Is Your Child Addicted To Gaming?
Let's talk.
We've all been there, haven't we? That moment when you realise your child seems more interested in their console than in, well, anything else. It's easy to worry, and the term "addiction" gets thrown around a lot. But what's really going on?
First off, let's be honest: gaming is fun. It's designed to be engaging, and there's nothing wrong with enjoying it. Like we talked about before, it can even be helpful. But when does that enjoyment cross a line? And when is gaming gambling and how do we pick that apart?
It's not always about the amount of time spent gaming, but more about how it's affecting your child's life.
So what does it look like?
These are some of the warning signs:
Neglecting Responsibilities: Is their schoolwork slipping? Are they ditching chores or social events they used to enjoy? Are they suddenly not turning up to their after-school clubs?
Changes in Mood or Behaviour: Do they seem irritable, anxious, or even aggressive when they're not gaming or if you interrupt them? Are they increasingly isolated?
Obsessive Thoughts: Is gaming all they talk about? Do they seem preoccupied with it even when they're not playing?
Loss of Interest in Other Activities: Have they abandoned hobbies, sports, or spending time with friends and family in favour of gaming?
Sleep Disturbances: Are they staying up late to game, leading to tiredness and difficulty concentrating during the day?
Physical Symptoms: Are they experiencing headaches, eye strain, or carpal tunnel syndrome?
Unexplained Charges: These days a lot of gaming involves elements of gambling. Loot boxes are an example of this: a young person might spend a few pounds on what is essentially a lucky dip of items. It could be a super-common item or the rarest item in the game. For a lot of people, this might not even strike them as gambling. For a lot of us, our first experience of this was Pokémon cards in the playground. It is doing the same thing in the brain. If your young person doesn’t have their own debit card, could they be using yours?
Are There Additional Risk Factors?
There are a few. There are some populations (that is, groups) that are more susceptible to becoming addicted to video gaming, particularly where gambling (such as loot boxes) are a feature compared to the population as a whole. These groups include:
LGBT+ People: There has been a lot of research into this with a variety of findings, but it seems to be the case that LGBT+ people are at higher risk of becoming addicted to gaming, particularly with a gambling aspect. This is likely thought to be due to their increased risk of violence, isolation and poorer mental health resulting from this. If your child is lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender, or another sexual or gender minority identity, they are at greater risk of both gaming and gambling harms.
Neurodivergent Young People: A recent study found that autistic children, adolescents and adults are at greater risk of problematic video gaming than typical peers. A similar sdtudy found this to be true of ADHD young people as well, finding that this can be a coping mechanism with their symptoms. If your child is autistic or has ADHD, they might be at increased risk of both gambling and gaming harms.
Where Can I Find Support?
It's important to remember you're not alone, and there are places to turn for help. There are always the general options of talking to your GP as a first step, and seeing what they can recommend, as well as the seeking out a therapist or a coach, but here are a few specific pointers in the right direction:
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS): If your child is struggling with emotional or behavioural difficulties alongside excessive gaming, CAMHS can provide assessment and support. You might need to push for this.
The National Centre for Gaming Disorders / The National Gambling Clinic: These are specialist NHS-commissioned service for people who are aged 13 or older. As part of its offering, it offers Group Therapy, a workshop for parents, individual CBT, Family Therapy and ongoing support for parents.
Big Deal: This charity provides specialist information and advice on gambling harms for young people, and boast a support service for young people which is offered free-of-charge.
East of England Gambling Service: This is a specialist NHS-commissioned service for adults aged 18 or over that provides specialist CBT, couples and family therapy as part of its offering to help people recover from gambling addiction.
This will be a difficult process for all of you. So please remember:
Open Communication is Key: Try to talk to your child openly and honestly about your concerns. Listen without judgment and try to understand their perspective.
Set Healthy Boundaries: Work together to establish reasonable limits on gaming time and encourage other activities. This is much more effective if you do this with your teen, rather than laying down the law.
Focus on Balance: Help your child find a healthy balance between gaming and other aspects of their life, such as school, hobbies, and social interaction.
Gaming can be a fun and engaging activity, but like anything, it's important to have a healthy balance. If you're worried about your child's gaming habits, don't hesitate to reach out for support. We're in this together.
Final thoughts
Gaming and gambling harms have become more common as devices have become a bigger and bigger part of our life. Gaming has moved some friendships online, and the internet has meant that spending money is easier than it ever has been—and maybe this isn’t good if you’re feeling the pinch! If you feel like you are struggling to understand this brave new world your child is navigating, that’s okay and you’re not alone.
Can you help me?
Yep. I am happy to talk to you, explore your options and even support you or your young person through a piece of work around rebalancing parts of your life—whether that is gaming, or anything else.
For anything else, though? Please get in touch:
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