The Gaming Addiction Workbook

Video game addictions, also known as gaming disorders, or internet gaming disorders, are generally defined as a problematic, compulsive use of video and/or internet games that results in significant impairment to a person's ability to function in various life domains over a prolonged period of time. The American Medical Association (2007) defines heavy game use as playing video games for more than two hours per day. Estimates of the amount of time gamers spend playing video games vary from 6 to 12 hours per week. Some reports suggest that gamers actually spend about a quarter of their leisure time playing video games.

As with all types of behavioral and physical addictions, the possibility of a video game addiction is not only the amount of time spent gaming, but also the function it is serving for the individual. Video game playing, like other recreational activities, may not be harmful or indicate an addiction. However, when game playing becomes addictive, it can take over as the person's main way of coping with life, with other important areas of life being neglected or disrupted as a result.

The purpose of The Gaming Addiction Workbook is to provide helping professionals with cognitive and behavioral assessments, tools, and exercises that can be utilized to treat the root psychological causes of a gaming addiction. It is designed to help people identify and change negative, unhealthy thoughts and behaviors that may have led to a gaming addiction. The activities contained in this workbook can help participants identify their triggers that can lead to a preoccupation with playing video games and teach them ways to overcome and manage those triggers.

The Gaming Addiction Workbook will help participants to...

• Build self-esteem in positive capabilities outside of playing video games.
• Develop greater self-acceptance and the ability to change ineffective behaviors.
• Learn ways to live a new life without a preoccupation with video games.
• Recognize that they are experiencing an addiction problem.
• Reflect and become aware of the behaviors that were part of and arose from the addiction.
• Understand the triggers for preoccupation with video games.
• Understand recurring patterns that indicate a gaming addiction.

The Gaming Addiction Workbook is a practical tool for any professional who works with people living with behavioral addictions. Depending on the role of the person using this workbook and the specific group or individual's needs, the modules can be used either individually or as part of an integrated curriculum. The facilitator may choose to administer one of the activities to a group or use some of the assessments over one or more days as a workshop.

The Five Modules

This workbook contains five separate modules of activity-based handouts that will help participants learn more about themselves and about their addiction to playing video games. These modules serve as avenues for self-reflection and group experiences revolving around topics of importance in the lives of the participants in the group.

The activities in this workbook are user-friendly and varied to provide a comprehensive way of analyzing, strengthening, and developing characteristics, skills, and attitudes for overcoming an addiction to video games.

The activities, handouts, and assessments in this workbook are completely reproducible and can be photocopied and/or revised for direct participant use.