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There’s hope yet for addicted gamers
According to local gamers, psychiatrists and therapists, gaming addiction is like any other addiction, and recovery is possible without having to quit playing video games altogether
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ccording to local gamers, psychiatrists and therapists, gaming addiction is like any other addiction, and recovery is possible without having to quit playing video games altogether.
One gamer, who identifies by the handle DDR, conceded to undergoing therapy for his addiction and still spends up to 12 hours a day playing Black Desert Online,
Black Desert is a massively multiplayer online role-play game (MMORPG), the type of video game most frequently cited in connection to addiction.
“I used to be out [of my room] three to four hours a day.” DDR said. “It’s not the games. I love games, but I hated leaving my room more than I loved games.”
DDR said he played anything he could get his hands on, whether it was on a console or PC.
“My therapy has been over for four months, but it took about nine in total. There was group therapy and one-on-one sessions — if you wanted to,” he said.
“I was suffering from bipolar disorder, dissociative identity disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and paranoia.”
His therapy included calming tasks that helped him socialize with others, something that he dreaded doing.
“They just asked me some questions, then I had to do some activities — origami, drawing, talking with other people who may be suffering from the same disorders. I personally think the group counseling sessions were the most effective.”
DDR conceded, however, that despite the therapy, his paranoia was as bad as ever and his gaming addiction was just the result of his other disorders; it was not a disorder in and of itself.
“If it had not been games, I think I could have used comics or books — anything to escape. The point was escape.”
The World Health Organization recently announced that online and offline gaming addiction was grouped with “disorders due to substance use or addictive behaviors” in the International Classification of Diseases
(ICD-11).
Another gamer, who prefers to be called anansi24, has experienced gaming addiction firsthand, but said the lack of self-control was to blame and not the gaming phenomenon itself.
“It’s no different to other addictions. You can get addicted to pretty much anything,” anansi24 said. “If you see someone addicted to tea, does that make tea bad?”
Hypnotherapist Nugroho claims to have treated hundreds of game addicts since 2002.
“When it comes to addiction, it all depends on the gamer. It is all about self control and should not be generalized,” he said, adding that the average person finds 50 hours of gaming a week excessive, though perfectly healthy gamers find it normal.
Some of his clients have continued to play video games after therapy with no more negative repercussions.
Kasandra Putrano, a psychologist who has treated 25 cases of gaming addiction, said “failing in school, having mood problems and behavioral problems” can be both a result and the cause of gaming addiction and not video games themselves.
“Physical activities, better nutrition and pleasure management are the keys to recovery,” Kasandra said, adding that it was all about sorting out priorities.
Henry Sutjipto, a hypnotherapist from Hypnotherapy Keluarga who has treated 30 to 40 cases of gaming addiction in the last 10 years said: “I never use the number of hours spent on games as part of a [diagnosis]. I’d rather analyze who has control — the gamer or the game?”
Henry does not blame video games or the gaming culture, as video games are for recreation, and balanced recreation is good for mental health. In addiction cases involving children, it is usually the way parents manage their child’s behavior that stirs up problems.
“In some cases, it’s because the parents’ way of communicating is to always criticize or even blame the child for things that may or may not be their fault, prompting the child to avoid communicating as much as possible and to occupy him or herself with games,” he said.
According to local gamers, psychiatrists and therapists, gaming addiction is like any other addiction, and recovery is possible without having to quit playing video games altogether.
One gamer, who identifies by the handle DDR, conceded to undergoing therapy for his addiction and still spends up to 12 hours a day playing Black Desert Online,
Black Desert is a massively multiplayer online role-play game (MMORPG), the type of video game most frequently cited in connection to addiction.
“I used to be out [of my room] three to four hours a day.” DDR said. “It’s not the games. I love games, but I hated leaving my room more than I loved games.”
DDR said he played anything he could get his hands on, whether it was on a console or PC.
“My therapy has been over for four months, but it took about nine in total. There was group therapy and one-on-one sessions — if you wanted to,” he said.
“I was suffering from bipolar disorder, dissociative identity disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and paranoia.”
His therapy included calming tasks that helped him socialize with others, something that he dreaded doing.
“They just asked me some questions, then I had to do some activities — origami, drawing, talking with other people who may be suffering from the same disorders. I personally think the group counseling sessions were the most effective.”
DDR conceded, however, that despite the therapy, his paranoia was as bad as ever and his gaming addiction was just the result of his other disorders; it was not a disorder in and of itself.
“If it had not been games, I think I could have used comics or books — anything to escape. The point was escape.”
The World Health Organization recently announced that online and offline gaming addiction was grouped with “disorders due to substance use or addictive behaviors” in the International Classification of Diseases
(ICD-11).
Another gamer, who prefers to be called anansi24, has experienced gaming addiction firsthand, but said the lack of self-control was to blame and not the gaming phenomenon itself.
“It’s no different to other addictions. You can get addicted to pretty much anything,” anansi24 said. “If you see someone addicted to tea, does that make tea bad?”
Hypnotherapist Nugroho claims to have treated hundreds of game addicts since 2002.
“When it comes to addiction, it all depends on the gamer. It is all about self control and should not be generalized,” he said, adding that the average person finds 50 hours of gaming a week excessive, though perfectly healthy gamers find it normal.
Some of his clients have continued to play video games after therapy with no more negative repercussions.
Kasandra Putrano, a psychologist who has treated 25 cases of gaming addiction, said “failing in school, having mood problems and behavioral problems” can be both a result and the cause of gaming addiction and not video games themselves.
“Physical activities, better nutrition and pleasure management are the keys to recovery,” Kasandra said, adding that it was all about sorting out priorities.
Henry Sutjipto, a hypnotherapist from Hypnotherapy Keluarga who has treated 30 to 40 cases of gaming addiction in the last 10 years said: “I never use the number of hours spent on games as part of a [diagnosis]. I’d rather analyze who has control — the gamer or the game?”
Henry does not blame video games or the gaming culture, as video games are for recreation, and balanced recreation is good for mental health. In addiction cases involving children, it is usually the way parents manage their child’s behavior that stirs up problems.
“In some cases, it’s because the parents’ way of communicating is to always criticize or even blame the child for things that may or may not be their fault, prompting the child to avoid communicating as much as possible and to occupy him or herself with games,” he said. (acr)
