Are you addicted to gaming? Take our test!

If you, a member of your family, or someone you know, spends too much time playing video or computer games or going online, they may need a little extra help and support. How can you know when you’re having when too much of a good thing when it comes to games?

Take our test and find out whether you need some help.

Our game addiction test

Instructions: Score yourself out of 5 for the following statements where 0 is ‘Not True’ and 5 is ‘Totally True’.

1. You play games every day without fail.
2. You look forward to playing your games when you get home from work or school.
3. You feel very happy when you’re playing -sometimes euphoric.
4. When you stop playing you feel annoyed, angry or upset.
5. If you aren’t playing you have feelings of restlessness and irritability.
6. You prefer playing games to any other pastime such as watching films, reading or sports.
7. You say you’re just ‘checking your email’ and then spend hours online playing your games.
8. You completely lose track of time.
9. You prefer playing games than meeting friends socially.
10. You have many friends online that you’ve never met.
11. You lie about how you spend your free time.
12. Other areas of your life are suffering – perhaps work, or you don’t cook, or clean.
13. You use gaming to avoid confronting how you are feeling about other areas of your life, such as stress at work, grief after a bereavement or a relationship breakdown, or concerns about finances or your health.
14. You get up in the night to check on how things are going in your games.
15. You spend a lot of money on games, or progressing in games, upgrading your hardware and software packages, and accessories.
16. You feel guilty.
17. You have physical symptoms. This can include difficulty sleeping, headaches and migraines, back and neck ache, dry eyes, or carpal tunnel syndrome.
18. You stay up so late at night playing games that your work or education suffer.
19. You suffer with fatigue.
20. You sometimes spend all day in your sleepwear and forget to shower or eat.

Results

If you scored less than 40, you are interested in playing games but they don’t dominate your life. If you scored 40-60, you may want to think about easing back on your game playing. For anything above 61, you need to take a long hard look at your gaming habits and think about getting some support. If you dismiss this as nonsense, you may need help now.

Remember that there are negative consequences for any addiction, it is never healthy to skip meals or reduce the amount of sleep you’re getting and social isolation can lead to a host of emotional issues. No-one would suggest never playing video games, or games online, but ‘everything in moderation’ should be the key.

Other articles

Is your sex life putting your relationship at risk?

Sexual desire is a complex interaction of hormones, emotions and well-being. When your partner is not as interested in sex as you are, it’s rarely a rejection of you as a person. So it’s essential to be as empathetic as you can regarding your differing libidos.

Signs of depression under the radar

It is not always obvious when someone is experiencing depression. Some people with depression mask their symptoms, hiding their feelings behind a smile to convince others they are happy.

Isn't depression just a fancy word for feeling a bit down?

Mental health issues such as depression and anxiety affect around 1 in 6 people at some stage of their life. Despite it being such a common problem, many sufferers wait months or even years before seeking help.

Why not me?

It's natural to compare our own lives with those of others - weighing up the pros and cons of situations helps us make decisions. But there can be a downside when you find you're constantly comparing yourself with others, envying their seemingly perfect lives and wondering why they are luckier, more prosperous, and better looking than you.

Simple tips to not be afraid of the future

No one knows what the future holds, so don't waste time and energy worrying about it. Read our tips and find out how to stop being afraid of what might never happen.

Are most people good or bad?

Do you sometimes despair about humanity because it seems there are far more bad people than good? Are we primarily selfish individuals, thinking only about our own needs? Or is this cynical belief just because we spend so much time online? The truth is more complicated!

Do We Label Too Fast?

Nowadays, it can sometimes seem almost everyone has a mental health issue or learning disorder. But, are we too quick to label people, or is it that we are more aware of the problems? This article looks at some of the issues surrounding these sensitive questions.

12 easy ways to get people to like you

Have you ever noticed that some people are instantly likeable? Many people believe that people will only like you because of natural traits you're born with: good looks, talent and sociability. But this is a misconception. Getting people to like you is within your control, and it's all to do with self-belief, knowing yourself and being emotionally intelligent. Here's what to do to be more likeable.

Choose for your happiness!

Being happy is something everybody strives for, but unfortunately there are a lot of people who go through life unhappily. A lot of people take life how it is.

Are you resilient enough? Take our quiz!

Do you have enough resilience to face the world out there? Take our quiz to find out how resilient you are and find tips on how to build your mental resilience.