Gaming and Mental Health: The Good, the Bad, and the Addiction Problem
How escaping reality can end up consuming it
Have you ever asked yourself:
“What if the thing that helps you escape stress is also quietly adding to it?”
I am quite sure we all are aware of the world of gaming, right? Even if you aren’t a hardcore gamer, you must be familiar with it, at least a bit. I bet each and every one of us has a whole story of how we got into gaming.
While some of us were attracted to the world of offline gaming, others were more into playing online games with their friends. And yes, I get it, games can make you angry enough to break your keyboard, but truthfully, games aren’t always like that, right?
They offer you a nice little escape from reality and immerse you in a world where you don’t have to worry about anything for a moment.
But, here is the catch: The part where games provide you with an escape from reality?… Some people take that really personally; they get hooked on the games due to that feature. And guess what the worst part is?
Gradually, they get pulled into the system without even realizing it, which is a very serious problem in modern society.
For many of you reading this, gaming might just be something to have fun for a bit, but for millions of people? It’s a whole different thing.
For them, gaming is like a daily habit, a social space, a way to unwind after a long day.
You see…Games are designed to offer a sense of control, achievement, and even belonging, and since a lot of people aren’t anywhere near achieving anything in life.
They take the escape route and chase the things that they should be achieving in real life, inside games.
As soon as people become victims of this particular mindset I described above, screens start to light up longer, and a different side of the story starts to emerge.
And today? Lifting the curtains from the dark side that emerges when people lose themself to the grasp of gaming is our goal. We will also be discussing how the tool called “gaming” can boost mental health if used correctly. And things don’t just end here, we will be discussing tons of other interesting things related to this topic as well.
The Positive Side of Gaming
Let’s be real, gaming isn’t really considered a very good thing because the damage it can inflict on the human brain is extraordinary. However, that doesn’t mean that gaming is completely wrong. The truth is that gaming itself does have tons of positive effects on the human brain.
So, before we talk about the downsides, let’s explore the flip side and discuss the ways gaming can actually be a force for good.
How Gaming Helps Us Recharge
You see… gaming can actually be used to solve tons of mental issues as well, and it’s not just me saying it; there are actual researchers conducting research on it. A study conducted by East Carolina University found that playing casual video games led to a 57% reduction in depression symptoms among people.
This is just one of the examples I am talking about, and things just don't end here. There are tons of other studies as well that indicate that playing video games like Tetris can help manage stress and anxiety. Playing such games allows players to enter a state of flow, which can help them forget about negative thoughts while promoting a sense of calm.
Let’s forget about the different research material for a moment, and let me tell you about my personal experience when it comes to gaming to make things more interesting:
Back when I was younger, I used to actually speed-run through homework and revision just so I could boot up my favorite game. I just wanted to log in to my favorite game, and the second I did that? The whole vibe literally shifted; it was pure dopamine. There were days when I felt mentally drained, but the moment I started my favorite game, everything used to change.
Gaming was like pressing a reset button; it used to reset my mind, and I bet most of you reading might have a similar story as well. Playing a game is truly a way to feel something good in a world that can often feel a little too heavy.
Gaming as Social Connection
If you are one of those people who weren’t into gaming, then you would probably have this image of gaming that you slay dragons in it and are trying to grind in order to get a reward, right? But that’s the thing: gaming isn’t just about running from the storm in Fortnite or slaying beasts in Dark Souls. Sometimes, it’s about chilling in Discord calls and ranting about life with your friends.
I still remember meeting some of my best friends through Fortnite. They were from India, and despite being miles apart, we had so much in common. We’d hop on games, talk about random stuff, and laugh at the dumbest things, and those late-night sessions honestly became the best part of my life. There were times when everything around me felt heavy, but those gaming nights made me forget it all, even if just for a while.
And I am quite sure that I’m not the only one with stories like these. I’m sure many of you have met someone special through a game, just like me. If you’ve had one of those moments, feel free to drop it in the comments. Would love to hear them.
The point I am trying to make is that even from the comfort of our bedroom, gaming allows people to build social connections, these discord calls while playing games allows us to throw our shyness away from the window, it teaches us how to communicate with people and these are just just some of the benefits that I listed off the top of my head.
How Gaming Boosts Cognitive Skills
Alright, we have talked about how gaming can help relieve depression and how it teaches us to build social connections, but things don’t end there. Gaming is also responsible for boosting the cognitive skills of a person. It might sound like I am making this up, but multiple research studies have been conducted on this particular topic.
