Best Of: Paul Gilmartin — I've Struggled with a Video Game Addiction

Is Video Game Addiction Real? It’s great to do things you enjoy. But can you go too far with a hobby? And at what point does it become an addiction? That’s the question experts are trying to answer about playing video games.

Continuing our Best Of series, we share some of our listener favorites. The episode originally aired on March 21, 2022, as Ep #93.

The World Health Organization added “gaming disorder” to the 2018 version of its medical reference book, International Classification of Diseases. But the American Psychiatry Association’s manual, the DSM-5, didn’t. (So far, gambling is the only “activity” listed as a possible addiction.)

Signs to Watch For

The DSM-5 does include a section to help people and doctors know the warning signs of problem video gaming. These problems can happen whether you play online or offline.

Here’s what to look for in yourself or someone close to you -- your partner, a child, or a friend. You need to have five or more of these signs in 1 year to have a problem, according to criteria that were proposed in the DSM-5:

Thinking about gaming all or a lot of the timeFeeling bad when you can’t playNeeding to spend more and more time playing to feel goodNot being able to quit or even play lessNot wanting to do other things that you used to likeHaving problems at work, school, or home because of your gamingPlaying despite these problemsLying to people close to you about how much time you spend playingUsing gaming to ease bad moods and feelings

From WebMD

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If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction, depression, trauma, sexual abuse or feeling overwhelmed, we've compiled a list of resources at secretlifepodcast.com.

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To share your secret and be a guest on the show email [email protected]

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SECRET LIFE’S TOPICS INCLUDE addiction recovery, mental health, alcoholism, drug addiction, sex addiction, love addiction, OCD, ADHD, dyslexia, eating disorders, debt & money issues, anorexia, depression, shoplifting,  molestation, sexual assault, trauma, relationships, self-love, friendships, community, secrets, self-care, courage, freedom, and happiness.

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Comedian Paul Gilmartin hosts a weekly, hour-long audio podcast, The Mental Illness Happy Hour, consisting of interviews with artists, friends, and the occasional doctor.

Podcast: The Mental Illness Happy Hour Podcast | Website | Instagram | Twitter

Check it out wherever you podcast Apple | Google | Amazon | Instagram

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