Game Addiction

Game addiction is not your average addiction. It is often confused with playing a lot or being passionate about gaming, but there are limits. Some people would rather sit in front of a computer or video game console instead of giving themselves the proper necessities, which include food and water, using the bathroom, and taking care of personal hygiene. Some may think that this is not a serious matter and there is no such thing as game addiction, but there are some situations where people have not fulfilled their most important abilities. There have been reported cases of people that were so wrapped up in their games that they neglected their children.
Mrs. Iana Straw and a Mr. Michael Straw were charged with child neglect when they allowed themselves to sit and play “Dungeons and Dragons” on the computer instead of feeding their young children. When police came to the house, they found the children were malnutrition’s to the point of death because of their parent’s addiction to games. Mrs. Straw and Mr. Straw faced up to twelve years in prison and where they were going, they wouldn’t be playing; they’d be in a dungeon with no dragon.
In multiple countries, game addiction has become a big problem in their civilizations. In China, for example, they have made it so that minors were not allowed to play MMO’s (MMOG, MMORPG or Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game) for more then three hours a day. Also, players are required, by law, to register using their real names and country ID number (like a social security number). China says that according to their numbers, 60% of under-18 gamers like this system.
Also in China, a mister Xian Cai, a 23-year-old male tried to commit suicide for the fourth time by swallowing small fragments of a steel blade. His uncle said that he believes that his nephew became addicted to games about three or four years prior when a girl betrayed him online and he’s been devastated ever since. Xian Cai was said to have been speaking about parts in the game and reciting quotes about his two favorite games (WoW and Starcraft) in the Beijing hospital. His current condition is unknown.
In Canada, a fifteen year old boy died after running away from home and falling out of a tree because his parents decided to confiscate his Xbox 360. They believed that he either ran away to join a professional gaming league or was abducted by a player that he met on Xbox. Brandon (the young boy) was an avid player of the game Call of Duty 4.
These are just a few cases of game addiction and although most cases are not this serious, it still is a big problem. In Amsterdam, Germany, there is an institute where people teenagers and young adults go to admit their addictions to video games. This is for the extreme gamers. The center is called the Wild Horses Center. They try to take people out of the fantasy world and into the real world by taking them into therapy sessions and bringing them into group discussions.
I am not a doctor, but there are a few symptoms that one should think about when they think about game addictions. These symptoms are different for both children and adults.

For children:
• Most of non-school hours are spent on the computer or playing video games.
• Falling asleep in school.
• Not keeping up with assignments.
• Worsening grades.
• Lying about computer or video game use.
• Choosing to use the computer or play video games, rather than see friends.
• Dropping out of other social groups (clubs or sports).
• Irritable when not playing a video game or on the computer.
For adults:
• Computer or video game use is characterized by intense feelings of pleasure and guilt.
• Obsessing and pre-occupied about being on the computer, even when not connected.
• Hours playing video games or on the computer increasing, seriously disrupting family, social or even work life.
• Lying about computer or video game use.
• Experience feelings of withdrawal, anger, or depression when not on the computer or involved with their video game.
• May incur large phone or credit bills for on-line services.
• Can't control computer or video game use.
• Fantasy life on-line replaces emotional life with partner.

There are even physical symptoms that may point to addiction:
• Carpal tunnel syndrome.
• Sleep disturbances
• Back, neck aches
• Headaches
• Dry eyes
• Failure to eat regularly or neglect personal hygiene