Internet & Gaming Disorder
Gaming or internet use that has taken over time, sleep, school, work, or relationships. The WHO's ICD-11 recognizes Gaming Disorder; the DSM-5 lists it as a condition for further study.
What to know. Not a substance, but the loss-of-control pattern is real — and it often appears alongside anxiety, depression, or ADHD.
What major medical bodies recommend first when this condition is the focus of care.
Off-label medications can be used in addition to behavioral therapy.
How clinicians think about it.
Clinicians look for a sustained pattern — over roughly a year — where gaming or internet use is no longer in your control and is crowding out the rest of life. A hobby isn't a disorder; harm and loss of control are what matter.
- ·Thinking about it much of the day
- ·Trying to cut back without success
- ·Needing more time to feel satisfied
- ·Losing sleep, school, or work to it
- ·Pulling away from friends and family
- ·Continuing despite clear problems
- ·Restless or irritable when unable to play
- ·Using it to escape low mood or stress
- ·Hiding how much time is spent
Plainly: what makes this condition dangerous.
Disrupted sleep and falling school or work performance
Social withdrawal and strained relationships
Often occurs alongside depression, anxiety, or ADHD
What's offered, and what we usually start with.
The best-studied approach — building structure, limits, and alternative routines.
Addressing underlying depression, anxiety, or ADHD often changes the whole picture.
Especially helpful for teens and young adults still building independence.
Asked often, answered briefly.
The World Health Organization's ICD-11 recognizes Gaming Disorder, and the DSM-5 includes Internet Gaming Disorder as a condition for further study. The point isn't labeling a hobby — it's when use becomes compulsive and is clearly causing harm.