You have a gaming addiction and you have a gaming addiction. In fact, there are addictions to virtual realities, such as world of warcraft, or conversely, addictions to social games, such as Candy Crush. This addiction, like other gaming addictions, can get incredibly out of control, and there are several causes for this. Because of this, there are also several solutions to stop the addiction to Candy Crush, for example.
In this blog, I discuss the causes of social games addictions and what you can do to stop this addiction.
Candy Crush, Angry Birds, Trivial Check and many more simple games are irresistible to more and more people. While most people when they think of gaming addiction quickly think of shooters and online role-playing games, addiction to "silly" games can nevertheless also be a big problem for those of us who do not have a gaming PC or game console.
These are all games that you can easily play on the go on your smartphone, so they are always at hand. Where one person is always reading the news or just keeping up with what friends and family are doing on social media while waiting for the bus, another person is playing Candy Crush.
So far, this is actually quite normal behavior, but when do you really suffer from an addiction to Candy Crush or other similar games?
You're addicted to Candy Crush or other silly games if you can't put it aside to spend time with your friends and family. Do you actually have to have dinner and still need to bust some balls?
Addicted.
Do you actually have to work, but you need the ball shooting to relax for a while and then you were already an hour away?
Addicted.
You spend money to shoot the balls even better when you don't actually have the money to do so?
Addicted.
You miss the train because that one line of balls is so close now?
Addicted.
If you no longer have the control to lead a normal social and workable life due to mobile games, chances are you suffer from gaming addiction. Yes, even people who do not identify themselves as nerds at all can be addicted to gaming. The game just has a different name than World of Warcraft.
Causes for addiction to "silly" games.
Chinese research shows that there can be multiple causes of addiction to a game such as Candy Crush. Namely:
- Boredom
- Loneliness
- Game mobility (convenience).
- How fun the game is for you
Boredom
In case of boredom, you can start playing these games to dispel boredom. It's easy and you reach new levels quickly, because of this the boredom is often also gone faster than with difficult shooters or virtual reality games that are often a bit more challenging and therefore less quickly satisfying.
If you are often bored, a simple game on your cell phone can be incredibly helpful, and eventually this can turn into an addiction. Pretty soon you find that you are bored and so you need a simple game to dispel that boredom.
Loneliness
Loneliness can also contribute to developing addiction to Candy Crush or a similar game. This is because it is a game you can play on your own and does not require friends.
In addition, you can invite an online friend to play against you to see who can achieve the highest score. This competitive element and the ability to connect with other people through this way means that for lonely people, this game can still make them feel like they are still in touch with other people.
However, this contact is often not deep enough to truly dispel loneliness.
Game Mobility
Candy Crush and similar games can be played anywhere because you can take your smartphone anywhere. Giving in to this addiction is therefore much easier than gaming addiction that requires a PC or game console.
In the process, mobility in the game itself is also greater because you get results faster than in difficult shooters without the danger of your avatar dying. This often feels much more threatening in shooters and virtual worlds than in a game like Candy Crush, making Candy Crush more fun to play for some people.
How fun the game is for you
Of course, getting fun out of the game is very important for getting addicted to the game. The lucky moments in Candy Crush are often numerous as fun visual effects are added when you make a row of candies disappear. This already creates a nice feeling and, of course, so does actually passing a level.
What is strange is that just like a slot machine addiction , almost passing a level creates a frustration that actually encourages you to continue playing. In a slot machine, 4 pictures have to be the same and then you only get 3 in a row right. However, you were so close to winning that you continue, because your gut tells you that it should be okay then.
Because many games you have to play on your smartphone are a kind of puzzle, they can also be very addictive. Candy Crush is like a puzzle like Sudoku which was also very popular a few years ago. Only difference is that in Sudoku there are not many effects added that give the brain a reward when you have solved the puzzle.
Chances of getting addicted to Candy Crush
Chinese research also shows that of the 409 people who participated in Candy Crush, 7.3 percent, or just over 7 out of every 100 people, were addicted to the game.
You are also more likely to become addicted to such games if you are a woman and between the ages of 20 and 25. This is an age that is very important at the beginning of your career and for finding a partner with whom you want to grow old.
An addiction to a game on your smartphone is not going to help you then.
Stop your addiction to smartphone games
To improve your chances of living a fun and fulfilling life, it is important to get rid of addiction to games. There are several things you can undertake to get rid of this.
Find out the cause of your addiction
Being female and being of a certain age obviously cannot be seen as a cause for your addiction. Other factors already mentioned are more likely to be the root cause. It is therefore very important to identify the cause, is it boredom, loneliness or really the "gambling addict" element in Candy Crush that almost "wins" you every time.
By identifying the cause of your addiction, you can see if you can do something about that cause.
Tip #1: Meet up with friends when you're bored
If boredom or loneliness is your problem that you are trying to play away, you can call or even meet with friends or family members instead. Don't have friends or family members? Then see if you can join something else social. For example, join a sports club or join a workshop.
Tip 2: Keep track of when you start playing the game
Keeping track in a journal of when you play the game can give you 2 confrontations. First, this can be a mirror showing that you spend as much as 8 to 12 hours a day playing Candy Crush, especially on weekends.
On the other hand, tracking game times can show you why you play. Do you suddenly need to play to reduce stress or is it really just boredom?
Tip 3: Use hypnosis
Hypnosis can also help you very well against this addiction. The beliefs you have about the game can be examined with hypnosis. Why has Candy Crush become so important to you and how do you make sure you don't need the "shot" anymore?
Figuring out beliefs with hypnosis also allows you to see which beliefs need to be weakened and which beliefs can be strengthened.
You can do this with hypnotic suggestions such as:
"Spending time with my family and friends is more important than the game."
"While waiting for the train, I can also take in my surroundings, which is also safer."
"Spending money on a game is wasted money. I'm better off putting this in the piggy bank and rewarding myself at the end of the week."
Tip 4: Save the money you normally spend on the game
Instead of spending the money on the game, you can also put the money into your savings account or into a piggy bank every time you get the urge to spend it on the game. Then at the end of the week you can reward yourself with that money. Who knows, maybe now you can buy more nice clothes or even a day at the amusement park.
There are, of course, other techniques for stopping addictions. Want to learn more about these? Then come to a playshop or check out Hypnosis Insitute Netherlands' training courses.
Sources:
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S073658531500132X
https://arxiv.org/pdf/1403.1911.pdf
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10899-016-9633-7
https://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/MarkGriffiths/20131029/203442/Bitter_sweet_A_brief_look_at_addiction_to_Candy_Crush.php
