You surely would have already heard about the clichй that the first step to curing a problem is to recognize the problem applies to video game addiction. Being an obsessive video gamer has negative effects to your life as a whole, so it is much better to recognize the earliest symptoms so that you can cut down on playing and treat the compulsion before it worsens to an addiction. Here are some of the questions that you need to ask yourself in order to determine whether you are addicted to video gaming or not.

Does the number of hours that you spend in front of the computer to play games increase gradually? Are you obsessed with the thought of overcoming a particular hurdle in the game even while you are doing other activities? Do you often play when you are feeling anxious, depressed or when dealing with family problems? Do you get agitated at the thought of being 'caught' playing video games and having to cut down your playing time? If you answered yes to all of these questions, they are sure signs of video game addiction. If this is the case, your best option is to seek professional treatment as soon as possible.

If you do not see the harm in being addicted to video games, just think of the impact that it will have to your child's life. With too much gaming, their social growth will be stunted. Instead of engaging in physical activities which will help keep them fit, they will be sitting for hours in isolation in their rooms. Even the time which should have been spent doing their homework or being in study groups will be dedicated to video gaming instead. As a parent, it is your responsibility to see to it that your children are not exposed to the negative effects of online or video gaming, so try to set limits to their gaming time as much as possible.