About Addiction
Online Gaming Addiction: When the game never lets go.
What online gaming addiction looks like, where to find support, and the treatment approaches that help people recover.
Online gaming addiction involves excessive and compulsive playing of online games that negatively impacts other areas of life. Signs include preoccupation with gaming, inability to control gaming time, and using gaming to escape from problems or negative emotions.
Online Gamers Anonymous (OLGA) provides a community for those struggling with online gaming addiction. Online forums and local support groups also offer peer support.
Recovery often involves cognitive-behavioral therapy, family therapy (especially for younger gamers), and developing alternative activities and coping mechanisms. Some find 12-step programs or SMART Recovery helpful in maintaining abstinence or controlled gaming.