Gaming is a past time millions of people do every day. Whether it’s on your phone, with a controller in your hand, or in front of a computer screen gaming can be done practically anywhere. But did you know that gaming can kill your relationships? I’m not talking about only your significant other. I’m talking about friends. I’m talking about family. Heck, I’m even talking about your pet. Gaming can become an addiction. But to first understand the addiction I wanted to break down the different types of gamers. Do you fit into one of these categories?
The Console Gamer: It doesn’t matter if they own one gaming console or they own multiple gaming consoles. If you or someone you know spends the majority of their time in front of a TV with a gaming controller then this is the category you or your loved one fits into. These are the gamers most people think of when it comes to gamers. Think the stereotypical guy or girl on the couch with a controller in their hand. Thanks to PC gaming, console gaming has become social. Now there are online marketplaces for gamers to download content. A good majority of games can be played multiplayer online or offline. My ex, a console gamer, would spend hours with his in real life friends playing matches of his favorite first person shooter.
The PC Gamer: PC Gaming, even though it can be seen as a very social (more on that later) it is one of the most isolating types of gaming out there. Thanks to Facebook there are really two different types of PC Gamers. You have those that play social PC Games like Farmville. Then you have PC Gamers who play regular ol’ PC Games. You may think spending endless hours on your farm is social but what that game has done has kept you glued to your computer monitor. I’ve been there. I get it. In high school I use to spend at least 8 hours a day leveling up my Priestess. It’s quite honestly a surprise I graduated high school. I was that addicted. After high school is when social gaming really began taking off. For awhile I use to play endless hours of Restaurant City.
The Mobile Gamer: This type of gamer is new, relatively speaking, to the gaming world. Thanks to social gaming and technology the same addictive social games that were once exclusive to Facebook are very easily available with the the tap of your screen. Thanks to social gaming you’re able to play these addictive games on touch screen devices and smart phones. The mobile gamer can be found ANYWHERE playing a game. You don’t have to be stuck in front of a computer monitor or a couch. You can literally game anywhere a touch screen device can be taken to.
Gaming addiction is as real as any other addiction. Thanks to technology gaming can be helpful, but it can hurt relationships too. You might not quite understand how exactly gaming addiction effects relationships but it is very real. The stories of video games hurting marriages are very real. I am a prime example of missing work and school just to play a game. I use to be afraid of admitting I had an addiction but I’ve personally gotten over it. It can be crippling to defeat this addiction because gaming is so widespread now. I promise you there is much more to life than a computer game. Humans weren’t created to only vegetate in front of a game. Once a person realizes they have an addiction it’s best to get support from your friends and family. Maybe you’ll have to sell your stuff to break the addiction. If you do it isn’t a complete loss. You’ll get money back to purchase more meaningful things. For example: You decide to take up painting to replace your gaming. If you aren’t ready to part with your gaming just yet it’s alright. Don’t hesitate in reaching out for help from a loved one even if it is only your pet. If you do decide to eventually sell your stuff there are websites like Music Magpie where you can sell your gaming devices and get cash back instantly. There is life outside of games. Don’t miss out on relationships because your character or farm needs to be tended to.
About the Author: Desiree Morris is a stay at home mom and blogger behind The Miracle Momma. Originally starting out as a blog to discuss the effects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder from the Joplin Tornado, The Miracle Moma has grown into a resource for women looking for recipes, reviews, tutorials, and much more.
I couldn’t agree more – I hate that my husband plays video games… all. the. time…
I can agree – gaming can really kill relationships. My ex husbands gaming did hinder our relationship. it felt that the game was more important than the family. (it wasn’t what Caused the split up, but it did put a start to it)
My hubby and son fall into the console gamer. We have tons of systems and they are now talking about the new PS4 and XBox720 coming out near Christmas time… which they plan on getting. The only difference is… I don’t see an issue with it. I don’t see it as an addiction. When I tell my son to get off of it, he never complains. He shuts it off and joins us in whatever I ask him to. Same with my hubby. He does spend a while every night on it, but only after he puts our daughter to bed. He watches tv too, so he’s not only a game system ONLY. I am usually next to him on my laptop. When he’s done, I am usually done. If he stayed on for hours when I wanted him off of it – I would not be too happy. I would hate to be in a relationship where we fought or disagreed about this stuff.
I see and hear about husbands who spend most of their evenings gaming and my heart breaks for their wives. I would seriously go nuts living with that, and I wish someone could help those men see how much they are missing out on in the REAL world, and how they are neglecting their families.
Boy, I’ve definitely been there. My husband now just plays the occasional iPad word game. Nothing big. But I’ve had some serious issues in the past. One year, my ex even bought me a Playstation game for Valentine’s Day…and I didn’t even have a Playstation!!
My name is Sarah and I am an addict. Not gaming, just internet – mostly entering contests. I manage most of the time to not let it interfere with the rest of my life.
My husband was once a video game addict. He’s now addicted to playing guitar.
I think more men play the games than women. I also think there is to much of it soaking up their lives. I have no one that does that here – he has other habits thast are ruining our relationship. To many people are glued to there phones.
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