Some people believe that video game addiction is a big deal while others don’t give it a thought because they believe it doesn’t affect them. If you go overboard on gaming, however, this addiction could affect your family and social life, your work life, and even your academics. Many people struggle with recognizing the signs of video game addiction. According to WebMD, some gaming addiction symptoms are:

• Thinking about gaming all or a lot of the time.
• Feeling bad when you can’t play.
• Needing to spend more and more time playing to feel good.
• Not being able to quit or even play less.
• Not wanting to do other things that you used to like.
• Having problems at work, school, or home because of your gaming.

The number of people with this addiction skyrocketed after Covid locked us down, mainly because we had nothing else to do since we were not allowed out of the house to visit family or friends. Now there are reports of kids who become violent when their games taken away, which is completely outrageous. 

Do any of the video game addiction symptoms listed above apply to you? If so, WebMD recommends you consult your doctor or therapist. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which “teaches you how to replace thoughts about gaming to help change behavior” is one type of intervention that can help.