For some, video gaming is becoming more of a problem than a hobby.
Local psychologist Amy Cavanaugh asks this question: ” Is this interfering with the person or the family’s functioning? Is it causing stress to the individual or sometimes, in this case, similar to an addiction more often to other people?”
Manager of Play N’Trade and local gamer Micheal Gilbert sees it differently.
“I see people who make enough revenue. It’s their jobs, their lifeline and everything else, so I wouldn’t call it a disorder,” said Gilbert. “But, imagine somebody who spent that much time and probably didn’t receive anything for it- that would probably classify as so.”
Some games are more obsessive than others.
“Because you need to have that constant change when the developers keep releasing new content and new material for you to gamble and hoping of getting,” says owner of Play N’ Trade, Jeff Pearson.
Children aren’t the only ones affected by extreme video gaming.
“Spouses are upset with somebody’s escaping from reality, you know, from being an adult and other responsibilities into the games,” says Cavanaugh.
Extreme video gaming can turn kids away from their families, some experts say.
“There’s a lot of anger when they’re told to get off the game or come to eat dinner with the family…that it’s just they’re really becoming they’re overly occupied or obsessive,” Cavanaugh said. “Psychologists suggest parents lessen the amount of time their children actually play video games. I’ve had parents say, ‘You know when I started limiting the games or even took the phone away or the app away from the child, I felt like I got my child back.'”
Some people like Amanda O’Pry, manager of a local board game store, finds video gaming helpful and engaging.
“Whenever we got the internet, he was able to connect with his dad and be able to play with him…because he’s talked to him on the phone and stuff, but he couldn’t see him, then it was like they were building a… (relationship). They were able to do something together even though they were way apart,” says O’Pry
Psychologists believe more research is needed to prevent over-diagnosis.
