How do you know you are addicted?

[Kennysplash]

We all know or have heard of people that are addicted to video games. Or perhaps you might have been at one point before. There are signs gamers exhibit that shows they are addicted. 
The most common sign is when gaming starts to interfere with other aspects of your life, such as school, work, or relationships. You cannot think of any other thing apart from the game waiting for you to be played.
Other signs include spending excessive amounts of time playing games, feeling restless or irritable when you can't play, and neglecting basic needs like sleep and hygiene in order to continue playing. 
 

What else would you add?
 

[Shagger]

First off, moving this topic to general gaming as this topic is not centred around a specific game of game genre.

 

Second, I think you're overacting. I'm not denying that gaming addiction is a real thing, but there are far worse thing out there to get addicted too. Mostly because the "symptoms" you described are all prevalent in those addictions as well, but are least of those peoples problems.

 

Anything can become addictive, if it induces any kind of pleasure. On the outside, one does not have to understand that pleasure, only acknowledge it. There are literally people addicted to eating rocks. When playing video games get's in the way, and especially replaces, real life, that is a very real problem, but like with any addiction, the first step is admitting to oneself that there is a problem. That's why I don't really feel it merits much discussion because there is very little to distinguish it from other, obscure addictions. People who play so much that it actually becomes a serious problem need help, but just playing games doesn't really expose anyone to risk. It's not the same thing as drugs or alcohol in that regard.

[The Blackangel]

Gaming addiction can sometimes be a bit of a gray area. Because it's difficult to distinguish addiction to gaming or passionate to gaming. Also most people don't give things like this the attention it might merit. There was the Korean(?) boy that died after playing 51 hours straight. That was addiction. I often play from the time I wake up until I go to bed. But I also burn out. Some would call that addiction. Also, as @Shagger mentioned, the symptoms you mentioned are prevalent in any form of addiction. Alcohol, drugs, gambling, pornography, sex, and shopping to name just few. People tend to look at possible gaming addiction the same way people who go to NA meetings look at someone being there for smoking marijuana. Or the way people at AA meetings look at someone being there for drinking nonalcoholic beer. Until there are scientific studies, gaming addiction is going to continue to be swept under the rug.

[Dismal_Bliss]

On 11/25/2023 at 1:12 PM, Kennysplash said:

We all know or have heard of people that are addicted to video games. Or perhaps you might have been at one point before. There are signs gamers exhibit that shows they are addicted. 
The most common sign is when gaming starts to interfere with other aspects of your life, such as school, work, or relationships. You cannot think of any other thing apart from the game waiting for you to be played.
Other signs include spending excessive amounts of time playing games, feeling restless or irritable when you can't play, and neglecting basic needs like sleep and hygiene in order to continue playing. 
 

What else would you add?
 

Your list is off to a great start. Gaming addiction can be real. One has to take a frank look at himself and whether or not he responsibly fulfils his actual obligations, or does he waste too much time on entertainment and put off his responsibilities. Ask oneself "Am I in control of my time and my gaming, or are my gaming habits controlling me?"

In kids it's easy to spot, especially if they spaz out and lash out when threatened to have some of their game time restricted or limited. In adults, the outward signs could be being a deadbeat spouse with no job and a messy home yet spending inordinate amounts of time playing games.

[NightmareFarm]

If you're neglecting real life duties because of it. 

[Ravenfreak]

My childhood best friend was addicted to playing League of Legends when she was in her early 20's. There were times where she would literally game all day, and barely eat anything let alone brush her teeth, take showers, etc. I went over to her house when she moved back with her mom to our home town, and she didn't want to chill she just wanted to keep playing league of legends. She acted like a child and threw a bit of a tantrum, I was going to head back home but her mom insisted that I stay probably to try and get her off the computer. It was awkward, we didn't do much of anything since I could tell she was wanting to get back to playing league of legends. Her mom eventually kicked her out of the house since she didn't have a job, and her ex boyfriend came from out of state so she could live with him. She eventually got together with another dude, got a job and now she still plays games but she's not as bad as she was when she was in her early 20's. She's 31 right now, so I'm glad she got help for her addiction. Needless to say if you see anyone starting to neglect their health and constantly playing games they're most likely addicted and need help.

