Video Game Addiction: You Better Believe It!
Steve was never a gamer. He used to scoff at the guys and girls who used to waste their time playing video games. After all he was on the track team and was destined for Nationals. One day his friend Tom invited him over to check out a new game he had downloaded. At first Steve refused, but when Tom insisted, Steve reluctantly accepted the invite. It wasn't long until Steve was over Tom's house everyday. They would sit hours playing the same game. They would make online friends. Steve's grades began to slip and he began to grow insular and solitary. His parents did not know what to do. What happened to the Steve they knew? They would soon find out how bad a video game addiction really is...
Andrew Beckers writes about subjects important to humanity. Learn more about Video Game Addiction.
?
Does your teen spend the majority of his free time indoors on the computer, only taking breaks for snacks and the bathroom?? Does he ignore friends, family, even showers, while his grades plummet and belligerence soars? He might have a video game addiction.?
When time spent playing video games reaches a point that it harms a child's or adult's family and social relationships, or disrupts school or work life, that person may be caught in a cycle of addiction. The Mothers Against Videogame Addiction and Violence say video game addiction is becoming this country's most increasingly worrisome epidemic, comparable even to drug and alcohol abuse.? It isn't just affecting teenagers.? In older addicts, compulsive gaming can jeopardize jobs or relationships. ?
Signs of Addiction
According to the Center for On-Line Addiction, warning signs for video game addiction include:
Playing for increasing amounts of time
Thinking about gaming during other activities
Gaming to escape from real-life problems, anxiety, or depression
Lying to friends and family to conceal gaming
Feeling irritable when trying to cut down on gaming
Physical signs of addiction include:
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Sleep disturbances
Back, neck aches
Headaches
Dry eyes
Failure to eat regularly or neglect personal hygiene
Addiction Dangers
As many as one in 30 computer game players have symptoms similar to those of gambling and drug addicts, psychologists say.? Even the most casual teen gamers are affected by video games and suffer from low self esteem issues compared to their more athletic and social peers. The studies also revealed, younger gamers were more likely to become lifetime addicts and social outcasts.?
Getting help
A support group called On-Line Gamers Anonymous is twelve-step, self-help organization and web site dedicated to helping those addicted to computer/ video/console/on-line games. They also welcome the gamer's friends and family.
You can call the OLGA Hot Line at 612-245-1115.?
?
The most important thing to realize when helping a person with a video game addiction is that he or she really doesn't think there is anything wrong. After all they have hundreds of friends (all virtual) and aren't abusing any substances. Patience is necessary when dealing with people with video addictions. One also must seek the help of trained addiction professionals. With love and support and of course awareness, a video game addiction can be overcome.
Related Articles:
Gaming Links
Other gaming links for the island!
Online Video Game Rental Service Review
Online video game rental services allow you to rent video games, which are sent to the subscriber through the mail after you've placed the order on the video game rental service website. Owing to the development in technology which allows the storage of data using high capacity storage Medias such as CD-ROMs and DVDs, and pioneered by the online DVD rental giant, , many online video game rental services came up and have now dominated the online rental market.
EEDAR and Nielsen Collaborate to Deliver Unprecedented Insight into the Marketing of Video Games
Deeper insight into the $823 million a year video game marketing industry will help to increase campaign effectiveness and stretch budgets further.
From Video Games Cheats and Tricks to Reviews
You know, nobody likes a cheater. But when it comes to discovering video game cheats, "cheating" isn't what you're doing. I prefer to think of it as "discovering shortcuts, tips and tricks," or video game hints.
Four Self-Professed Video Game Geeks are Making Video Game History
Four geeks from the eastside of Seattle, known as the X Box Boys, are creating quite the stir in video gaming circles across the globe. The new fab four are churning up all over gaming sites with their two songs uplifting the X Box 360 and one of the X Box 360 games known as "Gears of War". Their website has been up for less than three weeks and they are pulling download numbers that are mind boggling.
Sailing Itineraries
SAILING ITINERARIES IN GREECE - A PROPOSAL
Bellow you may find some itinerary suggestions
for your sailing holidays in Greece. These routes are just a proposal your actual
itinerary should always be planned having in mind current weather conditions
for your crew's safety!
Important notice : Charters in Greece usually start on Saturdays at 17:00 and
usually end one or two weeks later on Saturday morning at 09:00.
Video Game Tester Jobs: 7 Simple Steps Towards Getting Hired As A Video Game Tester
Video Game tester jobs are highly sought after by those of us who love playing video games What gamer wouldn't love to play and test games for a living
Designing Video Games: Hot Career or Just a Fad?
Young technology enthusiasts often see a career as a video game designer their dream job, and it certainly can be But is it right for you
AtGames Expands its Distribution of SEGA Products to its MP3-Game Platform MUGA
AtGames enters into a distribution agreement with SEGA to distribute SEGA games by download to AtGames’ MP3-Game Platform “MUGA™” throughout the world.
Learning About Computer Game Design
Computer games have become extremely popular in the past few years. With new games being launched almost every year world over, the demand seems never ending. Those adept at computer programming, computer aided art and computer hardware are the masterminds to produces these extremely sought after games.