Video Games

Video Game Addiction: Video game addiction (internet gaming disorder) is characterized by severely reduced control over gaming habits, resulting in negative impacts on daily functioning, including personal, social, educational and occupational responsibilities. 

Dopamine: Neurotransmitter in the brain that acts as a "reward center" or "feel good hormone" and impacts memory, movement, motivation, mood, and attention.

Cortisol: Widely known as the body's "stress hormone," it has a variety of effects on different functions throughout the body.

Brain Balance Rule: For every hour of video game play, engage in an hour of something else that includes face-to-face time, moving your body, or focusing/meditating.

• Greenfield Video Game Addiction Test (GVGAT)

  Are you concerned about a loved ones video game usage? Review the questions in this test to learn about the symptoms and seek help from a qualified clinician.

ACTIVITIES

• Screen Time Guidelines

  Learn and apply the American Academy of Pediatric's Screen Time Guidelines in addition to healthy tech rules to create on- and offline balance.

• Game Quitters Video Series

  Watch the Game Quitters free YouTube video series with your children or teens to explore the need to balance screen time.

LINKS

• First Video Game Addiction Rehab

  Learn about the first rehab for video game addiction in the United States.

• Find a Video Game Addiction Therapist

  Game Quitters 'Find a Therapist' by region or country. 

• Game Quitters Online Support Groups

  Get online community support from Game Quitters.com.

• Online Gaming Site Safety

  Enough is Enough offers parents information and tools for keeping kids safe in online gaming platforms.

ORGANIZATIONS

• Dr. K's Guide to Parenting Gamers

  Dr. K’s Guide to Parenting Gamers is an evidence-based, digital course designed and proven to empower parents with the knowledge and tools needed to tackle the complexities around technology and parenting in the digital age.

• Game Quitters

  Game Quitters offers community forums, tools, videos, quizzes, and video game addiction support for gamers, parents and spouses/partners.

• On-Line Gamers Anonymous®

  On-Line Gamers Anonymous®, founded in 2002, is a 12-step self-help group to share experience, strengths and hope to help and support recovery from problems resulting from excessive video game playing (gaming disorder).

• Computer Gaming Addicts Anonymous

  Computer Gaming Addicts Anonymous is a fellowship of people who support each other in recovering from the problems resulting from excessive game playing.

• Center for Humane Technology

  We awaken millions globally to the individual and societal harms of social media platforms through mainstream media campaigns and resources like Your Undivided Attention and The Social Dilemma.

READING & RESEARCH

• Nine Most Addicting Games

  Read Game Quitters research about the most addictive games in the world.

• Hobby ideas

  How to come up with things to do outside of video games.

• This is your brain on video games

  Watch to see what video games do to your brain.

• What is video game addiction?

  Watch to learn to see if you may be addicted to playing video games.

• Why Wilderness Therapy Works

  Article from Video Game Addiction about the effectiveness of outdoor education for treating video game addiction.

Video Game Addiction: Video game addiction (internet gaming disorder) is characterized by severely reduced control over gaming habits, resulting in negative impacts on daily functioning, including personal, social, educational and occupational responsibilities. 

Dopamine: Neurotransmitter in the brain that acts as a "reward center" or "feel good hormone" and impacts memory, movement, motivation, mood, and attention.

Cortisol: Widely known as the body's "stress hormone," it has a variety of effects on different functions throughout the body.

Brain Balance Rule: For every hour of video game play, engage in an hour of something else that includes face-to-face time, moving your body, or focusing/meditating.

• Video Game Addiction Test for Parents

  Take our short quiz (nine questions) from Game Quitters to learn if your loved one meets criteria for problematic use or addiction.

• Greenfield Video Game Addiction Test (GVGAT)

  Are you concerned about a loved ones video game usage? Review the questions in this test to learn about the symptoms and seek help from a qualified clinician.

ACTIVITIES

• Gaming. Is it addictive?

  Read an article from reStart about the warning signs and symptoms of gaming disorder.

• r/Stop Gaming

  Join a Reddit Support Group for stopping gaming.

LINKS

• The Majority of Gamers are Not Addicted but May Play Problematically

  Read article by Vox regarding the controversy surrounding the diagnosis. 

ORGANIZATIONS

• Game Quitters

  Game Quitters offers community forums, tools, videos, quizzes, and video game addiction support for gamers, parents and spouses/partners.

• Computer Gaming addicts Anonymous

  Computer Gaming Addicts Anonymous is a fellowship of people who support each other in recovering from the problems resulting from excessive game playing.

• Center for Humane Technology

  We awaken millions globally to the individual and societal harms of social media platforms through mainstream media campaigns and resources like Your Undivided Attention and The Social Dilemma.

READING & RESEARCH

• Nine Most Addicting Games

  Read Game Quitters research about the most addictive games in the world.

• Game Addiction

  Summaries of articles from Science Direct on the topic of addiction and problematic use.

• This is your brain on video games

  Watch to see what video games do to your brain.