A study published in JAMA Network Open found that children who played video games for three or more hours daily performed better on cognitive tasks involving impulse control and working memory compared to non-gamers.
One important thing to note is that different games teach different things to a person; for example, games like Chess, Civilization, and StarCraft require players to predict the moves of their opponent, manage resources, and work on long-term strategies. These games enhance critical thinking and foresight.
Other action games like Call of Duty and Overwatch demand rapid information processing and multitasking. These games have been proven to improve attention spans and memory retention. I know it does seem hard to believe what I just said, but you can take a look at the meta-analysis research study. This research study is proof of the integrity of the words that I stated earlier.
And things don’t end here, we also have multiplayer games like Fortnite and League of Legends, which teach gamers tons of valuable skills such as teamwork, coordination, and the art of how to adapt to rapidly changing scenarios. A major question that arises here is the following:
“Do all these skills actually help in the real world?”
Short and simple answer? Yes, they do. A study from the University of Houston highlighted that gamers often develop valuable workplace skills like teamwork, leadership, and problem-solving through their gaming experiences.
Games in Therapy and Mental Health Apps
I know that gaming can help in many ways, but recently, it has become a serious tool in the world of mental health care as well. Therapists and developers are working together to create games that help people manage anxiety, depression, and other emotional challenges in a more engaging and fun way.
One popular example is gamified CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy). Basically, these are mental health apps that turn therapy techniques into interactive games. It is different from the traditional way in which you simply talk through your feelings
You see, gamified CBT makes you feel like you are on a mission where you track your emotions and complete thought challenges, and all this? It allows patients to feel like they are playing a game, which can help them a lot in fighting their mental battles. Different apps like MindShift, SuperBetter, and SPARX are great examples of this.
Even traditional video games have made their way into therapy sessions. Some famous games, like Journey or Animal Crossing, have been praised for creating calming environments that help players feel relaxed.
The point I am trying to make is that this new wave of therapeutic gaming is proof that gaming can be used for much more than just entertainment. It can be used to help damaged people, it can be used as a means to heal them. Amazing, isn’t it?
The Dark Side of Gaming
Well, up until now, we have discussed tons of the positive impacts of gaming, but that’s not all that there is to the world of gaming. There is another side of gaming that isn’t talked about enough.
If you have watched the Harry Potter series, then you must be familiar with the fact that Voldemort started out as just Tom Riddle, a curious and talented kid. But as time passed, he lost himself to the darker temptations. Well…Gaming has a bit of that energy, too.
Gaming is similar to all of that. We get the temptation to always play just one more level, one more match, one more hour. But if we are not careful enough, that healthy escape can turn into an unhealthy obsession. The line between enjoying a game and being consumed by it… can blur really fast.
So, how about we talk about this mysterious dark side of gaming, the side we often don’t talk about? The side that affects mental health, productivity, relationships, and sometimes even our sense of self. Anyway, let’s get to it.
When Gaming Addiction Becomes a Problem
Everyone is familiar with how drug addiction works, right? Gaming addiction works in a very similar way as well.
Gaming addiction slowly starts to take over you, and before you realize it, you are already deep in a hole. It’s when you play not because you enjoy it, but because you need to. And guess what happens over time? The line between the virtual world and real life starts to blur, and you start choosing pixels over people.
You might be wondering how I know all of this, right? I know this because I’ve been there.
It all began during COVID-19, a time when the world changed so rapidly, I stayed inside my room all day long, and guess what happened? A famous video game named Fortnite became my everything. As an introvert, I felt like I had found my comfort zone.
I wanted to become the best at Fortnite. Yeah, as ironic as it may sound, I wanted to become an esports player. So I kept playing…and playing…and playing. I literally used to grind the game for more than 8 hours a day.
But behind the scenes, my life was being affected heavily. I didn’t realize: my grades had started slipping. I stopped spending time with my family. I avoided people unless they were good at Fortnite. I didn’t want to go out, meet friends, or do anything that didn’t involve the game.
In short, my whole life started to revolve around one digital world, and because of that? I lost track of the real world. And this isn’t just my story, this is happening to thousands of young people who don't even realize that they are wasting away their lives.
The truth is that gaming addiction is real. And while not everyone will fall into it, it’s something that should definitely be discussed more often.
When Escapism Becomes Isolation
Gaming might seem like a little escape from the chaos in the world…Until the escape becomes the trap.
