A Parents Guide to Teens and Gaming Addictions

Is your teen a gamer? For many teens, gaming represents so much more than simple entertainment. Gaming can also be a source of friends for some teens. We all know how much fun a few hours of unwinding can be in front of a game. But what if it’s gone further than that for your teen? Gaming addiction is a genuine concern that parents may not always know how to best navigate. This parent’s guide to teens and gaming addictions can provide a better understanding of what teens and parents will face as they tackle this hurdle. The more you know, the better you understand, the better help you’ll be able to provide to your teen in need.

Recognizing the signs of an addiction to gaming

How can you know whether your teen is truly addicted to gaming or just enjoys spending more time doing things he wants than focusing on homework? The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes that a gaming addiction or disorder is, in fact, a mental health concern. Several studies have been conducted that demonstrate the seriousness of this addictive behavior. As is the case with other addiction types, there are several warning signs of an addiction to games. Some of the signs that parents can be on the lookout for may include the following.

• Isolation from family and friends so that the focus can be strictly on time spent gaming.
• Staying up all night to play games.
• Being irritable or restless when not able to play games.
• Getting angry with parents or others who may try to keep them from accessing their games.
• Avoiding telling the truth about how much time is being spent playing games. Or outright lying about it.
• Appearing preoccupied with gaming, when they can next get online to play, and thinking of nothing else but gaming.

Teens may show several emotional symptoms of addiction beyond this list. They may also start to demonstrate several physical symptoms that parents could find alarming, including the following.

• Low energy or falling asleep at school due to playing all night instead of sleeping.
• Headaches and migraines, often due to eye strain stemming from too much time in front of a screen.
• Changes in personal appearance could include weight loss, weight gain, and personal hygiene.
• Cramping in hands and arms due to excessive time using a gaming controller.

If your teen is displaying any of these signs, in any type of combination, there are good chances that he is not just an avid gamer. A gaming addiction can take a toll on your teen’s life, education, friendships, and family relationships.

What makes games so addictive for teens?

Gaming studios are wise. To stay relevant and keep selling games, upgrades, and attracting fickle gamers, gaming studios take extra steps to ensure that they are creating engaging games that keep players wanting to come back. What may seem mindless and silly to you may be incredibly fun and engaging for a teen who has spent hours building his character in a game. Another consideration is that the human brain is hard-wired to seek rewards and good feelings. When teens unlock new levels or complete a boss level, they get that same rush of endorphins often felt with substance abuse. That sense of accomplishment and exhilaration of feeling good can lead a teen down the road to seeking out more. More levels to unlock, more quests to complete, more of everything that makes them feel good. Parents cannot discount the social element of many games, particularly online games that allow teens to interact with others who share their enjoyment and passion for the game. The gaming community is significant, with many even making a decent living simply streaming their gameplay. The gaming culture is not always a healthy one, despite it being a good way for socially struggling teens to make like-minded friends. It can lead to academic concerns, problems with relationships, acting out, and anger, and also can ultimately lead to additional addictive concerns. Some teens may turn to drugs to help them stay awake while they play to achieve their following gaming goals.

What if your teen doesn’t want help?

It is the rare addict who can recognize that he has a problem before he has sunk to his lowest point. Many teens with a gaming addiction may believe that they are not addicted but just avid gamers. They may think that you, the parent, who has the problem. Denial is a common factor when it comes to addictions of all types. Your teen may be in denial and refuse any kind of help. If faced with a teen reluctant to get help and walk away from his games, you will need to recognize that excessive gaming can alter your teen’s brain. While studies have demonstrated some benefits to playing games, it's an entirely different concern once it becomes an addictive force in your teen’s life. At this point, it is up to parents to intervene and get their teen the correct type of treatment for this addictive behavior.

Getting help for a gaming addiction

Parents may feel lost, helpless, and alone as they try to navigate getting their teens the correct type of help and treatment for a gaming addiction. Perhaps one of the first steps parents can take is recognizing that the video games themselves are not inherently evil. They are quite often not the root cause of the addictive behavior. It’s important to note that most addictions, whether drugs, alcohol, gambling, or gaming, are being used to replace something that is missing in the life of the addict. Your teen may be struggling in other areas of his life, and gaming has become his coping mechanism of choice. Parents can take a few steps to help teens with gaming addiction:

• Help educate the addicted teen about the pitfalls of an addiction to gaming.
• Set limits and create a healthy home structure that will encourage your teen to step away from the consoles for a few hours a day.
• Learn more about the games themselves. Not only does this give you an entry point to conversations with your teen but it will help you to better understand what is going on inside of the gaming environment.
• Track your teen’s gaming time. Don’t try to cut him off entirely, as this could backfire on you and lead him to try and sneak more time when he should be at school or sleeping.
• Get your teen into therapy, both individual and group sessions. Group sessions may help him recognize that his experiences aren’t wholly unique when he meets other teens who struggle.

A gaming addiction may not have the same potential for harm as an addiction to alcohol or drugs, but it’s important to note that every type of addiction should be addressed and treated. Once the signs of an addiction have been recognized, parents will better understand how to get their teen the right focused help for the addiction. At home, treatments are often adequate for gaming addictions. In some cases, teens are better served by spending time in a residential treatment center that can help them to get a fresh start.