The immersive realm of virtual characters, along with the pursuit of survival and sustainability in games during prolonged sessions, can have an addictive effect on gamers, impacting their mental health. Hence, to take care of mental health is the foremost priority for people indulged in gaming. Here are some adverse impacts on brain of excessive gaming that leads to addition:
1. Sleep Deprivation
A proven fact supported by health experts, gaming impacts sleeping pattern excessively. Reason? Screen omits blue light that disbalances melatonin production, a hormone that regulates sleep in humans. This leads gamers to a disturbed sleep cycle.
2. Sitting Longer: Not Good For Health
Sitting longer affects posture that ultimately leads to strained muscles and backaches. Studies suggest, longer sitting hours are closely related to increased anxiety, stress, and even depression.
3. Cyberbullying In Online Interactions
Yet another challenge faced by gamers – cyberbullying. This can inflict detrimental impacts on mental health as well as emotional distress.
Setting Boundaries
To avoid addiction of gaming and the hazardous effects including stress and burnout, setting boundary is a mandate. Let’s decode what gamers should be aware of to maintain their mental health:
Healthy Gaming Habit
Set specific time slots for gaming and to your commitment while honouring responsibilities outside the virtual world. Also, limiting gaming sessions as per weeks or everyday facilitates balance. Means, lesser the gaming, lesser the impacts.
Take A Break
In between longer gaming sessions, manage to take small breaks to take a short walk or do some physical activity. Schedule breaks and indulge in active gaming movement and practise gaming-friendly exercises.
Acknowledge The Need For Help
Most importantly, gamers should be aware of the signs when their gaming addiction is taking a toll of their mental health. Feeling anxious or irritable are some of the common and initial signs of gaming addiction. Gradually, the addiction leads to neglecting responsibilities, sleep, or social life due to excessive gaming. This is the right time to seek assistance of a professional mental health expert. Timely treatment and required precautions are keys to healthy lifestyle.
