Video Game Addiction Treatment

Support groups can be very helpful when in recovery from an addiction to video games.

According to another study from the NCBI, “It is not clear whether video game playing meets diagnostic criteria for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV),” but individuals who are experiencing issues with their video game use need to be able to receive the same kind of treatment as other individuals with drug and behavioral addictions.

For the most part, counseling is the only viable treatment option at this time. If you are struggling with video game addiction, a counselor can help you find ways to change your problematic behavior toward gaming, to teach you other coping strategies to use when you feel unhappy or experience cravings to play video games, and to help you work on any other issues you may have.

You can also attend a group like Online Gamers Anonymous in order to discuss your feelings with other individuals who understand and to learn ways to change your behavior. The concept of people having treatment needs for video game addiction is growing, and you may be able to find a group like this somewhere near you.

There are no pharmacological (medication-based) treatments for video game addiction as of yet, but talking to your doctor can also be helpful toward finding the right treatment fit for you.

If you play video games too much, it doesn’t mean you are addicted unless you find that you cannot stop and that you are experiencing extreme problems in your life as a result. If this is the case for you, consider seeking treatment for video game addiction.