Gaming itself is not the problem
Video games can provide entertainment, competition, connection, and a way to relax. Spending time gaming does not automatically mean that something is wrong.
The concern may begin when gaming becomes increasingly difficult to control or regularly takes priority over sleep, relationships, work, school, health, or other responsibilities.
Counseling can provide space to understand the pattern and develop a healthier balance between gaming and the rest of your life.
When gaming starts interfering with everyday life
Support may be useful when gaming feels increasingly difficult to manage or begins affecting important areas of your life.
- Finding it difficult to reduce the amount of time spent gaming
- Continuing to game despite problems at school, work, or home
- Using gaming primarily to escape stress or difficult emotions
- Gaming taking priority over sleep, responsibilities, or other activities
- Losing interest in hobbies or relationships outside gaming
- Repeated conflict with family or partners about gaming habits
How counseling may help
Counseling can help you identify patterns and triggers connected with gaming and explore whether stress, loneliness, anxiety, depression, boredom, or other concerns may be influencing how much you play.
You can also work on healthier routines, boundaries, coping strategies, relationships, responsibilities, and ways to create more balance between gaming and other areas of your life.
Video game addiction counseling in Tulsa and across Oklahoma
Exhale offers in-person counseling at Downtown Tulsa and South Tulsa, with virtual counseling available for eligible clients across Oklahoma.
Downtown Tulsa
1611 S Denver Ave, 74119
South Tulsa
7702 E 91st, Suite 225, 74133
Can’t make it in?
Teletherapy available statewide in Oklahoma
Questions about video game addiction counseling
The World Health Organization recognizes gaming disorder in ICD-11. It involves impaired control over gaming, giving gaming increasing priority over other activities, and continuing despite negative consequences when the pattern causes significant problems in everyday functioning.
Not necessarily. The amount of time spent gaming alone does not determine whether someone has gaming disorder. The bigger concerns are loss of control and whether gaming is significantly interfering with relationships, school, work, health, responsibilities, or other important parts of life.
Counseling can help you understand gaming patterns and triggers, explore what gaming may be providing emotionally, and develop healthier ways to balance gaming with relationships, responsibilities, sleep, and other parts of everyday life.
Gaming may sometimes become a way of coping with stress, loneliness, anxiety, low mood, or other difficult experiences. Counseling can help explore these concerns and how they may relate to gaming habits.
Virtual counseling may be available for eligible clients throughout Oklahoma, offering additional flexibility around school, work, transportation, and other responsibilities.