Signs and Symptoms of Teen Problematic Gaming

Problematic gaming can manifest in many different forms due to the plethora of access teenagers have to technology. The many different devices, many of which are required for schooling purposes, provide a flooding of dopamine in the brain if they are misused. This flooding of the dopaminergic pathways in the brain create a neurobiological wiring of seeking comfort, safety, and pleasure through gaming that cannot be achieved through everyday life activities. For anyone who has witnessed this process unfold, they can tell you how this has impacted their child’s ability to function in school, within the family, and socially. The debilitating effects of problematic gaming can often times mirror the neurological impact of serious drug use and cause many of the same biopsychosocial problems.