When the Game Takes Over: A Guide to Understanding and Treating Internet Gaming Disorder in Melbourne
- Dr Daniel Shaw
- Sep 4
- 4 min read
For millions of people, gaming is a fun, social, and engaging hobby. It's a way to unwind, connect with friends, and challenge your mind. But for some, the line between a beloved pastime and a harmful compulsion can become blurred. When the virtual world consistently takes priority over the real world, causing significant negative consequences, you may be dealing with Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD).
IGD is a recognised mental health condition by the World Health Organisation. It is not a moral failing or a lack of willpower; it is a complex behavioural addiction where a person loses control over their gaming habits. At Shaw Psychology, our Melbourne clinical psychologists, general psychologists, and counsellors provide expert, non-judgmental support to help you understand the pull of the game and get back in control of your life.
Understanding the Signs of Gaming Disorder
How do you know if your gaming has crossed the line? According to clinical guidelines, IGD is characterised by a pattern of behaviour lasting at least 12 months, where several of the following are present:
Preoccupation with Gaming: You spend a lot of time thinking about past gaming sessions or anticipating the next one. The game becomes the dominant activity in your daily life.
Withdrawal Symptoms: When you can't play, you feel irritable, anxious, sad, or restless. These negative feelings are only relieved by gaming again.
Tolerance: You feel the need to spend increasing amounts of time gaming to achieve the same sense of excitement or satisfaction.
Loss of Control: You have repeatedly tried to control, cut back, or stop gaming, but have been unsuccessful.
Giving Up Other Activities: You have lost interest in hobbies and entertainments that you used to enjoy before gaming.
Gaming Despite Problems: You continue to game despite knowing it causes significant problems in your relationships, education, career, or psychological well-being.
Deception: You have lied to family members, therapists, or others about the true extent of your gaming.
Escape: You game to escape from or relieve negative moods, such as feelings of helplessness, guilt, anxiety, or depression.
Jeopardising Your Future: You have risked or lost a significant relationship, job, or educational or career opportunity because of gaming.
Why Are Modern Games So Hard to Quit?
It's important to understand that modern games, particularly "free" games, are often designed in consultation with behavioural psychologists to be as engaging as possible. They use powerful psychological hooks that can foster compulsion:
Variable Reward Schedules: Think of a poker machine. You never know when the next reward (e.g., rare loot, a level up) will come, which makes you want to keep playing "just one more time."
Social Obligation: In multiplayer games, you can feel a strong sense of obligation to your team or guild, making it hard to log off when others are counting on you.
Sense of Escape & Achievement: The virtual world can provide a powerful sense of accomplishment, control, and social status that may feel lacking in the real world.
Virtual Punishment for Disengagement: Many games, especially free games, will actively punish users who reduce their use of the game by reducing access to features of a game, or diminishing their ability to compete fairly.
A First Step You Can Take Today: Track the Reality
The first step to regaining control is to get an honest, objective picture of your gaming habits. The mind can be very good at underestimating the time spent.
For the next three days, use a simple notebook or a note-taking app on your phone.
Before you start a gaming session, write down the time.
When you finish, write down the time you stopped.
Also, make a brief note of why you stopped (e.g., "Had to go to bed," "Felt tired," "Partner got angry," "Felt guilty").
At the end of the week, add it all up. Don't judge the number, just look at it. Seeing the raw data—the total hours spent—can be a powerful wake-up call and a crucial first step in motivating change.
An example:
David, a 19-year-old university student in Melbourne, was barely passing his courses. He told his parents it was because the lectures were boring, but the reality was that he was spending 40-50 hours a week playing an online role-playing game. He felt a deep sense of belonging with his online guild, but was increasingly isolated in real life. After his girlfriend broke up with him over his gaming, he sought help. His psychologist helped him track his gaming time, and seeing the number written down—52 hours in one week—was a profound shock. It was the evidence he needed to honestly admit the game had taken control and to begin the work of reclaiming his life.
(Please note: This is a fictional vignette created for illustrative purposes only.)
How Therapy Helps You Disconnect from the Game and Reconnect with Your Life
Recovering from Gaming Disorder is not necessarily about quitting gaming forever, but about putting it back in its proper place as a balanced hobby. Using evidence-based therapies like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), we help you to:
Identify the specific triggers and emotional needs that your gaming is fulfilling.
Develop practical strategies for managing cravings and withdrawal symptoms.
Build healthier coping mechanisms for stress, anxiety, and boredom.
Challenge the unhelpful thoughts that keep you stuck in the gaming loop.
Set realistic goals to gradually reconnect with offline activities, relationships, and responsibilities.
You Can Press Reset
If you feel like your life is being controlled by a game, know that there is a way to log off from the compulsion and log back into your life. Regaining control is possible with the right support.
Contact us today on (03) 9969 2190, visit our website at www.shawpsychology.com to learn more, or book an initial consultation directly online here: https://bit.ly/bookshawpsychology.
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