Understanding Video Game Addiction and How to Beat It

As foolish as this phrase might sound, it will help you start your road to recovery from video game addiction. Sound familiar? It should, since it is the phrase that people associate with alcoholics trying to battle their dependence on alcohol. But what does alcoholism have to do with video game addiction? Addiction is now defined, according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV TR), as "substance dependence" and list the following symptoms as warning signs of addiction, with video game references added.

1.Tolerance (increased amounts/reduced effects) - Ask Role-playing game (RPG) players what the difference is between getting from level 1 to level 2 and getting from level 59 to level 60 and they will say the amount of time it takes to increase the same amount of levels. In other words, at level 1, leveling up takes only a few minutes, but at higher and higher levels, it can easily take weeks, and even months to gain the same amount of experience. Video games themselves create tolerance in the players by forcing them to spend more and more time just to get the same gaming experience that they had in the beginning.

2. Withdrawal syndrome, or using another substance to avoid withdrawal symptoms - Although video games may not cause a physical dependence like cigarettes or alcohol, they certainly cause psychological withdrawals. Try pulling yourself away from your favorite game for a few days, and see how often you start remembering that you haven't done a level 60 raid with your buddies online for a while or get irritated when you hear those "noobs" call the spartan laser overpowered. These would be classic symptoms of withdrawal for video game addicts.

3. Often using larger amounts or using for longer periods than intended - Gamers everywhere can relate to the fact that a rip in the space/time continuum seems to occurevery time they start their favorite video game. You know the feeling, where you sit down thinking you'll only spend a few minutes before bed playing games, only to check your watch and become amazed (or horrified) to find out that 2-3 hours have passed by without a trace.

4. A persistent desire or unsuccessful efforts to cut down or control substance use - Maybe you realize that playing World of Warcraft instead of going to work might not be the best use of your time. Maybe you realize that other people might not agree with you that spending your scholarship on a brand new Playstation 3, an HDTV, and a copy of Resistance: Fall of Man was a much better investment than attending college. Or maybe you just realize that when all your friends think "All your base belong to us" is the funniest punchline in the world, it's about time that you cut back on video games.

5. Spending much time obtaining the substance - Were you one of those hopeful gamers that stood outside Best Buy, Circuit City, and Toys"R"Us waiting for days just to get a chance to buy a Playstation 3? Were you one of those people who skipped school or called in sick for work just to play Halo 3 beta? Chances are, you spend more time playing video games than worrying about more important aspects of your life.

6. Giving up or reducing important social, occupational or recreational activities because of substance use - Although gamers may object and say that video games are social, occupational, or recreational activities in themselves, for most video game addicts, video games consume other priorities in their lives. Stories of divorces, broken families, and lost jobs are just a few of the side effects that gamers have faced because they placed video games before others.

7. Continuing substance use despite knowing you have a persistent or recurrent physical or psychological problem likely to have been caused or exacerbated by the substance - Video game addicts brush away problems that might stop the casual gamer like exhaustion (drink a red bull), sore eyes (eye drops anyone?), obesity (wear looser clothing) or carpal tunnel syndrome (switch hands). The only way a video game addict would stop playing would require outside forces to intervene (like power outages or acts of God) or severe health problems (starvation, dehydration, and even death).

Now that you understand the symptoms of video game addiction, you can now begin breaking your video game addiction.

Step 1:Admit you have a problem - As cliche or cheesy as it may sound, the first step to recovery is to admit to yourself and others, that you have a problem. Use the beginning sentence of this article as a starter.

Step 2:Identify the problem - Which games are you hooked onto? Be sure to find out exactly what kind of games you're addicted to so you can start avoiding them.

Step 3:Identify the triggers - Triggers are mental and physical cues that cause you to want to indulge in your addiction, which in your case, would be video games. Figure out what kind of things makes you want to play video games. Is it a particular website you frequent? Do you have friends who share the same obsession with video games? Do your best to figure out what kind of triggers make you want to play games and do your best to stay away from them.

Step 4:Plan out your recovery - Quitting video games cold turkey might seem like the best way to stop your addiction, but unfortunately, this plan of action usually fails miserably and quickly. Your best game plan would be to gradually wean yourself away from video games. Make yourself an ending date of when you want to be completely free from video games. Then, create steps leading up to that ending date, with mini-goals that you want to achieve. For example, instead of playing for 20+ hours a week, try cutting it down to 18+ hours a week, and so on. Don't get discouraged if you don't reach your goals. Remember, Rome wasn't built in a day, and your addiction won't go away overnight.

Step 5: Carry out your plan - Start working on executing your plan. If you realize that your plan is too difficult to maintain, then give yourself a break. If you discover that your ending date happens to be the release date of Starcraft 2, postpone your ending date so you can indulge instead of potentially becoming an addict again. Whatever you do, be flexible with your options to help you stay on track, but stick to your goal at all costs.

Along with the previous steps, use these tips and tricks to help you fight the addiction.

1. Explore your world - Chances are, you play games on the same computer or TV in the same room. One of the best ways to help you fight the urge is to put yourself in a different environment. Take a walk, visit a friend, go to a different part of your house, whatever it takes to keep you away from that one room. Your environment does affect your mood and action.

2. Call in support - You are not alone. Fighting an addiction by yourself is difficult, but with the help of others, it is much easier to kick the habit. Find a friend, a loved one, or even a fellow gamer to help keep you accountable to your game plan . Have them help you keep track of how often you play and to encourage you whenever you're feeling down. Having someone there can make it that much easier stop playing games.

3. Find a new hobby - If you're a dedicated gamer, you probably spend about 20+ hours a week playing video games. Now that you're on the path to being unplugged, you'll find yourself with a lot of extra time on your hands. The number one enemy of a recovering game addict is boredom. Isn't that why people play games in the first place? To get over their boredom? Take advantage of your new found freedom and take some time to learn a new hobby or past time. Don't let your extra hours go to waste over nothing.

Armed with knowledge and equipped with this guide, have no fear as you face your video game addiction. With enough time, willpower, and a little luck, you too can lead a video game free life.