Pulling the Plug: Teen Video Game Obsessions

Is it a myth or a reality? Can one really become "addicted" or "obsessed" with video games? Some say yes.

One group, "MAVAV" (Mothers Against Videogame Addiction and Violence) definitely feels this way. They say that "MMORPGs (Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games) severely affect a person's mental and physical well being: increased anxiety and irritability, argumentative, paranoia, sudden gain or loss in appetite and weight, 'raiding' behavior, impaired judgment, sadness and depression, loss of interest in appearance, and sleeplessness." They are on a mission to educate parents about the "dangers" of too much gaming.

Some medical professionals agree, and are even pushing for video game obsession to be recognized as an "official" disorder that could be treated by psychiatric care and covered by health insurance. In fact, the AMA's Council on Science and Public Health has recently stated that dependence on such activities as excessive video gaming are more likely to develop in children who start playing them at young ages. How young is too young? How much is too much? When do you pull the plug?

Moderation Is the Key

It is possible to get too much of a good thing. If allowed, many children would happily eat an entire carton of Ho-Hos, stay up all hours of the night, watch cartoons for a week, and go for days without brushing their teeth or changing their underwear. This is part of what makes a child a child. They do not know how to moderate their choices and their behaviors, and it is our job as their parents to instruct them.

Teens are no exception - they just think they are! With everything, moderation is key. It's fine to have some Oreos, even have some every day, as long as you aren't eating a whole package at once! It's fine to play video games; it gives the gamer a chance to escape reality for a bit, a chance to be someone else, to try on another reality for size. It's an opportunity to live in one's imagination without dressing up and playing with dolls.

Is There a Solution?

That depends on whether there's a problem. Again, it's the parents' job to teach their child (teenager, tween, or otherwise) how to make good choices, and how to monitor themselves. It's extremely hard, in a society that promotes instant gratification, to teach moderation in terms of consumption of goods, services, and games when it is all so attractive and readily available.

Aside from chucking out anything that plugs in or has a screen (which most of us are unwilling to do), frank, open discussion needs to occur. Teens, after all, are desperate to be treated as adults; so do so, where you can. If you are concerned about excessive video gaming, talk to your teen about it.

Often, obsessive behavior is a symptom of a greater problem; one you should know about. Is your teen depressed? Struggling in school? Just broken up with their boyfriend or girlfriend? If you have a teen who is struggling with these or other issues, their retreat into the gaming world can actually make sense. Talk to them about their problems, and by all means relate your own experiences as a teenager. Communicating with them about your own issues at their age will help them feel more able to talk to you and will open the door to getting to the heart of whatever's bugging them.

If You Can't Beat 'Em...

If, after everything else, you just can't seem to get through, try the game yourself. Get involved in exactly what they're doing; you may find a common interest and something you can both talk about...over dinner...with the screens turned off.

Learn more about Video Game Addiction