Edited November 29, 2023 by Ravenfreak

[Shortie]

Gaming addiction is a difficult area, this is because someone could claim that another person has game addiction because they play games every day but that is not always the case. 

I would say when playing video games starts to take over your life and you stop taking care of yourself, stop doing other things and neglecting your responsibilities, that is when video game addiction is a huge problem.

[The Blackangel]

Playing several hours per day, might not be a sign of addiction. For example take someone in my situation. I'm on disability because I can't work. Thus, I have nothing but empty time. I need to find something to do with that time. When I get up in the morning, if I intend to get on RDR2, I usually end up playing it until I go to bed. Some would call that addiction, while others would just say that I'm just playing the hand I was dealt.

Like I said, gaming addiction can often be a gray area.

[Bizdustry]

I think you’ll know if you develop a video game addiction. Some of the ‘symptoms’ might be physical such as RSI, Headaches or spine problems, while other types may lead to obesity. Besides this, if you find yourself drawing away from work/school or socialising, then you’ve got an issue. All about self control and finding a balance 

[Dismal_Bliss]

On 12/1/2023 at 10:21 AM, The Blackangel said:

For example take someone in my situation. I'm on disability because I can't work. Thus, I have nothing but empty time.... gaming addiction can often be a gray area.

This is fair.

Saturday or Sunday can be a big gaming day for me because I have those days off. I remember when Horizon Forbidden West came out and I was sick on a Sunday and couldn't go anywhere I played it from the time I woke up until the time I went to bed, lol. 

In this case, it wasn't much different form binge watching a TV series.

[Kennysplash]

On 12/1/2023 at 4:21 PM, The Blackangel said:

Playing several hours per day, might not be a sign of addiction. For example take someone in my situation. I'm on disability because I can't work. Thus, I have nothing but empty time. I need to find something to do with that time. When I get up in the morning, if I intend to get on RDR2, I usually end up playing it until I go to bed. Some would call that addiction, while others would just say that I'm just playing the hand I was dealt.

Like I said, gaming addiction can often be a gray area.

It’s not an addiction to you. It becomes so when you have tasks and activities that you need to get done, but games interfere with them. You find it hard to concentrate on activities during the day, without thinking of the next arcade you want to complete. That right there is addiction. 

[Dismal_Bliss]

On 12/13/2023 at 1:51 PM, Kennysplash said:

It’s not an addiction to you. It becomes so when you have tasks and activities that you need to get done, but games interfere with them. You find it hard to concentrate on activities during the day, without thinking of the next arcade you want to complete. That right there is addiction. 

This would have been me as a kid. I remember ignoring what was going on in class and drawing in my notebook the video game characters from the games I was currently playing.

I can also remember, as a young kid, being so into a boss fight that I was resisting going to the bathroom and wouldn't pause the game to do so. Unfortunately that ended with a shower and a change of clothes.

Yeah, I was addicted then. A bit easy for a kid. Someone should have regulated my game time back in those days.

[Kennysplash]

5 hours ago, Dismal_Bliss said:

This would have been me as a kid. I remember ignoring what was going on in class and drawing in my notebook the video game characters from the games I was currently playing.

I can also remember, as a young kid, being so into a boss fight that I was resisting going to the bathroom and wouldn't pause the game to do so. Unfortunately that ended with a shower and a change of clothes.

Yeah, I was addicted then. A bit easy for a kid. Someone should have regulated my game time back in those days.

Have we all not experienced this as kids? There was a time I missed school just to stay at home and play. Parents were out of town for a week, I woke up one morning and loaded the game instead of preparing for school. 
School called my parents that I was absent and I can never forget the discipline I received. That experience still being smiles to my face whenever I remember it. 

[Heatman]

Maybe I'm addicted to playing video games when I was a kid because I used to play for hours without taking a break. I can even abandoned my food because of games. This doesn't happen to me now as an adult. I don't even have much time to play games now. 

[Reality vs Adventure]

I think it’s safe to say there are factors we all agree with pointing out addictive gaming. But how does it start? I believe it’s the person’s lifestyle or other issues in the 1st place. Parents letting the child game forever. Adults that have obsessive behaviors. I don’t think gaming actually IS the addiction. I think it’s an obsessive trait in the first place and if gaming didn’t exist, that trait would lead them to be addicted to something else.