Video game addiction.. its effect on the brain and how to treat it

 Video game addiction its effect on the brain and how to treat it

Video games have spread and entered every home, so it is essential to understand their true impact on the brain in terms of benefit or harm, especially since they have become a part of our lives and the lives of our children, which means they have the ability to shape the brain due to continuous engagement during the developmental years. Video games affect the key areas of the brain, which are also the areas responsible for learning and studying, namely: the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and amygdala.

There are two types of play, positive and negative, in terms of their effect on the brain: First. Positive Play Our child benefits from video games in two cases:1- The game should not contain violence related to civilian people or inappropriate scenes, otherwise the amygdala and hippocampus in the brain will be harmed, leading to a gradual numbing of our child's feelings.2- He should play twice a week, with the maximum playing time not exceeding half an hour to an hour and a half depending on his age. (The younger he is, the shorter his playtime should be), a timer can be used.

The benefits of this game are that it helps with concentration on multiple stimuli at the same time, enhances visual observation accuracy, improves finger dexterity, expands visual memory, in addition to providing enjoyment and reducing stress. However, it should be noted that the happiness derived from games is a short-lived happiness and not profound, similar to the happiness from eating.

Secondly.. High attachment to gaming to the point of addiction Parents must understand that video game addiction requires support and assistance rather than scolding, and that it needs time and a gradual change in lifestyle to address the damage inflicted on the brain from within. It is the worst in terms of its impact on the brain, as gaming affects the brain in the same way that drugs do, akin to any type of addiction. The reason behind this addiction is that video games release dopamine hormone, making a person susceptible to addiction, leading them to lose the ability to concentrate, pay attention, and control their emotions. It also impacts their ability to empathize, their flexibility, and their moral behavior, stifles creativity, and affects health through sleep and dietary disorders, poor eyesight, damage to the spine, legs, and fingers, obesity, and it also has a negative effect on destroying many personal relationships, making a person prone to psychological disorders such as isolation and depression.

Why do we become addicted? We usually become addicted due to feelings of loneliness, emptiness, boredom, or because of social, family, or financial problems that we want to forget, or due to an environment imposed by friends that we don’t pay attention to its consequences. Signs of Addiction:- Feeling anxious and tense if unable to play.- Constantly thinking about what has been achieved in the game, or what will be done next time they play.- Lying and trying to hide the truth about the time spent on video games, especially from family and friends.- Isolation and introversion, preferring to play over social and family life.- Loss of interest in hobbies.- General fatigue and exhaustion, and headaches.- Increasing pain in the wrist and fingers.- Neglecting health and personal hygiene.

If a person is not an addict but is highly attached to playing, they will also face some dangers similar to addiction, such as a lack of focus on their studies and feeling that they are boring and uninviting. Playing for many hours affects their prayers, health, movement, life priorities, and they will become a prisoner in a cage of play, causing their development to freeze in other areas such as physical, spiritual, scientific, cultural, and social development. Addiction Treatment requires support from family and those around the person, and positive dialogue with the person through discussing the health, psychological, social, and spiritual harms of addiction, and that our mind and body are a trust from Allah, and we must preserve them, otherwise we will be held accountable and bear sin. Parents must understand that addiction needs support and assistance, not scolding, and that the matter requires time and gradual change in lifestyle to heal the damage caused to the brain from within, and it may require intervention from a psychiatrist. Here are the steps for treatment:

1- Set a plan involving the addicted person to gradually reduce gameplay. 2- Enroll in a sports activity (which is extremely important). 3- The family should go on outings and engage in recreational activities together (especially during the treatment period). 4- Use free time for hobbies chosen by the addicted person. 5- Look for a supportive friend and avoid friends who encourage addiction. 6- Control not provide the internet continuously, as it can be cut off during planned times (for online games). 7- Consult a psychiatrist if necessary and do not take addiction lightly, as the more addiction increases, the more complicated the problem becomes, causing severe damage to the brain. We as parents must pay attention to the level of stress we cause our children at home, as many children are victims of their family problems and continuous parental criticism, which makes them vulnerable to seeking an escape from reality, not realizing the danger this escape poses to their minds and bodies.

Let us be mindful of God regarding our children, for their mistakes are usually a reflection of our own mistakes. Let us change our behavior first so that they may change their. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of Al Jazeera.