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Gaming addiction, also known as Gaming Disorder, happens when someone plays video games so much that it starts to harm their daily life. A person with this addiction may spend many hours gaming and find it hard to stop, even if it causes problems at school, work, or with family and friends. They may lose sleep, skip responsibilities, or feel upset when they can’t play.

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Spending too much time gaming and finding it hard to cut back.

Losing interest in hobbies, sports, or social activities.

Neglecting responsibilities like school, work, or family.

Lack of sleep or irregular eating because of gaming.

Feeling irritable, anxious, or upset when unable to play.

Lying to family or friends about how much time is spent gaming.

Continuing to play even when it causes problems in life.

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A Program That Helps Treat and Support People with Gaming Disorder

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A Program That Helps Treat and Support People with Gaming Disorder

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Demographic:

-Age Group: Individuals 13 years and older.

-Typical Clients: Mostly young males (average age around 16–18), but they also see adults and occasionally older adults.

-Others Involved: Parents, families, and carers (through workshops and support groups).

Locations & Facilities:

-Locations include London, England, within the National Centre for Behavioural Addictions.

Facilities:

Clinical offices for assessments and therapy sessions.

Online (video-call) services are available nationwide across England.

Group and family therapy spaces.

Since it’s a medical outpatient clinic (not residential), there are no dormitories or outdoor activity grounds. Care is delivered in short sessions rather than extended stays.

Goals of the program:

Help individuals and families reduce harmful gaming behaviours.

Support clients in balancing gaming with school, work, relationships, and health.

Teach coping strategies to manage urges and stress.

Improve mental well-being and reduce family conflict.

Focus on control and balance rather than total abstinence from gaming.

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Are you having difficulties with gaming? Do you spend too much time and money on games, despite attempts to stop? Are you spending less time with friends or family?

Are you a parent or family member with concerns about someone's gaming? Is it having a negative impact on their studies, family time, going out, other hobbies?

Like most activities, gaming can be a great way to relax, destress and socialise. However, for a minority of people excessive gaming can have a negative impact both on them and those around them.
Due to overwhelming demand, we are unable to accept any parent or family referrals at present and only accept referrals directly for those who are gaming in a harmful way. We also do not offer crisis interventions. We work jointly with mental health teams, aiming to provide a comprehensive package of care in collaboration with other professionals. In the event of a crisis, please contact your GP, CMHT, A&E or the Police if you feel at risk.

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The National Centre for Gaming Disorders

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The National Centre for Gaming Disorders is a multi-disciplinary clinic in the UK that provides treatment for people in England and Wales, aged 13 years and over, who have difficulty controlling their video game use and the impact it has on their lives.

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Emotional, Physical, and Social Affects of Gaming Addiction

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Emotional, Physical, and Social Affects of Gaming Addiction

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Emotionally:

Gaming addiction can affect a person emotionally in many ways. People may feel anxious, irritable, or angry when they are unable to play. They might also experience sadness, stress, or guilt about spending too much time gaming. Over time, constant gaming can reduce real-life happiness and lead to feelings of loneliness or depression, since the person may lose balance between games and real-life relationships.

Physically:

Eye strain and vision problems: Spending long hours staring at a screen can cause headaches, blurred vision, dry eyes, and even long-term vision issues.

Poor posture and musculoskeletal problems: Sitting for extended periods can lead to back, neck, and shoulder pain, as well as repetitive strain injuries (like carpal tunnel syndrome).

Sleep disturbances: Late-night gaming can disrupt sleep patterns, leading to fatigue, insomnia, or poor-quality sleep.

Weight changes and nutrition issues: Being sedentary for long periods can contribute to weight gain, obesity, or poor nutrition if meals are skipped or replaced with unhealthy snacks.

General health decline: Reduced physical activity can lower overall fitness, weaken the immune system, and increase the risk of heart or metabolic problems over time.

Socially:

Gaming addiction can affect a person socially by causing them to withdraw from family, friends, and real-life social activities. They may spend most of their time online or gaming, leading to strained relationships, misunderstandings, and conflicts with loved ones. Over time, this isolation can make it harder to develop social skills, form new friendships, or participate in group activities outside of gaming.

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Social, environmental or physical causes or precursors of Gaming Addiction

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Social, environmental or physical causes or precursors of Gaming Addiction

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Some causes of gaming addiction can be social, environmental, or physical. Socially, people may turn to games for friendship, belonging, or to escape loneliness. Environmentally, easy access to the internet, phones, and gaming consoles makes playing for long hours very tempting. Physically, the brain releases dopamine (a “feel-good” chemical) during gaming, which can create cravings to play more. Together, these factors can start someone on the path to addiction.

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Community Place of Support & Supporting By Yourself

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Community Place of Support & Supporting By Yourself

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Community Place of Support:

Trafalgar Addiction Treatment Centre — (Toronto, Ontario)
This center specializes in treating behavioural addictions, including Gaming Disorder. Therapists and clinicians here are experienced in addressing issues of internet and technology dependency. They offer tailored programs—ranging from individual therapy to group sessions—designed to help individuals build healthier habits and regain control over their gaming behaviours.

Supporting By Yourself:

Encourage professional help: Suggest therapy, counselling, or support groups.

Set healthy boundaries: Help them manage gaming time and encourage breaks for other activities.

Be patient and nonjudgmental: Listen without criticizing and offer understanding.

Promote alternative activities: Encourage hobbies, exercise, or social events outside of gaming.

Support healthy routines: Help with sleep schedules, balanced meals, and physical activity.

Stay involved: Maintain connection through regular conversations and shared activities to reduce

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Clients start initial sessions to understand gaming habits, mental health, and family situation. Clients usually attend weekly sessions (online or in-person). Treatment often lasts a few weeks to several months, depending on need.

Therapy includes:

One-on-one therapy (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and other approaches).

Group therapy sessions (sharing experiences, strategies, and support).

Family workshops (teaching parents/carers how to support their child).

Outdoor environment:

Since it’s an outpatient clinic, clients do not live there and do not participate in outdoor therapy programs. The focus is on therapy sessions and applying skills at home, school, or work.

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Should we all work on our mental health as a part of our daily lives? Could resilience be a helpful tool in our journey? 

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Should we all work on our mental health as a part of our daily lives? Could resilience be a helpful tool in our journey? 

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Yes. Mental health is just as important as physical health. Working on it daily through sleep, exercise, mindfulness, social connections, or hobbies keeps us balanced and resilient.

Resilience is a powerful tool because it helps us:

Adapt to challenges.

Bounce back from setbacks.

Maintain a healthy perspective during stressful times.

Prevent problems like gaming addiction from consuming our lives.