Video games can be a fun way for young people and adults to have a bit of recreation and to “chill out” during weekends or after a tiring day at school or at the office. These games provide a unique kind of diversion with their exciting plots, challenging stages, and amusing sounds and graphics. But as with other things, playing too much video games can be dangerous. Recently, gaming addiction has been recognized as one that is as harmful as the addictions involving alcohol, drugs, and gambling.

Gaming addiction can be defined as a clinical impulse control disorder wherein a person is unable to restrain himself from playing video games. Moreover, trying to refrain from playing makes him miserable and irritable. This type of dependency usually exists among young men and boys. A major reason why video games become addictive is because of the virtual world that they offer to their players. The make-believe world usually becomes much more appealing and interesting than the real world. For instance, a kid who is bullied at school may become ever-so-powerful in a video game.

The effects of gaming addiction may not be as physically damaging as those of chemical substances, but they can destroy lives nonetheless. A child who plays video games for a minimum of five hours daily has no time to do his homework and socialize. Eventually, his normal social development would diminish, and he would grow up physically but not emotionally. Gaming addiction can also cause adults to lose their jobs or their relationships. Regardless of the age of players, gambling addiction can cause health problems due to prolonged hours in front of a video screen, lack of sleep, and loss of appetite.