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Gameaholic?
Gaming is, without a doubt, an enjoyable activity. For avid gamers, "enjoyable" may be an understatement.
Dedicated gamers would often describe gaming as that which gives them satisfaction, and even for some,
one of their main goals in life. But like other activities available, gaming excessively may lead to
addiction or fixation in this activity, and this condition is called Gameaholicism. If you are one who's
lying about, or is completely unaware of the amount of time you spend gaming; withdrawn from your social
circles, including your family; or having some mood swings or experiencing sadness when you are not able
to play your computer games, then you may be a Gameaholic.
Gameaholicism may occur to individuals in all ages. While this usually manifests at the age of 13, adults
are nevertheless prone to having the same condition too. The symptoms may also vary from age to age, but
these symptoms nevertheless speak the same language-- that is, the foregoing of other activities for the
sake of gaming.
Teens who are gameaholics are mostly preoccupied. This preoccupation is manifest as they show disinterest
in other activities apart from gaming. Gameaholic teens also feel like gaming is one of their "needs"; meaning,
they feel like their day is simply not complete, or that something is lacking, if they are not able to
play their computer games. Another manifest symptom of gameaholicism in teens is lack of control. For instance,
an gameaholic teen would usually say that he or she would spend only a short 15-minutes on the computer, only to
end up playing for several hours. At this point, the teen lacks awareness of the time spent gaming-- definitely
a sign.
Not like teenagers, adults may suffer from more damaging effects in gameaholicism than teens considering the
responsibilities they may be having. To begin with, adults have more to lose as they spend more time on gaming;
among which is that they compromise their social life, work, and family too. Chronic adult gamers may also suffer
from damaging health effects of gaming, as they continue to subscribe to the same habit for an extended period
of time. Like teenagers though, adults may have the tendency to be withdrawn and preoccupied, as they deem that
gaming is a more important and more beneficial activity to engage in than work out, socialize, or participate
in the community.
In both teens and adults though, the common effect of gameaholicism would be that they get to compromise more
essential matters as they devote more time to gaming. While gameaholicism may be dealt with and gotten over
with the right intervention, its effects as in the life of the gamer may be irreversible.
Much like any other potentially damaging life habits, the affected individual may take steps in order to be
free of their addiction. Adults may consider engaging in other interesting activities, or may join a support group;
while teens may participate in school clubs and activities as well. In the end, it is not gaming that holds the
sword to the gamers' destruction, but lack of will to create a balanced gamer lifestyle.
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