Is a video game addiction the same as a drug addiction?
June 21, 2009 by Addiction and Substance Abuse Tips
Filed under More Addiction Answers
Can you answer Steven’s question about Addiction?:
I don’t know why, but i hear that their are treatments for video game addictions and I also hear a lot about people who can’t stop are addicted…
I don’t know why, but i hear that their are treatments for video game addictions and I also hear a lot about people who can’t stop are addicted…
So is it the same as having a drug addiction?
Prescription Medication Addiction
Addiction Feedback: i think so
in my eyes it could be
but not as dangerous as drugs
cuz it cant kill you
Addiction Feedback: Anything that “runs” you, is an addiction.
Addiction Feedback: well addictions are addictions. I doubt u will die from video games compared to drugs. Worst case scenario Id say video games make u unhealthy like getting fat or something while drugs can = death.
Addiction Feedback: Well yes its an addiction but its not as dangerous the only side effects could be seizures or you could need glasses leading to blindness possibly after years
Addiction Feedback: not at all
Addiction Feedback: I think so, it can’t hurt you physically but in most cases you lose friends loved ones, your job, you will be a couch potato zombie
Addiction Feedback: Anything you do to excess, whether its gambling, drinking, using drugs, over-eating, playing video games, can be considered an addiction. If the thing you are doing is taking over your life and causing you to not do the things that you normally do, its an obsession or addition. So to answer your question, yes it is.
Addiction Feedback: It depends on the situation but yes.
Some times video game addictions are as bad as any other addiction.
If you have a life outside of playing video games then you’re more than likely ok but if playing games is keeping you from holding down a job or is interfering with you day to day life then it’s a problem and you should seek help.
Speaks more of the issue of video game addictions.
Addiction Feedback: Addictions are complex and multifaceted. Substance addictions are both psychological and biochemical in nature. Once a large amount of a substance is put into someone’s body for a long enough period of time, the body gets used to having that chemical as a part of its physiology (dependency). If consumption of said substance is ceased, the body goes into withdrawals because it cannot “remember” how to function without that substance.
Basically anything can be addictive in a psychological nature. Treatment for a video game would probably be just psychotherapy, whereas a drug addiction often must be treated with a combination of psychotherapy and rehab.
Addiction Feedback: An addiction basically starts out as a method of coping with problems. Its a form of escapism. Once you adapt to that method of coping it becomes an addiction. For example:
-some people are emotional eaters aka they use food as a crutch in response to stress and become “addicted” to compulsive eating.
-in response to a negative body image,some people become bulimic or anorexic to cope with their thoughts. That also becomes an addiction.
-To try and forget things or ignore problem, there are all kinds of things they can do to cope. Video games are a form of escapism, as are drugs and alcohol, reckless behaviours, etc….
All these coping mechanisms are a learned behaviour, and they are extremely hard habits to break out of, especially if there are deep issues involved. Any compulsive habit is an addiction, and would require treatment to break out of. So yah, a video game addiction is the same idea as a drug addiction, except instead of a fix or a joint, they use good old mario brothers or guitar hero for satisfaction.
Addiction Feedback: Yes, it’s not exactly the same since the drugs mess you up more physically, but as long as it gives you a high or you just cant stop doing it..then the strength of the addiction is the same.
Addiction Feedback: It really isnt the same. Video game addiction is more mentally and really real. There are centers like a detox center in amsterdam.