Gone are the days of Pong, one of the first video games ever created. We’ve evolved from pixelated 2D gameplay to the dynamic, eye-catching visuals and immersive nature of games that seemingly go on forever, like Fortnite, Roblox, and an endless stream of Dark Souls-type games. Given this shift, it’s no surprise that video game addiction is on the rise. 

In fact, 0.3% to 1% of the general population fit the criteria for a video game addiction diagnosis in the US, UK, Canada, and Germany.1 In Japan, a national survey of internet addiction was carried out, and the samples that exhibited signs of internet gaming disorder (IGD) ranged from 0.7% to 27.5%2. Another study done on gamers from Norway found that 1% of the sample could be classified as addicted gamers, while 7.3% of the sample were problem gamers.3

There are even more studies that explore what proportion of different populations are addicted gamers. This body of research highlights a global trend: video game addiction is growing in severity as daily life becomes increasingly enmeshed with technology and developers find ways to make games more addictive than ever before.

As a result, more gamers are seeking support to build healthier digital boundaries and engage with games more intentionally. This is where digital wellness coaches can bridge the gap between enjoyment and overindulgence.

How Does Excessive Gaming Impact the Brain and Mental Health?

While gaming in moderation offers many benefits, such as improving problem-solving skills, dexterity, and even social skills, too much of it can negatively impact brain function and mental health.

Dopamine exhaustion

Think back to the first time you did something exciting, like going on a rollercoaster or having caffeine for the first time. You can spend your whole life chasing that high, but it’s never quite like the first time, is it? The same can be said about playing video games.

Because playing video games releases a constant stream of dopamine, the reward chemical in the brain, it feels amazing at first. However, for a gaming addict, something starts to change over time. Ironically, people who play video games a lot tend not to have fun anymore because they develop a tolerance or reduced sensitivity to the effects of dopamine, but if they stop playing, they don’t feel good or at peace.

This dopamine exhaustion also makes gamers have difficulty finding pleasure in other activities. If they don’t enjoy reading or socializing with friends when it used to bring them joy, it might be because their dopamine circuits have been so down-regulated due to the consistency and intensity of dopamine release from gaming. As a result, addicted gamers can find it difficult to enjoy non-gaming-related activities.

Suppression of negative emotions

It’s human nature to want to avoid suffering and negative emotions. Facing them head-on can be deeply uncomfortable and require a lot of mental energy to process, so it’s no surprise that many gamers use video games as a coping mechanism to numb their feelings.

An fMRI study showed that when your amygdala is active, in other words, experiencing negative emotions like pain, fear, sadness, or anxiety, and you start playing video games, the amygdala calms down. This means video games allow us to escape our negative emotions and suppress them.4

However, suppressing emotions doesn’t make them go away. They are there whether we feel them or not. Eventually, they will come out, just in unhealthy ways. 

Moreover, constant suppression also prevents the amygdala from making connections to the hippocampus, which is the part of the brain responsible for learning. That prevents gamers from learning lessons, which slows down their progress in the game. That leads to more frustration, which gets vented out at the game, their teammates, or people they know in real life.

Increased feelings of depression

While there have been no studies that have shown that video games cause depression, some research has shown that they can increase depressive symptoms.5

A study conducted by Susan Tortolero et al. found that when compared with playing low-violence video games for less than two hours per day, playing high-violence video games for greater than two hours per day was significantly associated with a higher number of depressive symptoms among preadolescent youth.

Another study from researchers at Beijing Normal University took a group of more than 2000 students aged 16 to 21 who had gamed for more than two hours a day over the past four years. They refined this sample down to 63 gamers who fit the gaming addiction criteria and put them through MRI scans. The study found that the signals from the left amygdala (which controls emotions and is heavily involved in depression) were disrupting their prefrontal cortex (which controls reason). This meant that they were more likely to stay online, which exacerbated their depressive symptoms.6

Furthermore, people who are depressed are more prone to developing video game addiction because it helps them escape from their troubles and suppress negative emotions (as discussed above).

Poor sleep

When someone is addicted to something, it’s only natural that they prioritize that over a good night’s sleep. Gamers will play for hours on end, and often well into the night, forgoing sleep because they’re so engaged in their game. This leads to reduced total sleep time, poor sleep quality, and irregular sleep schedules.

When it does come time for bed, they experience decreased sleep quality, especially if it’s an arousing video game (e.g., competitive, action-heavy, etc.), delayed sleep onset, and possibly alteration of sleep structure.7 

That being said, non-arousing yet cognitively challenging video games have been shown to improve sleep continuity, stability, and organization.

Social isolation

People who develop a gaming addiction often prioritize gameplay over in-person interactions, leading them to neglect real-life relationships. For many, gaming fulfills core social needs—offering a sense of community, connection, and belonging. This can be especially appealing to individuals who find it difficult to make friends offline, such as those who have experienced bullying or who struggle with social anxiety.

Part of what makes gaming so compelling is its built-in system of instant gratification and predictable rewards—features that are often absent in real-world relationships. In contrast, developing meaningful in-person connections can be emotionally demanding, unpredictable, and time-consuming.

Over time, limited use of face-to-face social skills can lead to a kind of “social atrophy,” making it even harder for gamers to engage confidently in offline conversations and interactions.

That said, the reliance on digital socialization doesn’t mean gamers no longer need in-person companionship. While online relationships can be beneficial, humans are inherently wired for real-world connections. Coaches can play a vital role in helping clients reintroduce and rebuild those in-person bonds alongside their digital ones.

