3 WAYS YOUR GAMINGCAN TURN TOXIC

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Ann
AJ
Kasual
Xaros
Maikiejj
Capt

Gaming is a go-to for many to unwind, connect, 
and dive into new worlds. But sometimes this 
can shift from fun to toxic. Let us break down
what these shifts can look like.

Picture this: You are all set to spend a few hours 
of leisure in between a busy day. What began as
a sweet escape quickly turned into a spiral that 
you will struggle to recover from.

Some turn to gaming for quick entertainment, others for total absorption, and for the love of competition, but when the line between
downtime and obsession starts to blur,
it stops being ‘just’ a game.

Do not get me wrong, gaming will always have a big part of my heart, and growing up as a gamer can be a vital part of development.

However, there is a dark side to every silver lining. We are talking mental health drops, cybercrime, 
and yes, maybe even a trip to a rehabilitation 
center, gulp. 

So, where can we draw the line between healthy 
and dangerous? Are there any signs?

One of the most relatable struggles you might face as a true gamer, the kind who doesn’t discriminate between single-player, multiplayer, or story-driven, is the need to play for hours and hours straight. 

While it is an honorable trait, it is unfortunately the gateway to a lot of health hazards that you need to watch out for.

These signs might seem harmless at first, but when stacked together, they form 
a pattern that is hard to ignore, 
and even harder to quit 
without intervention:

Do not panic just yet. We have got what you need coming right up. But first, let us see if your body feels the same way. 

Here are some ways your body is saying you might be gaming too much:

Again? Still nodding to a few? Then it is time for
a lifestyle change! If you are a daily gamer or
tend to spend hours in-game, this life hack 

will spare you all that drama. Before your gaming session, use the tracker below to set alarms for each of these tasks.

I know it sounds like too much, but trust me, it is
a one-time setup that makes all the difference!

You will already feel better in a few weeks. I will issue you a full imaginary refund if you don’t!

What happens when the pain is not from your poor posture or how well hydrated you are, but from 
the people you play with? Sometimes it is not just random strangers, but the ones closest to you, 

that hurt you the most. Just like in everyday life, 
the gaming world can attract toxicity. It becomes 
a perfect habitat for those who have suppressed anger and unresolved emotions. These players 

hide away under aliases and avatars to practice all forms of hatred,  manipulation, and abuse. A few 
of them even build trust only to exploit innocent players emotionally and sometimes financially!

The signs of toxicity in video games can be simple but require steady self-awareness. 

If you constantly feel uncomfortable or find 
yourself accepting a behaviour that you 
would not normally accept from someone 
you trust or love, that’s your first sign. 

Do you sometimes feel like their jokes are meant 
to harm rather than lighten the mood? 

Do they ask overly personal questions right after getting to know you? 

Questions revolving around your address, job, or school? What’s next, your credit card 
information? Hah, no thanks.

Now, let us see how we can make sure this never happens or stop it from happening. 

The key is to never take anything personally. Remember, all these behaviors are due to 
internal struggles from the players’ side. 

Next, we set our boundaries, and the beauty 
about stopping something in a video game 
world is that you don’t even have to speak.

Use mute, block, or report with zero guilt. Do not 
add fuel to the fire and simply step away calmly, saving your energy and peace. 

Finally, play with people you trust and refuse any request that seems unreasonable. Again, guilt-free. 

Just like gambling addiction, video gaming addiction is a serious condition and is linked to dopamine, 
our feel-good hormone, which is triggered once 
you start engaging in highly stimulating games, especially those that offer rewards or ranks of 
some sort.

In fact, the World Health Organization officially recognized gaming disorder as a mental health condition in 2018 and included it in the 11th 
Revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11). 

It is identified by patterns like losing control over gaming, making it a top priority at the expense of everything else, and continuing despite 
negative effects.

Imagine your brain as a slot machine. Every time you hit a rank-up or win, your brain lights up 
like Vegas. 

Doesn’t mean you are weak, but this is how most 
of our brains work. 

We tend to always be on the hunt for our “feel good” hormone, and while it is completely
normal to fall into the trap, the drawbacks
are pricey, and going back to normal is as
hard as any addiction there is.

The trouble is, gaming addiction does not show up with clear warning signs aside from what we have mentioned earlier. It becomes part of who you are
so quickly, it almost feels normal. You might catch 

yourself competing out of obligation, not passion. 
You start feeling down or irritable when you’re 
not playing. Other hobbies? They are crying in 
the corner, looking for the love and attention

you once gave them. Gaming becomes your easiest go-to for a quick dopamine fix. Here’s how you 
can flip the switch: