An addiction is defined by two things : first, it has negative effects on your life. Second, trying to stop it makes you miserable.
Food for example is not an addiction, it’s a biological need. The need for socialisation is another one.
Video games can be an addiction. But I’d argue that they’re usually not, they usually a coping mechanism. When they are, the problem is elsewhere, and the video games are helping you to survive through the problem.
Foods can obviously be an addiction for people that are massively overweight (not in all cases ie thyroid issues).
In medicine I was taught a number of times that diverse addiction disorders are largely defined one thing: persistence of a behavior despite negative consequences. An addendum is difficulty in cessation of the behavior.
I’m :) that games don’t suck me. I play 1 game only – Stardew valley. I enjoy but I can’t play 3 hours straight.
Feeling like you want to play something but no particular game interests you.
Playing games as alternative to boredom, rather than entertainment. Playing, but not enjoying. Playing for the sake of playing.
Playing a lot, so much that it is a detriment to the rest of their life.
I think the first two are more depression. #3 is addiction.
All are a problem - recognize them as such and seek ways to correct. I think actual therapists have gotten better about taking shit like this seriously. If you can’t afford that, I’d shoot for some kind of hobby (especially one with a social component), but with the understanding that those can murder your time management as well, so proceed with caution.
First two (as others have mentioned) can be symptoms of Anhedonia
Best part is they’re not exclusive. You can enjoy video games while being depressed and addicted!
Regarding the “no particular game interests you” part… Holy shit does it feel good when a game genuinely interests you. Lately, I’ve been doing chores or errands or having a tough time at work and in the back of my mind I’m like “omg I could be playing Jedi Survivor right now and I’d be having the time of my fucking life, but instead I’m dealing with this fucking bullshit.” I don’t get excited about a game like that very often anymore.
Usually things like this aren’t a problem unless they’re a problem, i.e. causing the player issues in the rest of their life. If you’re choosing games over relationships and responsibilities, that’s a problem. But if they just prefer games to other things, that’s not enough to say addiction.
r/deadbedrooms has a good clue about signs of video game addiction 😅
In my (small) experience, people can often be addicted to a specific game rather than to gaming in general. Especially with how games these days are designed to be as addicting as possible because MONEY. A big tell for this kind of addiction is an inability/unwillingness to try new games, even if they’re in a similar genre.
Sucking your dick for fortnite-bucks.
“you were addicted to tetris? I used to suck dick for fortnite”
Depression. Concealment of behaviour and time spent in the game. Withdrawal from normal social relationships. Prioritising the game over other activities such as self care, personal hygiene, etc.
When talking about their gym teacher, they’ll accidentally say gym leader.
