Is gaming on sites like ICE Casino a healthy habit? What about casual games where you do not spend money? Experts are torn between two camps. Some say that it is bad for mental health, and some say it can help stimulate the brain.
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What Is Gaming Disorder?
Is there such a thing as gaming disorder? What is it, and how do you know if it is happening? Gaming disorder is different from gambling addiction. In this kind of disorder, one would see a pattern of gaming behavior. In this case, the person has impaired control over their gaming habits. In this case, the person prioritizes playing games over other more important activities.
It is a disorder because it affects the person’s functionality — people become too obsessed with the fictional world, and their behavior affects their interaction with their family, friends, and work. It makes them unable to perform duties and create social interactions.
Can Video Games Do Good?
Studies are showing that titles can improve socialization, improvement in focus, and other things that the brain does.
Here are the other benefits of games:
- Improvement in focus.
- Increased ability in multitasking.
- Better memory and cognition.
Companies recognize these benefits and give their employees time to play games exclusively made for them. In 2021, a story suggests that video games may even address symptoms of anxiety and depression for some people.
What Are the Bad Effects of Video Games?
If a video game is good, how come some people advocate that gaming is a bad thing? Back in 2019, the Frontiers in Psychology found that excessive gaming is a contributor to depression, hostility, and anxiety.
There are also studies showing that video gaming can result in people failing to cope properly with society. It is not unusual for some gamers to be socially withdrawn. The students who game too much end up being alone and do poorly in school.
The key difference here is that the gamers who showed negative symptoms are excessive gamers. On the other hand, those who play at a moderate level display positive results. The consensus is that excessive gaming is what people should avoid, while moderate gaming is highly recommended.
What Are the Positive Effects of Gaming?
As discussed earlier, gaming is not always a lousy thing. It does have a positive impact on the human brain, and many people can improve if they game moderately. In this section, we will provide you with some more details about the positive effects on mental health.
Better Cognitive Abilities
Video titles can help a person improve cognitive abilities, or the ability to recognize things. Particularly, video games can improve visuospatial skills and concentration.
Visuospatial skills are skills that allow you to recognize objects and, subsequently remember them. This skill is so important in everyday life, and we use it all the time. For example, we use this skill in driving, finding our way out in a mall, and more.
In games, a player has to understand all sorts of objects and remember what they are for. For example, well-known titles like World of Warcraft and Diablo require you to have a good memory.
To elaborate on that, let us talk about Diablo. The Diablo game uses too many types of potions superpowers and special abilities. It takes some serious level of memory to remember all these things. In addition, you must also assign specific keys to these powers and activate them at the right moment
Logical & Problem-Solving Skills
Games improve a person’s ability to solve problems. After all, all games are about solving problems. There are researchers who performed a test on 27 professional gamers and saw that these gamers had heightened sensitivity in some parts of the brain. What this means is that they have an increased skill in problem-solving and logic.
Ability to Multi-Task
Gamers can multitask because modern games make it so that you can perform several things all at once. For example, a game like Counter-Strike requires you to watch where your enemies are coming from, shoot them, reload, and many more.
Because of this, gamers also show a significant improvement in their decision-making skills. In hectic games like the one mentioned earlier, you must decide immediately, and that decision has to be precise. If you make a mistake, you will lose the game.
Final Thoughts
Overall, anything excessive is bad, including games. At best, one must find ways to live a balanced and healthy lifestyle, both physically and mentally. Games provide a certain type of stimulation and relaxation, and it is particularly special because the player has an involvement with the outcome. In summary, all gamers must allocate a budget for time and money on games and do other things that will give them a balanced life.
