Recognizing Video Game Addiction
If you or a loved one is concerned about video game addiction you may be seeking information regarding your AmeriHealth video game addiction coverage, but before you can seek treatment you need to understand what constitutes this type of addiction and how to recognize the signs and symptoms of what can be a devastating fixation on virtual reality.
There are some physical symptoms of video game addiction like fatigue, headaches, eye strain, carpal tunnel syndrome, and poor personal hygiene, all of which coincide with long hours spent in front of the console, but the emotional symptoms can be far more impactful:
- Irritation, restlessness, or anxiety when unable to play
- Preoccupation with reliving past gaming activity and fantasizing about future play
- Hiding or lying about the amount of time spent playing
- Isolation and unsocial behavior in order to increase time spent gaming
- Inability to hold down a job, achieve scholastic success, or interact normally with friends and family due to constant gaming
Video games are designed with the aim of building an almost fanatically obsessed fan base, with goals designed to challenge the user by remaining just of out of reach. The result is that players come back time and time again searching for a bigger high or larger payoff, and the negative effects eventually become more and more apparent. Similar to drug addiction, long-term video game addiction can actually alter brain chemistry, affecting the player’s dopamine levels increasing the risk of addictive behavior every time they pick up a controller.
Treating Video Game Addiction
While the American Psychological Association has yet to classify video game addiction as a mental illness, there are obvious similarities between the compulsive behaviors exhibited by video game addicts and those exhibited by people addicted to sex and gambling. The treatment, therefore, is also similar, typically taking the form of a multi-faceted approach that incorporates counseling, behavioral therapy, support groups, medication, and a look at other illnesses or past traumas that may lead to impulse control or escapism.
How Will My AmeriHealth Video Game Addiction Coverage Help?
Just what your AmeriHealth video game addiction coverage entails depends on the policy you hold and what type of treatment your doctor recommends. Recovering from any addiction is a long and complex process, the results of which are absolutely priceless. Invest in your future and find an AmeriHealth-covered rehabilitation program ideal for you; you’re 100 percent worth it.