Video games have been around for decades, and since the beginning people have argued the advantages and disadvantages of them.
Approximately 155 million Americans, almost half the U.S. population, play video games, according to a 2015 report by the Entertainment Software Association (ESA). The report also states that four out of five U.S. households own a device used to play video games.
With this many people playing video games, it comes as no surprise that some players have developed mental health issues associated with gaming.
The World Health Organization (WHO) released the beta draft of their 11th International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11), and one of the new conditions added is “gaming disorder.”
The ICD-11 describes gaming disorder as “a pattern of persistent or recurrent gaming behavioral … to the extent that gaming takes precedence over other life interests and daily activities.”
One of the ways someone could end up with a gaming disorder is by using video games to help deal with anxiety.
According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), “anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the U.S.” and less than 40 percent receive treatment for it. This can lead many to self-medicate, and gaming is one of those medications used.
Although gaming has been shown to help with anxiety, it is not a cure, and if misused can even add to the problem.
Using video games to help avoid stressful situations can cause us to regret missing out on opportunities, and sometimes we can go as far as staying home from work or school to play video games.
Gaming can also be very addictive.
I personally have been caught up in a game enough that it was becoming a problem. It wasn’t that I was using it as an escape, rather I was just enjoying it so much that I didn’t want to do anything else. Thankfully I realized what I was doing and was able to manage my game time enough that it never caused any major issues.
With these issues associated with gaming it is easy to think it is all bad, yet research has shown that there can also be benefits to gaming, such as improved coordination, problem-solving skills, attention and concentration and many others.
Video games have also started to be used as teaching tools, especially for younger children. The military has even started using video games to treat PTSD and aid in physical therapy for those injured in combat, as well as virtual reality simulations based off video games to train soldiers.
As the benefits of gaming have come to light multiple groups have popped up that are trying to help others through gaming.
One non-profit organization, Alpha Nerds Guild (ANG), was recently created by media personality and army veteran John Burk. The main purpose of the group is “to help our veterans, LEOs [Law Enforcement Officers], and first responders battle their PTSD and anxiety disorders through gaming and the mutual love of all things nerdy.”
Burk and the other admins of the group are currently trying to work out a program where they can have mental health professionals on-call for members of the group. They are also trying to provide those with financial problems computers and/or video game consoles.
As more research on gaming is done more advantages and disadvantages will be discovered. What needs to be remembered is that video games are just a tool, and like any tool they can help or harm depending on how they are used.
Daniel Riley
Managing Editor