More and more adults and children are using gaming in their spare time to unwind at the end of the day or as a means of entertainment but when does this tip over into an addiction and should we be limiting the amount of time we spend on consoles and other gaming devices?

The definition of an addiction is generally thought to be an inability to stop using a substance or engaging in a behaviour even though it is causing psychological and physical harm and so some would argue that gaming would not cause this level of harm to a participant. However, if whilst gaming the person becomes agitated, angry or even depressed it could be that this could be causing them harm.

One of the key things to be aware of is the actual time that someone is gaming for. We often limit the time our children play on their mobile devices, smartphones and consoles to prevent them from becoming insular and obsessive so why do we not limit our own time as well? It is certainly worth noting how long we are gaming for on average as it is often a surprise to find that it is longer than we imagine. On occasion, choosing to do another activity such as taking a walk or engaging in a craft of some kind to unwind may be better for our wellbeing.