines has no shortage of teens who spend more time in computer cafes than they do in school. It can’t be denied that the effects of pathological gaming need to be taken seriously. Gaming is like gambling. It is like TV, or literature, or cigarettes, or even sports. Responsibility always accompanies fun. If the WHO pushes through with its decision, perhaps that will be made clearer.