Gaming Addiction–Can This Lead to Other Addictions Down the Road?

I’ve wondered about the gaming thing as something that could create other addiction issues down the road. Now, I’m thinking this could be a gateway to other addictions if not properly monitored.

My three grandsons between the ages of 9 and 12 in particular have a great liking for this type of entertainment, and it makes me worry for my one grandson (age 11) since he is predisposed to addiction from his mom and dad. My three granddaughters, on the other hand, between the ages of 8 and 13 are not too interested in gaming.

It’s a struggle to know how much time the boys, in particular my one grandson with the addictive genes, should be spending on these devices. It’s especially difficult to manage during this pandemic with not much to do indoors.

I prayed about this uneasiness I was feeling, and I was reminded of this scripture…

Research on gaming addiction…

I found some very interesting information. One article concluded my thinking that this may be more of a guy addiction. The risk of gaming addiction increases for a small but significant number of males as teens become adults by Iowa State University.

I was not surprised to read boys are more likely than girls to develop more gaming disorder symptoms, as other studies have also found. The article also mentions some teens may retreat into gaming which then can predict other problems down the road. I found this interesting, what do they mean by “other” problems?

I continued to research some more and found addiction occurs when video game playing is used as an escape or a way to deal with difficult emotions or thoughts. This all becomes a problem when it begins to impact happiness, relationships, or productivity.

It can be hard to tell when the love of gaming has crossed into the danger zone.

Learn the warning signs of gaming…

I know with my one 11 year old grandson–(he has predisposed addictive genes from his mom and dad) he seems obsessed with wanting to game with his friends on his Nintendo Switch. I have observed him getting moody (mopey or depressed) when he isn’t permitted to play on his Switch. He and his friends can be very aggressive while playing on it.

He prefers to retreat to his bedroom and isolate himself in his room playing online with his friends and gets distracted easily or annoyed with being interrupted. I even know my other grandson has broken his Switch out of anger or frustration from playing on his. So, I saw first-hand gaming does affect your mood and thought process.

This observation prompted me to dig deeper, and I discovered more information about the effects of gaming addiction. A study suggested video game addiction contributes to depression and anxiety and can lead to low self-esteem in players, affecting them both psychologically and physically.

Here’s a quote from a doctor —

“Consequences of video game addiction can showcase in a number of physical ways, including wrist, neck and elbow pain, skin blisters, calluses and sleep disorders. Long-term addiction could lead to obesity, weakness or numbness in the hands (peripheral neuropathy) and even blood clots,” Dr. Moberg says.

I also learned the effects of video game addiction is a compulsive mental health disorder that can cause severe damage to one’s life. It’s common for a video game addict to spend over 10 hours a day gaming, usually well into the night, and many suffer from sleep deprivation. Gaming addicts fail out of college.

I looked into SAMHSA  Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to find:

• For people under the age of 18, the term “Serious Emotional Disturbance” refers to a diagnosable mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder in the past year, which resulted in functional impairment that substantially interferes with or limits the child’s role or functioning in family, school, or community activities.

So, if gaming addiction brings forth the behavioral, mental, emotional and physical ailments doesn’t drug addiction do the same thing? Yes, it does!

To me, there is a link with addiction between gaming and drugs.

Conclusion… gaming and a gateway to addiction…

It’s known, addiction doesn’t always pertain to an actual substance or drug. Some people do form addictions to gaming that could be harmful in a similar way with substance abuse with the obsession and overuse. I believe gaming can lead to other addictions.

I believe video game addiction is a relatively new problem that has traditionally been overlooked by modern medicine, but maybe as dangerous as other addictions and can lead to drug or alcohol addiction. I strongly see the correlation between gaming addiction and drug addiction. I’m concerned when gaming no longer satisfies the emotional need the teen could turn drugs for an escape.

I recommend doing your own research, carefully monitor your children’s gaming time, and pray for discernment and guidance from God for your child’s best interest. I would love to hear from you with your opinion on this important gaming addiction matter.

Do you think there is a gateway between gaming addiction and substance abuse? Let me know by leaving your comments below!