[Image Credit; Pixabay Commons]
WHO- World Health Organization recently classified addiction to gaming as a form of mental disorder, although it is fun to play video games and other types of games on several devices, when it gets out of control then it is a problem. Getting overly consumed in playing games is now officially called a “Gaming Disorder” which has been added to the draft of WHO’s 11th International Classification of Diseases (ICD).
Video games are another Technological prowess of human, created as forms of recreational activities and a stress relieve tools, although some Game players do so for a living, earning from it as a profession. However, different Studies has shown how video games could improve mental alertness and intelligence level in human and animals (Pigs, Chimpanzees, Octopuses, Dolphins), but these advantages come with a downside; some individuals get addicted to it just like hard drugs, junk foods, alcohol etc. It becomes a disorder when there is an extreme addiction as described by researchers when gaming becomes a pattern of persistent or recurrent behavior which becomes as extensive as it takes precedence over other interesting parts of a subject/victims life.
Gambling and Gaming disorder has been classified among other abnormalities caused by excessive addictive behaviours and it has been deemed as urgent and needs to be classified and accepted into the International Classification of Diseases by World Health Organization because of the increasingly needs to be treated as a threat to life in several part of the World where the impact of Technology has been felt.
A 12 MONTHS DIGNOSE EQUALS GAMING DISORDER
Video games (Electronic Games generally) affects teenagers whether positively or natively, an average number of Adult population is also affected. A positive effect could be an increment in cognitive reasoning and sound mental ability; likewise, it could cause impairment in both the former and the latter (negative effect of gaming). An adult or teenage victim could only be pronounced addictive after he or she must have shown the symptoms evidently for twelve months non-stop and must have been diagnosed.
Millions of people with smart phones and electronic devices are at risk of getting addicted to games, the level of addiction might vary but still poise a potential danger unsuspecting boys, girls, men and women i.e. those who are within technological reach.
[Image Credit; Wall Street Journal]
When Pokémon Go was launched, evident of Gaming addiction was visible as mobile phone users flocked the streets, parks, offices, and stores and gas stations to play and find the hidden characters, some became causalities and others lost their lives to a game addiction. A couple of people played by the roadside and ended up with prosthetic limbs after been knocked over by cars and trucks. This is a typical example of excessive gaming, a disorder that needs urgent attention.
There are several other examples just like Pokémon Go, the bottom line is that; gaming disorder if not checked would ruin more lives than heroine and gambling addictions, destroy properties as seen in a local news where a whole family was razed to death in an inferno just because someone somewhere in the house who could have alerted the family was consumed in a video game.
So many disadvantages over advantages are attached to several technological advancement, Gaming recreational purpose and objective has somewhat been defeated in several instances just like the aforementioned few.
According the to World Health Organization’s global research, some gamers play up to 20 hours a day, and forgoing their meals and sleeps plus other healthy daily activities that makes them human. Once the health and optimum safety of people is not guaranteed, then there is a problem.
SYMPTOMS OF GAMING DISORDER
WHEN GAMING BECOMES THE MOST PRIORITISED ACTIVITY
There is a disorder if all you want is play game. Irrespective of your condition or physical state, waking up after few hours of sleep in the morning without breakfast or nothing and the next thing to do is play game, which is a disorder. Going twenty (20) hours non-stop playing games without eating or drinking, it is a well-known fact that lack of sleep kills faster than starving.
NO ROOM FOR UNHEALTHY EATING/LIVING
Once your priority is to play game and nothing else, a victim might struggle to eat but not healthy. Too much Soda, Junk Food with trans-fat and processed meals all have a major side effect on the human body. Such an individual is suffering from Gaming disorder if there is no time to eat good meals, take his or her baths, shower, do a physical exercise like walking and jogging etc.
TO PLAY GAME AT ALL COST
If an individual could go to any length to play video games or have one at home, he or she is suffering from a disorder. This is when extreme gambling comes in, theft and other crimes like robbery comes in handy to buy a game console and maybe a Television set. As bizarre as it sound, many have pawn all their belongings to raise funds and go play games at arcades or own one at home.
UNCONTROLLABLE EXCESSIVE GAMING (DURATION, FREQUENCY, INTENSITY)
Once you lose control over the hours you spend playing games, the number of times you play in a day or week and how consumed an individual becomes when playing games, once it spans over twelve months, such a person is a victim of Gaming Disorder.
Somewhere in Europe, it was not clear if it was arson or just a random fire accident. The father with two kids had some friends over and had been playing games all through the day according to an eye witness, by midnight there was a fire outbreak from the kitchen which killed the wife and the kids but spared the man and two of his friends. The intensity of the game was too much for him to notice any smoke in the basement where they were playing and drinking. Missing self-discipline cost the man his family and his house, by the time the smoke got into the basement; it was too late as fire fighters battles to rescue the rest of the family.
CONTINUATION OR ESCALATION OF GAMING IRRESPECTIVE THE NEGATIVE EFFECTS
Like the story above, some people like the surviving man still continue playing video games despite the tragedy that has befallen them; this is a typical example of chronic gaming disorder. Students most especially either in high school or colleges had failed major exams due to the effect of excessive gaming. Yet some of these victims still play video games intensively despite the havoc it has caused them in their studies/academics.
Playing video game is not bad and its never a crime, but the excess of it that might result in tragedy or deteriorating health, loss of money and maybe a loss of live is something serious as WHO stated and needs combative treatment once a victim has been identified.
Thanks for reading.
References;
Playing a dangerous Game
Gaming addiction classified as disorder by WHO
HELPING COMPULSIVE GAMERS AND VIDEO GAME ADDICTION
The popular game that is shutting down CBD streets