You see…When you get plugged into the world of gaming, tons of things change. Days start to blur into nights. You tell yourself, “Just one more game,” and before you know it, the sun is up, and you haven't slept.
Each day, I used to promise myself that I would shut the game down early, but I never got out of that loop. I was trapped in the classic “Just one more game” trap. Some nights, I didn’t even realize I had spent the entire night gaming with junk food by my side, eating and playing like a maniac.
That’s the thing.
Sleep is the first casualty.
Now comes the second casualty. Any guesses as to what that might be? “Responsibilities”
I have literally lived through this. My relationship with my family began to fall apart because I wasn’t even performing the most basic tasks. I wasn’t studying, I wasn’t helping around the house, I was mentally absent. At one point, my dad got so frustrated with my gaming obsession that he literally broke my RAM sticks out of sheer anger. (Yeah, that really happened.)
And that’s the scary part of addiction. You don’t realize how much you’re giving up until it’s already gone.
How Gaming Can Lead to Social Withdrawal
I am sure that by now, all of you reading this are aware of the fact that gaming offers a sense of achievement and a community. However, if it becomes the only focus of your life, things can literally flip around and stab you in the back.
Recall to my COVID-19 era. I mentioned this earlier as well, how I was hooked into gaming, because of which I avoided family gatherings. I ghosted my own friends. Because their world didn’t revolve around gaming, and mine did.
I was completely socially isolated. I was becoming more and more depressed each day, and guess what I did in response to all this? Turned on Fortnite again. I wasn’t realizing that it was only making things worse.
You see…The thing is, Humans are inherently social beings. Our brains are wired to seek connection, collaboration, and community. When we isolate ourselves, especially for extended periods, it can have some serious effects on our mental health.
And “No”, I am not making this up; these are facts proven by different research studies.
A study published in Scientific Reports found that individuals with depressive symptoms are more likely to be isolated in their social networks, which can further increase their symptoms. Multiple other research studies from the American Psychological Association and Harvard Gazette also emphasize the same thing, i-e, social isolation can lead to tons of mental problems.
How Dopamine Loops Make You Keep Playing
You must have noticed that every time you complete a challenge, win a round, or unlock a new skin, you start to feel really good. Well, you feel good because, behind the scenes, your brain releases dopamine, which is also known as the “feel-good” chemical that plays a major role in the development of addiction. It creates a cycle:
Challenge → Reward → Satisfaction → Repeat
And the game with which I was crazily in love with aka Fortnite, is a master of utilizing this particular cycle, and it’s not just Fortnite. In today’s age, almost every game utilizes this cycle to hook users into playing the game.
Almost all multiplayer games have Battle Passes that give you a set of tasks to complete, after which you are rewarded with some flashy items. We also have Competitive tournaments that make you feel like you're progressing toward greatness. Lastly, we have Loot boxes, which also provide you with shiny items that give your brain a gambling-like high every time you open one.
I know some of you might have questions similar to Why does this even work, right? Well, the thing is, our brain isn’t able to distinguish between digital rewards, aka rewards inside video games, and achievements in real life, at least not that clearly. So when you finally unlock that legendary skin after a week of grinding, it feels like you've done something significant, even if nothing’s changed in the real world.
Once gamers experience this feeling, they keep coming back to get more and more of it, and before they realize it, they are stuck in this loop.
Gaming and the Younger Generation
We are all aware of the fact that today’s generation, aka gen-z, is growing up in a world where everything is one click away, and gaming has only boosted that very thing. Think about it, in games, you finish a quest or complete a challenge, and boom, you get a reward. You land that headshot, and instantly you hear that “ding.”
But here’s the catch: real life doesn’t work that way.
In reality, suppose you are trying to become a jacked guy or trying to start a business, there is no telling how close you are to success. You could literally grind for years before seeing any real change, which can be really…frustrating. But the world of gaming is quite the opposite. It has quite literally rotted the minds of the younger generation.
There are tons of things that I have to say on this particular topic. So, let’s actually dive into uncovering all that and learn about how all this is affecting the minds of the younger generation.
Impacts of Excess Gaming
Previously, we discussed how gaming can be used as a tool to boost cognitive functions and can play a key role in making you smart. But if you cross the limits? Then the whole story gets flipped. Overexposure, especially at a young age, can overstimulate the brain, shorten attention spans, and make easy tasks feel really hard.
Different research conducted by Such Science and Hogrefe covers how gaming is affecting the minds of millions of teenagers in a negative way. They also emphasize the fact that this is especially concerning for adolescents, whose brains are still developing.
