Gaming addiction: when gaming gets out of control

Playing longer than you want while sleep, study or friends suffer? How problem gaming can show up, and why an addiction service is the first place to go.

Life online

You play for longer than you want to, and other things fade into the background: sleep, study, work, friends. Stopping is hard, even when you intend to.

How it can show up

You play much longer than you intended.
Sleep, study, work or friends lose out.
When you can't play, you get irritable or restless.
Attempts to play less don't last long.

Questions for you

There are no right answers. Take the question that stays with you.

How many hours did you play last week?
What does gaming give you that you don't get elsewhere?
What has suffered most from it recently?
What keeps you from contacting an addiction counselling service?

When other help fits better

If you can no longer control your gaming despite negative consequences, contact an addiction counselling service. Many also advise on gaming, often free of charge and confidentially.

What coaching can do

Coaching is not the right first help if gaming may have become an addiction.

If it is too much right now

Coaching is not psychotherapy and not a crisis service. If you are in danger or thinking about harming yourself, contact the emergency services where you are right away, or a crisis service near you.