Are you addicted to computer games? How about the Internet?

By Brandon Taylor

March 23, 2005 | Like many first-graders, he looked forward to getting home from school as soon as possible. After all, it was difficult to focus on basic addition when he couldn't stop thinking about his next fix.

LinkTriforceGC, as he is commonly referred to on egameaddiction.com's video game addiction forum, said he became addicted to video games when he was three years old. Today, 16 years later, he averages five to six hours a day playing games.

"I'm addicted to any online game. Playing with other people is the best," LinkTriforceGC said when asked which game was the most addictive.

What makes these games so addictive?

Kim McDaniel, a licensed mental health counselor in Kirkland, Wash. said it is what video game manufacturers call "the God effect." In essence, gamers develop a sense of ultimate control. This is especially true in role-playing games, like EverQuest and Final Fantasy.

According to a survey conducted at Stanford University, LinkTriforceGC's case of addiction is not rare. Seventeen percent of participants reported being online more than 40 hours per week. The popularity of online gaming is growing.

"When you play online you can talk trash to people. I guess that's a perk for some people," said Nathan Peel, a senior in computer science at Utah State University. After conquering Halo 2 in 10 hours, Peel played it six to seven hours a week online before getting rid of his online connection.

Playing games through the Internet is only one of many ways for addicts to get high on online ecstacy. Forty-six percent of participants in the Stanford University survey had received less than four hours of sleep in a night, more than once, because of Internet use that was not related to studying or deadlines, and 58 percent had been told they spend too much time online.

With the computer industry rapidly expanding, and online access becoming virtually mandatory in school and in the workplacemore, determining an unhealthy dose of the Internet becomes a difficult task.

When it starts to affect school, work and relationships, it's a problem," said Dave Bush, a licensed psychologist and addiction counselor at Utah State University.

Bush said that like other addictions, computer and video game addiction is reinforced by neurochemicals in the brain that give an individual relief or pleasure. This chemical reaction helps sustain the addiction.

Although Internet and video game addictions are relatively new phenomenons, Bush said he thinks within the next 20 years, Internet problems will be one of the top five focuses of social issues.

"These devices that are designed for our convenience are now dictating our lives," Bush said.

University students may have a high potential of becoming victims of computer addiction, according to Nichola Webb, a clinical psychologist at Edith Cowan University. In an article about Internet addiction on university campuses, Webb listed access to free and unlimited Internet, freedom from parental control and encouraged internet use from professors as reasons why universities have potential to house more Internet addicts.

What are the symptoms of computer and video game addiction?

Dr. Maressa Orzack, founder and coordinator of Computer Addiction Services, believes symptoms can be both physical and psychological. Physical symptoms may include carpal tunnel syndrome, migraines and trouble sleeping, whereas some psychological symptoms may be a sense of euphoria while at the computer, lying to others about activites and having problems at school or work.

Computer and video game addiction can be as serious as any other addiction. But like any other addiction, it can be treated. Support groups and counselling are available to those who suffer from this electronic narcotic.

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