Irritability or aggression

While there’s no research to suggest that video games, even violent ones, lead to violent behavior, they can cause irritability and aggression in some gamers. Here are a few reasons why:

• Frustrating gameplay: Losing repeatedly and having difficulty reaching goals within the game can cause stress and anxiety. This can cause gamers to respond with anger or frustration.

• Excessive play: Spending too much time gaming—especially without breaks—can cause mental fatigue, poor sleep, and reduced emotional regulation, which may increase irritability.

• Violent game content: Some studies8,9 suggest a temporary increase in aggressive thoughts or behaviors after playing violent games, though the long-term effects are still debated.

It’s important to remember that video games don’t make every gamer irritable or angry. For many, gaming can be quite relaxing and enjoyable. It’s all about helping your clients game more intentionally to reap the rewards without suffering through the harmful effects. 

Why Do People Get Addicted to Video Games?

Like all addictions, video game addiction is a symptom of underlying issues. In order to successfully help clients build healthy gaming habits, digital wellness coaches have to help clients understand the root causes of their addiction. What are some reasons that people get addicted to video games?

• Feeling a sense of accomplishment without enduring the difficulty of many of life’s challenges, like making friends, being a top performer in sports, graduating from school, getting a well-paying job, dating, and more. 

• Seeking community and friendship, especially when it’s difficult to connect with people in real life

• Escapism from problems, like being bullied at school or living in an abusive household

• Not being challenged enough at school, work, or life in general–video games can provide a sense of accomplishment and activate the reward system in our brains

• Relying on video games as the main coping mechanism to deal with stress, anxiety, and other negative emotions 

• Relieving boredom or a lack of other interests

Some people have characteristics that make them more inclined to become addicted to video games:

• Introverted

• Autistic

• Has ADHD

• Gifted

• Overthinker

• Trouble socializing

Furthermore, while approximately the same number of men and women are gamers, men generally get more addicted to video games than women do. Research from Stanford University School of Medicine indicates that video games may activate brain reward regions more in men than women10

How Coaches Can Help Gamers Develop Healthy Digital Boundaries

Digital wellness coaches should treat gaming as a meaningful part of the client’s life rather than a problem to eliminate. After all, gaming in moderation can be beneficial. 

Be curious and supportive rather than judgmental or shame them. With this approach, you can instill trust in the client, encourage dialogue, and reduce defensiveness, which is critical for lasting behavioral changes. 

Understand why the client enjoys gaming

Start by asking questions about their favorite games and why they enjoy them. This will help you understand how the client benefits from gaming. Does it provide them with excitement in an otherwise boring life? Does it allow them to suppress their emotions? Be sure to validate the positive role gaming may play in their life before discussing potential downsides.

Interested in leveraging the principles of gaming to help your clients with motivation, goal-setting, and more? Check out the Digital Wellness Expansion Pack.

Help them become aware of their screen time

People who play video games excessively and compulsively understand that they spend a lot of time in front of their screens, but many haven’t actually calculated the number of hours they spend each day. It’s much easier for the client to reduce their time gaming and change behavior when they have a clear idea of where they stand and where they want to go.

In addition to helping your clients track how much time they spend playing video games, get them to write down how they feel before and after gaming. You could introduce journaling or digital wellness apps to identify patterns and triggers. Work with the client to see which tools and approaches would work best for them.

Create balanced routines

To create healthy gaming habits, clients need to have balanced daily routines. Encourage them to schedule gaming around essential needs such as meals, sleep, work, movement/exercise, and in-person socializing. Suggest breaks using the Pomodoro method or game-native features like in-game rest timers

Help clients dedicate screen-free moments throughout the day or week where they’re engaging in other activities that bring them joy or energize them. 

Purpose-driven play

Not all games are equal. If the client can keep a gaming journal tracking their feelings before and after they play games, this will help them determine which ones bring them joy and connection, and which ones drain them or make them irritable. Support them in curating a gaming experience that aligns with their values and wellness goals.

Micro-shifts over massive overhauls

Start with small, incremental changes. Don’t make huge changes immediately as that can be overwhelming at first, making the client much more resistant to change.

For example, dedicate 30 minutes a day to no screen time to go for a walk, meditate, journal, or just reflect. Or suggest no games before 10 a.m. Start with one change per week to avoid resistance and encourage momentum.

Supporting Healthy Gaming Habits in a Hyper-Digital World

As gaming continues to evolve and technology becomes increasingly embedded in daily life, so too does the need for intentional, balanced play. Video game addiction is rarely about the games themselves–it’s a symptom of larger problems, like unmet emotional needs, the need for stress relief, or a lack of healthier coping strategies. That’s where digital wellness coaches come into play.

By approaching their clients’ gaming with empathy and curiosity, coaches can help clients understand the why behind their habits, rebuild their routines, and find joy both online and offline. Instead of demonizing games, the goal should be to help clients take back control of their time to play with purpose, take care of their mental well-being, and reconnect with the richness of life beyond the screen.

In a world of infinite scrolling and immersive gameplay, helping someone press pause can be the most powerful thing you do.

Wittek CT, Finserås TR, Pallesen S, Mentzoni RA, Hanss D, Griffiths MD, Molde H. Prevalence and Predictors of Video Game Addiction: A Study Based on a National Representative Sample of Gamers. Int J Ment Health Addict. 2016;14(5):672-686. doi: 10.1007/s11469-015-9592-8. Epub 2015 Sep 23. PMID: 27688739; PMCID: PMC5023737.