Basically, the mind is overstimulated from prolonged gaming sessions, which leads to concentration issues while trying to perform any task at all. All this is due to the brain's adaptation to the high levels of stimulation, making day-to-day tasks seem less engaging.
Physical Toll of Excessive Screen Time
In today's digital age, children and teenagers are spending a large amount of time in front of screens. According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, children aged 8–12 spend an average of 4–6 hours daily on screens, while the average teen can spend up to 9 hours in front of a screen.
Now, you might be thinking, how does a person spend so much time in front of a screen without facing any consequences, right? Well, that’s the thing, there are tons of consequences.
Ever notice how hard it is to sit through even a 10-minute ride that doesn’t have a subway surfer character running on the screen? Yeah, you’re not alone. Studies have shown that kids (and honestly, adults too) are starting to struggle with attention, and all this is due to them being overexposed to flashing lights and cool effects of a video game.
And don’t even get started on the physical impacts of prolonged screen time. Your eyes start to hurt, your vision gets blurry, and even your back hurts because of the banana-like posture.
In short, not just gaming, but the usage of the screen itself for a long period is similar to stabbing yourself in the back. Sure, one might not feel like they are doing any wrong to them at the time being, but 10 years from now? Things will be completely different.
Bachay Din Raat Game Khelte Rehte Hain!
If you have grown up in a Pakistani household and played any kind of video game, then you must have heard some versions of:
“Har waqt screen ke samne mat baitho, aankhein kharab ho jaengi!”
“Jb dekho game khelta rehta hy.”
“Tumhara dimaag sirf gameon mein hi lagta hai.”
Most of us…At atleast I thought that our parents were being overdramatic, but now I have realized that they weren’t. These are real concerns that are displayed by them after they notice their children spending too much time in front of their screen.
Parents all across the globe are genuinely worried about the future of their kids, they constantly notice their children spending way too much time chasing wins in Fortnite or getting that chicken dinner in PUBG. And honestly, they have a point. Due to children spending so much time on video games, their grades are suffering, they aren’t socializing anymore, and so much more.
Even local teachers from tuition centers have observed that students talk more about their achievements in video games than in real life. They remember each and every detail about the video games they play, yet they fail to remember how long division of 2 integers works.
And all this doesn’t mean that gaming itself is bad, it’s just that it is being misused so much that a bad image of gaming itself is created in the eyes of the majority of people. And most of us think that parents aren’t trying to kill the vibe, while in reality, they’re just hoping to strike a balance so their kids don’t lose themselves in the pixels and forget there’s a real world waiting outside.
How the World is Responding to Gaming Addiction
Given everything we’ve talked about from reduced attention span to emotional dependency, it’s clear that gaming isn’t just a personal issue anymore. It’s becoming a global issue. And when something starts to affect the whole generation, that's where governments step in.
Different countries are now responding to the video game problem in their own way. Different rules are being crafted and boundaries are being set in order to manage gaming habits. But along with all this, some important questions are being raised as well, questions like:
“Are these responses effective? Or are they swinging too far in the opposite direction?”
We will be talking exactly about such things in the upcoming section of this article, so without wasting any time, let's get to it.
When Gaming Becomes State-Controlled: China’s Crackdown
Since video game addiction has been affecting the youth on a global scale, China decided to step in and take things into its own hands. China has implemented some of the strictest gaming regulations in the world, and they’re not just suggestions; they’re literally enforced by law.
Following are the things that are happening:
Children are limited to playing games for only a particular number of hours. Minors are only allowed to game 3 hours per week, mostly on weekends and public holidays.
In order to ensure everyone follows the rule, real-name and facial recognition systems are used to monitor and control playtime.
Even game companies are told to limit in-game rewards, which can play a major role in reducing excessive spending mechanics like loot boxes. This can be really helpful in fixing the rotted brains of the young generation.
Other Countries Aren’t Far Behind
Although it's true that China might be the loudest in the room, it doesn’t mean they are the only ones that are concerned. In fact, many Western countries are also starting to take things into their own hands, debates are going on, and different regulations are being drafted, though their tone is less strict and more focused on consumer protection, which is a good thing.
Currently, the following are the steps being taken by different countries to ensure that the whole video game problem doesn’t get worse:
United Kingdom has pushed for laws around loot boxes; opening loot boxes has the same effect as gambling, due to which every country is trying to limit this mechanism as much as they can.
