Online Gaming and Mental Illness

Explore Big Daddy Games is playing video games over an Internet connection, allowing gamers to connect with a global community of players and engage in social interaction, competition and collaboration. It offers access to an expanding library of games that can be played on a computer, game console or mobile device, from simulated sports to idyllic fantasy worlds. It also fosters skill development and teamwork through social interaction between players of varying skills levels.

Many people use gaming to help alleviate the symptoms of mental illness, including anxiety and depression. For others, gaming offers a form of social engagement that may be difficult to obtain in other ways due to limited social and family relationships or lack of accessible activities in their communities. Some games require a high level of concentration and focus on multiple objectives at once, encouraging the development of logical thinking and problem-solving abilities.

Online Gaming Trends Every Gamer Should Watch

A preoccupation with gaming can impact a person’s self-care, social interactions, and academic/work performance to the point where it causes a negative impact on their life. This is referred to as gaming addiction and can be treated with psychotherapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, which helps the addict identify their addictive thoughts and introduces coping strategies that help them self-manage their addiction.

In addition, family counseling can be helpful for the family of an addicted gamer in cultivating a supportive environment that can facilitate recovery and healing. To learn more about treatment options for an individual with a gaming addiction, please visit IGEA’s Guide to Treatment for Gamers.