Most people think of people’s addictions being substance or alcohol abuse but that is not always the case. Doctors are now recognizing that people can have addictive behaviors as well.
Psychiatrist Michael Brody tells about the following things that show if there is a behavioral addiction in a person’s life. The first is that the person needs the substances and as much of it as he can get to keep him going. The second is that if the person is cut off from his behavior he will become irritable and depressed.
Video game addiction is one of the most common behavioral addictions seen in teenagers and young adults, but it is often gone unnoticed. Parents do not always mind seeing their kids spend hours in front of a screen because they figure that they could always be doing other worse things such as substance or alcohol abuse. They see this as a way to keep an eye on their child.
Little do they know that video game addiction can cause social defects and sleep deprivation. This is going to effect them in the future whether it is making new friends, talking to the opposite sex, or finding a career to take serious. Below is an experiment performed to track the behaviors of someone who experienced this type of effect.
10:30pm: Started playing Fifa 16. Kyle Chevalier has to wake up at 7 am the next morning in order to get to his internship on time. He is confident he will be in bed at a reasonable hour.
10:45pm: A lot of celebrating going on as he is onto his final three games until he will receive promotion for his Fifa ultimate team. “I am playing these last three games and then going to bed”. Kyle Chevalier said
11:00pm: Swearing and frustration seems to be setting in as he lost his first of the three games, Chevalier’s eye are getting very glossy and he is getting a water to hydrate for his next match.
11:15pm: Chevalier won the second game and is not speaking or moving showing a lot of focus on the screen. He is checking his phone very rarely which shows the commitment to the game.
11:30pm: Chevalier is on to his final game and seems nervous switching his lineup and yelling at his players for not having higher stamina so he will have to bench some starters.
11:45pm: Chevalier is in penalty kicks of his final game and he saves the first shot he jumped out of his seat with excitement. Chevalier seems relaxed as he lines up to take his kick.
12:00pm: Chevalier is very angry after hitting the post twice and giving the game up to his opponent. He is refusing to go to bed after losing the final match. He then decides to pick a new Fifa Draft team, which has excitement in the room to see who he can choose from.
12:15pm: Chevalier is happy with his team and claims this will be his last game of the night. He is getting a bit cocky with his trash talk now. “This team is nasty no way am I not playing this next game”. Chevalier said.
12:30pm: Lot of yawning after the first game Chevalier made the kid quit the game early so he feels he has more time to play even though he still is reminding himself he has to be up in less than 7 hours.
12:45pm: Someone on another Xbox console signed in as Chevalier so it kicked him out of the match he is throwing controllers and cursing at whoever signed him out. He reluctantly decides that this is a sign that he should now go to bed and is regretting staying up and missing out on sleep. “Definitely going to need to take a nap after work tomorrow”. Chevalier said
From the study it is seen that Chevalier knew that he was making a mistake by putting off going to bed, but wanted to continue playing because the rush that it gave him.
Chevalier realizes that he will not get as much sleep as he wants to and remains confident that he will not make the same mistake.
“Reminder to self, Fifa until 1 am the night before work is not a good idea.” Chevalier said.
