Is video game addiction a psychiatric disorder??

Question

I think internet addiction is the same too.

Read this article...it says more than 15 percent of kids, 5 million American kids!!! are addicted.

Read the tell-tale signs...sadly not enough people/physicians take this seriously...


http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/070621/health/health_video_game_addiction

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All good points people...I think though that we are becoming too withdrawn from social interaction and definitely exercise...it's hard when you can't tear yourself away from something...I find it's too easy to spend or "waste" time on certain things just because it's easy and comfortable. We need balance.

Answer 1

Any kind of addiction is a psychological disorder or disease. Then again, maybe there's just too much outside stress in peoples' lives and that's how they unwind, relax, are 'get away from it all'. It certainly is cheaper than going to the movies, going clubbing, or going on a trip.

Answer 2

Not everything which which falls outside the narrow boundaries of "preferred" behavior is an addiction. People spend inordinate amounts of time doing all sorts of things that others who don't share their interest (i.e. most of society) would not understand, and probably disapprove of.

Were Michael Jordan & Kobe Bryant "addicted" to basketball as kids? Was Maria Sharapova addicted to tennis? Was Ansel Adams addicted to photography? Was Emeril addicted to cooking? Was Gwen Stafani addicted to singing? Was Charles Schulz addicted to drawing cartoons?

These people spent countless days & nights doing what they enjoyed most, sometimes skipping meals, often instead of spending time with family, doing their homework or engaging in other social activities.

They are the lucky few who managed to transform their passions into successful careers- for every one of them there are thousands who didn't make it big, but still invested similar amounts of time. Where will your future movie critics come from? The kids who seemingly spend every waking moment in front of screens and who know every film Spielberg & Scorcese made, by heart.

While certainly there is real addiction to be dealt with, I am not inclined to use that label every time a new activity comes along which the kids of a generation really go for.

Are we addicted to Ipods? Reality TV? How about cellphones? Remember rollerblades? The Rubik's cube craze or the Hula-hoop?

Things become wildly popular- currently video game fall into that category. Some of the popular fads involve less physical activity than others, some are healthier than others. And keep in mind that even the average office worker has to skip a meal every so often, just to beat a deadline.

We should remember the people in rehab centers struggling to break free of alcohol, heroin and cocaine before tossing the word "addiction" around so casually.

Video games are still games. How do parents deal with kids who won't put the Chessboards, Monopoly or Risk sets away?

Answer 3

I really don't think it is a psychiatric disorder.Like the article said if its an addiction lots of things fall into that catagory. Like look how much people get into other sports.

Answer 4

Well I'm Addicted To Games n Stuff, But I'm Phsically and Mentally Healthy. They just want you to get excercise, break your leg and go to the so they get money.

Answer 5

People need to get a life!! And I'n not talking about the kids who like video games!

Answer 6

Any type of addiction, whether it's chemical or not, has an element of obsessive compulsive disorder. This is a recognized condition.

Answer 7

I think it is. I'm addicted.