Internet Gaming Disorder

      A good number of net users are trapped badly in the cobweb of internet use and they lose the meaning of life and struggle  to find ways to come out by using net addiction. The arrival of smartphones has changed the life-style of Indians a lot. A busy person also manage to arrange  enough time to spend with smartphones to update oneself or make one’s presence felt in social media. We are exposed to such a digital world that our younger generation is very comfortable with internet games than outdoor games. This paradigm shift has brought a few disorders and one of them is Internet Gaming disorder.

It is defined in the 11th Revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) as a pattern of gaming behavior (“digital-gaming” or “video-gaming”) characterized by impaired control over gaming, increasing priority given to gaming over other activities to the extent that gaming takes precedence over other interests and daily activities, and continuation or escalation of gaming despite the occurrence of negative consequences.

It is being a global issue; every country and associations try their best to change this scene and save those victims who are caught in the net of the game. Internet gaming disorder has been recognised by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) as a temporary disorder in the latest fifth revision of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5).

WHO explained, those who are diagnosed with gaming disorder or video game addiction often have a co-occurring mental illness like depression, anxiety, ADHD, or even autism. It must be present for 12 months and be severe enough to affect functioning in other areas of life such as personal, family, social, education, and occupation.

There are certain parameters to notice the symptoms of internet gaming disorder. They are: ·       

1. Thinking about gaming all or a lot of the time.
2.  Feeling bad when you can't play.
3. Needing to spend more and more time playing to feel good.
4. Not being able to quit or even play less.
5. Not wanting to do other things that you used to like.
6. Having problems at work, school, or home because of your gaming.

It is said that it is better to light the candle than curse the darkness. Light can be lit in the life of those who are in the Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) following few treatment. The medications studied so far are typically used to treat depression, including escitalopram (Lexapro) and bupropion (Wellbutrin), or ADHD, including methylphenidate (Ritalin) and atomoxetine (Strattera). The therapy methods studied have been primarily based on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and can be done as an individual or in a group.

Self-help is the best help and it helps us in the practice of the five habits to be safe from IGD.

1.    Admit you have an addiction:- Unless we visit and openly share about our sickness to the professional or a doctors, you may not be helped to come out of it. The spirit of admittance is the first step towards healing

2.    Limit your Inter-net time:- After accepting our situation, we need to be moderate in our time spent with smartphones and gaming. Such saved time could be cultivated for other interested activities of outdoor games.

3.   Get a hobby that does not involve the internet:- Any hobby without net will take us away from such addiction and give meaning to life. Such activities will generate energy to work and dignity to live happily.

4.   Become a friend of books:- Reading books will give a special joy which we never cherished in life. Reading moral and spiritual book will make us a happy person. It will unfold the secrets of happiness in life. Such happiness in life will compel us to save some of our friends and relatives who are victimized with net.

5.  Pray daily:- Thank God daily for gift of life, parents and saving you from the clutches of Inter-net. This feeling of gratitude will take away completely the negative feelings which we faced as a net-addict.

Author : Seema Kumari

Assistant professor