On this episode of HealthMade Radio, Dr. Michael Karlfeldt discuss video game addiction symptoms, causes, and effects with former game addict Dr. Sam Shay. Although it is not yet recognized by the American Medical Association as a diagnosable disorder, video game addiction is a very real problem for many people. Dr.Sam Shay coped with the stress by developing a strong addiction to video games. Whenever he wasn’t studying, he would play for hours and hours.
Video game addiction is a serious disorder characterized by excessive gameplay and disturbances in normal life functioning.
For the past 17 years, Sam has devoted his life to health and science, learning how to heal himself through natural medicine. He now applies those same principles to his patients in the clinic and to his coaching clients online. Dr. Shay discusses how video game addiction has an emotional component, hypothesizing that some compulsive gamers use gaming as a way to escape their problems. Much like some people who suffer from alcoholism drink to escape emotional pain, a person addicted to video games may use gaming as a way to bury their emotions. He discusses his own cycle of escape through video games.
In this episode learn why are people are addicted to video games and what makes them so compelling?
- Why video gaming addiction is ‘easily acquired’
- The 9 signs of a ‘gaming disorder’
- The physical and mental health detriments of long-term video gaming
- 4 simple steps to help wean from a gaming addiction
Learn More from Dr. Shay in the Gaming Disorder Ebook
While gaming is a vice, there is an underlying problem. On the second half of this epsidoe, Dr. Karlfeldt and Dr. Shay dive deeper into the topic of addiction as a whole. Dr. Shay brings to light the process of falling into addiction using the acronym BEAST. This concept can be applied to ANY addictive behavior.
Believe a stressful thought
Emotional/Physical Response
Anesthetize (numb out using a vice)
Smolder in consequences
Terrible stressful thoughts
Free “TAME the BEAST®” of addiction worksheet
Links
Free “TAME the BEAST®” of addiction worksheet
- The 3 definitive (and measurable) signs of gaming disorder
- The 5 uses of video games as parenting tools: How they work and how they backfire to create gaming disorder
Tame The Beast of Addiction
10 Pillars of Health & ending fatigue course
Gaming Disorder Ebook