Main

Sections

Features

News 12 Originals

Choose Your Region

Be the first to know

Topics you care about, straight to your inbox

Your email address

Main

Sections

Features

News 12 Originals

Default

Be the first to know

Topics you care about, straight to your inbox

Your email address

12 on Health: Video 'gaming disorder'

<p>Playing video games too much will now be recognized as a disorder by the World Health Organization.&nbsp;</p>

News 12 Staff

•

Dec 29, 2017, 11:40 AM

•

Updated 2,303 days ago

Share:

Playing video games too much will now be recognized as a disorder by the World Health Organization.
"There is a lot of debate as to what a gaming disorder is. For myself, as a child psychiatrist, it has a lot to do with what would be abnormal for gamers in what would impair your functioning," Brooklyn Dr. Owen Muirm says.
WHO says it's adding excessive video game disorder to its list of international classification of diseases in 2018.
Muir says the move gives medical professionals more resources to research and treat the addiction. 
"It's not what your 80-year-old mother thinks is too much video games. It's what is actually kind of out of the norm and causes impairment in work and school life."
Muir says treatments for gaming disorder will vary.
He says games, unlike some addictions, are designed to keep you engaged.
Games trigger your brain's reward system and make you want to come back for more.
"If you're playing video games so much that you're not leaving your house, you're not eating your food, you're not going to school, you're not going to work; those are problems in your life," he says.
Muir says the first step is to get an evaluation from a doctor who will be able to tell you if playing too many games is an actual problem
or the root of other issues.
He suggests seeing a psychologist or a physiatrist for help if you believe you may be spending too much time playing video games.
More from News 12
0:32
Authorities: Bronx River Parkway crash leaves 1 person dead, another in critical condition

Authorities: Bronx River Parkway crash leaves 1 person dead, another in critical condition

2:04
Police arrest, charge suspect linked to fatal teen stabbing over parking dispute in Morris Heights

Police arrest, charge suspect linked to fatal teen stabbing over parking dispute in Morris Heights

1:43
Cloudy with unseasonably cool temperatures for NYC; showers return tonight

Cloudy with unseasonably cool temperatures for NYC; showers return tonight

1:39
Have any weekend plans? See what's happening across the Bronx for Earth Day

Have any weekend plans? See what's happening across the Bronx for Earth Day

0:37
Man set on fire after argument with another man in Melrose, NYPD says

Man set on fire after argument with another man in Melrose, NYPD says

0:26
Bronx's Jennifer Lopez honored with Premio Orgullo at Latino benefit event

Bronx's Jennifer Lopez honored with Premio Orgullo at Latino benefit event

1:51
Vendors rally to demand accessible vendor licenses and permits after DSNY crackdowns

Vendors rally to demand accessible vendor licenses and permits after DSNY crackdowns

1:54
Morrisania tenants taking legal stance against building’s management

Morrisania tenants taking legal stance against building’s management

2:11
Bronx Zoo celebrates 125 years of bringing joy to New Yorkers

Bronx Zoo celebrates 125 years of bringing joy to New Yorkers

Is your mom awesome? New York City tell us why your Mom Rocks!

Is your mom awesome? New York City tell us why your Mom Rocks!

0:54
Guide: How to host Passover on a budget

Guide: How to host Passover on a budget

2:04
Bronx River Parkway undergoes construction; prepare for traffic delays

Bronx River Parkway undergoes construction; prepare for traffic delays

1:53
Bronx man hard at work to fight off catalytic converter thieves

Bronx man hard at work to fight off catalytic converter thieves

0:26
NYPD: Man wanted for breaking into Bronx building twice in 10 days

NYPD: Man wanted for breaking into Bronx building twice in 10 days

0:24
Police: Man steals 77-year-old's wallet at Chase Bank in Kingsbridge

Police: Man steals 77-year-old's wallet at Chase Bank in Kingsbridge

0:23
Spring Arrival: Hummingbirds heading to New York

Spring Arrival: Hummingbirds heading to New York

2:19
Denim takes over Bronx Borough Hall for day dedicated to raising sexual assault awareness

Denim takes over Bronx Borough Hall for day dedicated to raising sexual assault awareness

1:34
NYPD says new campaign has lowered crime citywide; some New Yorkers don’t buy it

NYPD says new campaign has lowered crime citywide; some New Yorkers don’t buy it

2:09
Federal civil rights complaint filed against NYC Public Schools Athletic League

Federal civil rights complaint filed against NYC Public Schools Athletic League

2:10
NYS Federation of Taxi Drivers offer $5,000 reward after string of carjackings and robberies

NYS Federation of Taxi Drivers offer $5,000 reward after string of carjackings and robberies