Germany and Belgium have either banned or strongly restricted in-game microtransactions in different video games.
All these rules and laws might seem like a step towards fixing things, but here is the catch: On paper, it might sound like the best digital detox movement, but in practice? It’s raising eyebrows. While the intentions of the authorities are not bad. But here is the thing: such tight rules and regulations are surely going to invoke underground gaming behavior and even more obsession with gaming.
Now you might be wondering why children become more obsessed with something if you are trying to limit them from it, right? Well, that is their nature; whenever you try to limit your kid from something, their brain can’t stop thinking about it, they get even more curious about that particular thing, which leads them to get more obsessed with it.
Why Moderation is Key When It Comes to Gaming
Just a moment ago, we were talking about how different countries are actually starting to crack down and enforce strict laws in the hope of fixing the whole gaming addiction problem. But, boy, do they know that all this is going to backfire so hard that they will be regretting everything. So, that brings us to the real question: “What's the solution?”
Honestly, it’s not some complicated formula. Managing screen time, making sure we prioritize important work, and making sure we are moderate about everything is the key. Even our boy Thanos from Avengers knew the solution.
See, I told you he knew about the balance… anyway, although in theory implementing balance might seem pretty easy, but…In reality, it’s not a piece of cake.
So, how about we talk about how a person who is willing to balance his gaming world and reality can take steps that can lead him to getting that perfect balance.
How to Actually Game Without Letting It Game You
Alright, let’s be real, we all know that games are fun. But if we want them to stay fun (and not eat our lives alive), then a little balance is the way to go.
You can start off by finishing the things that are the most important out of the way. They might be your studies, work, errands, whatever’s on that to-do list, just finish those things first, and once that’s out of the way? You can finally hop on and play whatever game you like.
I personally use this exact strategy as well, and trust me, it feels so good playing a video game when you know in your heart that you have earned it.
You can also use different tools that allow you to track how much time you are spending on each application. Such apps give you a breakdown of where your time’s going, and once you see that you just spent 6 hours playing Devil May Cry 5 by accident, things start to get real serious, real soon.
Parenting in the Digital Age: Guide, Don’t Gatekeep
There is one thing that parents don't realize, which is that banning games isn’t the right move. If parents try to cut off their kids from gaming entirely, they aren’t any different from the governments, which are straight up making strict laws for gaming. And… all this? It surely doesn’t end well; we’ve already talked about how this particular approach can backfire hard.
The truth is: the more you try to control your kid in a forceful or negative way, the more they’ll push back. Curiosity isn’t something that disappears just because you said “no.” In fact, it only grows. Especially here in Pakistan, this is a huge problem. Kids get pampered and are overly protected by their parents, and as soon as kids are told “you can’t do this,” they start wondering why.
They think there must be something special, and boom, it becomes even more tempting.
And you might be thinking that this is just about gaming, but it’s not. It’s the same with other risky stuff, too, even drugs. The answer isn’t control, it’s just some good old conversation. Parents should let their kids explore, learn, fall a little, and get back up.
Heck, even get involved with your kids playing video games, show some interest and understand what they’re playing, and guide them without turning games into some big, bad villain.
Support them.
Do not shut them down.
That’s what actually works.
Bottom Line - Gaming: A Double-Edged Sword
If you have read this far, then congratulations for keeping up, because surely you must have learnt about at least something while reading this. Anyway, there are still some things left to cover, so let’s get to understanding that.
Well, by now, I am sure that you are aware of the fact that gaming is neither a hero nor a villain; it’s just a tool. And like any other tool, it can help you build something meaningful… or it can hurt you if used in the wrong way.
The truth is that Gaming becomes dangerous not because of the pixels on the screen, but because of what’s happening inside our very minds. And one important thing to note is that Addiction isn’t a problem specific to Gaming, it’s a problem with humans themselves. I guess we can call it a skill issue.
Jokes aside, a person can be addicted to becoming a better version of himself, or he can be addicted to escaping his very own reality. The difference is the following:
One leads to evolution.
The other leads to erosion.
Bottom line? Games aren’t the enemy. But letting them run wild with your time kinda is. You simply need to take back control, and in order to do that, you don’t have to quit gaming. You just need to game smarter and make sure you're the one in control of the controller, not the other way around.
Lastly, if this article helped you even in the slightest manner, whether this piece provided you with some new information or changed your point of view in some way, then do let me know about it. Feedback helps me level up, and trust me, I love that.
And as always - stay safe, stay sane.
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