Serious behavioural issues can strike teens during the delicate adolescent years. If you’re worried that your teen may have a video game addiction, you may have wondered if this is a legitimate disease. The information that follows will discuss this growing trend.
What Is a Video Game Addiction?
Behavioral health experts generally see gaming addiction as a variation of an impulse control problem. In this way, it can be similar to gambling or sexual addictions. The problem arises due to the pleasurable sensations that the activity provides. Since the act of playing these games generates massive amounts of dopamine in the brain, the person can develop a strong craving to engage in these activities to reproduce these pleasurable feelings. It’s important to be able to recognize the signs of this problem.
Signs of a Video Game Addiction
There are many different signs that can accompany an electronic addiction. If you see any of the following signs in a loved one, you may want to seek proper help right away.
Missing Important Responsibilities
When teens struggle with video game addiction, they may fail to meet important responsibilities. For example, they may skip school just to be able to play these games. Alternatively, they may not perform their usual duties and chores within the home.
Preoccupation with Gaming
Teens addicted to video games may seem constantly preoccupied. For example, they may talk about their favourite games even when they’re not playing them. They will go to great lengths to be able to engage in this rewarding activity.
Slacking on Personal Hygiene
Some teens may spend so much time playing these games that they may not even shower, brush their teeth, and comb their hair. Paying attention to changes in their usual daily hygiene can provide you with important clues.
Refusing to Sleep
Some teens also experience serious sleep disruptions when they face an addiction to video games. For example, they may refuse to go to bed at a reasonable time so that they have more time to play games.
How Do Professionals Treat a Video Game Addiction?
Troubled teen programs address video game addiction in the same manner as other common behavioural issues. Professionals use various therapeutic interventions to help provide relief. A combination of behavioural therapy, personal therapy, and group therapy may be used to gain control of problem behaviours.
Getting the Right Kind of Professional Help
No matter what type of addictive behaviour your loved one might be experiencing, Venture Academy in Canada can help. Featuring several convenient locations, Venture Academy offers personalized treatment plans depending in order to transform teen lives. Using innovative behaviour treatment protocols, Venture Academy can help your household become peaceful again.
Don’t let behavioural issues keep your family from being content. Call *DM_DirectNumber format=period orig=(855) 281-5813* to discover how Venture Academy can help teens overcome video game addiction.
