Video Games?
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Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 35
Video Games?
How do (if at all) video games figure into addiction? My AH can spend hours a day playing the online multiplayer games. Obviously it's not a drug but is it the same type of thing- a way to avoid feeling or coping? A way to "check out"? Sometimes I think I do the same thing with work. Throw myself into it so I don't have to face whatever bda thing is happening, but it's "work" so it's "ok". Confused on where to draw the line.
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Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: South Jersey
Posts: 16,633
Confused about where to draw the line for you, or for him? For him, you don't have to draw any lines. For you, well, work is, I'm sure, a welcome distraction a lot of the time. Do you feel you are not addressing things that SHOULD be addressed because you are working? If not, I'd say there are a lot worse distractions. At least what you are doing has some usefulness.
Where normal behavior crosses into addictive or avoidance behavior.
A work in progress
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: South Jersey
Posts: 16,633
I dunno--we are all individuals here, but it seems to me there is a common thread of over-involvement in caretaking for the alcoholic--making sure he is behaving, dealing with his or her messes. Usually "avoidance" of those things, in the form of detachment, is something we are trying hard to do. So I'd say unless your involvement in work is creating some kind of problem for YOU, it is probably not a negative.
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Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: FL
Posts: 76
Where normal behavior crosses into addictive behavior is much like the "test" for whether you have a problem with alcohol - is it becoming a problem for you or others? If so, the behavior is a problem, whether you call it addictive, avoidant, etc.
My husband is an alcoholic. He smokes cigarettes as an asthmatic. He was using Xanax to get through the days when his drinking was at his worst. Much like all that, when he plays video games, he often has some of the same issues. Some would call it addictive personality, others would say it's avoidant behavior - however, all of those behaviors have impacted him in some way personally and professionally, have affected our relationship, and the relationship he has with our children. Some have more health effects than others...
I also play video games online. Again, if my playing a game is impacting my life and my relationships negatively, it doesn't matter whether it's an addiction or not...it's an issue...
My husband is an alcoholic. He smokes cigarettes as an asthmatic. He was using Xanax to get through the days when his drinking was at his worst. Much like all that, when he plays video games, he often has some of the same issues. Some would call it addictive personality, others would say it's avoidant behavior - however, all of those behaviors have impacted him in some way personally and professionally, have affected our relationship, and the relationship he has with our children. Some have more health effects than others...
I also play video games online. Again, if my playing a game is impacting my life and my relationships negatively, it doesn't matter whether it's an addiction or not...it's an issue...
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Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Nj
Posts: 195
My XABF was addicted to world of warcraft. Whenever he had some time he was at the computer playing away. i think they can def go hand in hand. Like someone else mentioned-its another way to put off dealing with what is actually going on or what you are actually feeling.
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