Video game addiction is a very real problem for many people. Recent studies from the University of New Mexico report that six to 15 percent of all “gamers” show signs that could be characterized as addiction. Maybe you set out to play a video game for a few minutes, and before you know it you’ve been at it for hours. People may joke that you have an addiction to video games, but this doesn’t seem like anything that can harm you. Substance or alcohol abuse are the addictions you’d classify as detrimental to the health, so would your habit of playing too many video games fall under this category? Two Major Types of Video Games There are two major types of video games, resulting in two types of video game addictions: 1) The standard video games are designed for one player and involve a goal or mission like rescuing a princess. The addiction in these games often corresponds to completing the mission or beating a high score or preset standard. 2) Online, multi-player games are … [Read more...]
Addiction Counseling: Facts for Overcoming Alcoholism, Substance Abuse
Am I an Addict? John was infamous for how many beers he could drink without experiencing any apparent effects. He spent several nights each week at the bar and his friends had seen him drunk several times recently. He was also just arrested for a DUI. Katherine always loved Bingo games. No one really thought much about it until a family member discovered her children home alone one evening while Katherine was out at the casino. Addiction Counseling: Definitions and Key Thoughts Addiction involves having a dependence on a substance (i.e., alcohol, marijuana, prescription or nonprescription drugs) or an activity (i.e., shopping, gambling). It can be either a physical (as in the case of most drugs) or psychological (as in the case of most activities) compulsion to use the substance or activity as a way to cope with everyday life. Addiction is a habitual behavior that is extremely difficult to control and leads to activities that are designed solely to continue or cover up the … [Read more...]