Playing video games can be a fun way to unwind or spend time with friends. In schools, teachers use games like Minecraft to encourage teamwork and critical thinking.
But for some players, gaming is an unhealthy habit. At night, they are glued to a screen. Schoolwork suffers. The video-game world seems a friendlier place than the real one.
Mental health experts have taken notice. In June, the World Health Organization (WHO) added gaming disorder to its list of diseases and health conditions. A person may have the disorder if gaming has damaged his or her relationships with family and friends, and if it has affected his or her daily activities.
Not all experts agree that excessive
excessive
BETSIE VAN DER MEER/GETTY IMAGES
more than what is usual, proper, or healthy
(adjective)
My mom drinks excessive amounts of coffee.
gaming should be called a disorder. They say people hooked on video games may be suffering from other mental health problems. These should be treated first.
Others think WHO made the right call. Psychiatrist Clifford Sussman treats gaming addiction. He says kids often have feelings of anxiety
anxiety
HIGHWAYSTARZ-PHOTOGRAPHY/GETTY IMAGES
a feeling of uneasiness or worry
(noun)
Spelling tests give me anxiety.
. They get angry when a parent pries them from a device. “It becomes a self-destructive activity,” Sussman told TIME for Kids.
Taking Back Control
What makes video games addictive? Playing excites the brain’s reward center. After a while, the brain becomes numb to pleasure. You feel bored without a controller in your hand. So you play even more.
Sussman advises tracking how long you play. He says you should take at least an hour-long break after every hour of play. The brain needs time to recover.
Young gamers who think they might have a problem should ask an adult for help. Sussman suggests you first answer a simple question: “Are you in control, or is the game in control?”
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