Video games can be a fun and amazing coping mechanism for some, but the cons of using video games as a coping mechanism are dangerous and risky. 

According to a study conducted by  Douglas Gentile, a professor of psychology at Iowa State University, “For most people, playing video games is a normal, healthy way to relieve stress, but some reach a point and can no longer control that behavior. Loss of control is, of course, a hallmark of addiction. ” 

Dr. Gentile’s researchers found, using video games as a coping mechanism for anxiety, predicted symptoms of gaming disorder. Higher levels of stress increased the risk.

Gaming disorder is when you play certain games that will provide you with a high amount of dopamine. An overexposure to this level of stimulation can cause structural changes to the brain. Gamers would need to take a break for at least 12 months in order for their brains to return to normal.

Students will say that video games distract them from school or even from things going on at home. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), gaming behaviour patterns can affect family, social, and educational developments. 

Not only is gaming a bad coping mechanism but it could really put an impact in your life because it can really affect your relationships with your daily and even your friends. 

Students who feel like they might develop a gaming disorder may want to work on other ways of relieving anxiety, stress, and boredom in healthier ways. So get up, put your shoes on, and go for a walk.