Video gaming can be highly addictive, particularly for young people. Rylan McAlister is a student at University of Arkansas who failed a high school class due to obsessive gaming. Jordan Fleshman forfeited a full ride scholarship because of playing.“Because I didn’t focus to do the homework or just give as much effort as I should have been,” said Fleshman. While such gamers now claim control of their playing, there are plenty more stories of people whose gaming went too far. “I went three days straight before I went to sleep,” said video gamer Nicholas Brinkley. That’s why the World Health Organization is adding “Video Gaming Disorder” to its list of mental health issues. “That means, first of all, that individuals have some out. They have opportunity for insurance companies to come in and provide treatment,” said Stephanie Lusk, Assistant Professor and addiction expert at the University of Arkansas. Video Gaming Disorder is characterized by out of control playing; prioritizing gaming over other daily activities and ignoring the negative consequences. The excessive behavior must be evident over a twelve-month period. “That’s a lot of the criteria we use to diagnose substance abuse disorders,” said Lusk. Experts say the real message here is the brain is affected by video gaming in a fashion like alcohol and provides the same risk-reward rush as gambling. “There’s a craving to be the best or get to the top to better yourself and people definitely neglect a lot of other responsibilities to do that,” said video gamer Matthew Everett. This is not to say that all video gaming is addictive, but WHO research shows non-stop playing could short-circuit young brain’s ability to develop problem solving and coping skills. “I think the biggest thing is that we need to do is to step away from our phones our computers,” said Lusk. Rylan McAlester now limits his gaming to three hours a day. Jordan Fleshman is taking a break from college but laments losing her scholarship to video games. “There’s not a day that I don’t regret that,” said Fleshman.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Video gaming can be highly addictive, particularly for young people. Rylan McAlister is a student at University of Arkansas who failed a high school class due to obsessive gaming. Jordan Fleshman forfeited a full ride scholarship because of playing.
“Because I didn’t focus to do the homework or just give as much effort as I should have been,” said Fleshman.
While such gamers now claim control of their playing, there are plenty more stories of people whose gaming went too far.
“I went three days straight before I went to sleep,” said video gamer Nicholas Brinkley.
That’s why the World Health Organization is adding “Video Gaming Disorder” to its list of mental health issues.
“That means, first of all, that individuals have some out. They have opportunity for insurance companies to come in and provide treatment,” said Stephanie Lusk, Assistant Professor and addiction expert at the University of Arkansas.
Video Gaming Disorder is characterized by out of control playing; prioritizing gaming over other daily activities and ignoring the negative consequences. The excessive behavior must be evident over a twelve-month period.
“That’s a lot of the criteria we use to diagnose substance abuse disorders,” said Lusk.
Experts say the real message here is the brain is affected by video gaming in a fashion like alcohol and provides the same risk-reward rush as gambling.
“There’s a craving to be the best or get to the top to better yourself and people definitely neglect a lot of other responsibilities to do that,” said video gamer Matthew Everett.
This is not to say that all video gaming is addictive, but WHO research shows non-stop playing could short-circuit young brain’s ability to develop problem solving and coping skills.
“I think the biggest thing is that we need to do is to step away from our phones our computers,” said Lusk.
Rylan McAlester now limits his gaming to three hours a day. Jordan Fleshman is taking a break from college but laments losing her scholarship to video games.
“There’s not a day that I don’t regret that,” said Fleshman.