Laila Ali

Your husband cannot take his hand off the console for the PS4 device for example, and although he does not find that a big problem, you notice that he is moving away from you and being let down in some important things that should have been done, you are now sure that his hold of video games has become An obstacle to living the real married life.

Do you sometimes suspect that it should not make it a big problem, in fact, the World Health Organization officially recognizes "gaming disorder" as a mental health problem.

"Most people today live in two worlds, the real world and the internet world, and this has serious implications for marital relationships in the 21st century," said Stephen Snyder, professor of psychiatry at the ICANN College of Medicine in an article on QDT.

One of the most common ways people live on the Internet is video games, and even the video game industry makes more money than movie and music combined.

The video game industry makes more money than the movie and music industry combined (Pixels)

But before you hammer a hammer on your husband's "Xbox" to want to destroy it and finish the problems it causes, try five ways to tackle the problem, according to author Lindsay Champion in her article on Pure Wow.

1- The cause of mania
Find out why he's obsessed, for you, it is easy to dismiss video games as a waste of time and because they are meaningless, but according to a study by the Department of Psychology at the University of Missouri, Colombia, most people play video games for three reasons, escaping from daily life, and considering it a social outlet to play with Friends, be it remotely or in the same place, the third reason is reaching a sense of victory that works by scoring reward points in the brain.

Champion says, once you realize that your husband is attached to video games for the same reason that makes you voraciously shopping for example, which is that it helps to relieve stress and relax after work the more you can empathize with him.

2- Confession
Acknowledging that video games are a hobby and not an enemy, if you can think about playing your husband as a hobby rather than as a troublesome habit that you have to deal with, it will be easier to talk to your husband about the problem objectively, and he is unlikely to feel that he is under pressure or attack and that he is forced to defend Himself to practice something that does not please you and makes you crazy.

To avoid clashes, the wife must admit that video games are a troublesome pastime, but they are not Pixels's enemy.

3- The discussion
The discussion After playing, we know it is tempting to express your opinions once your husband starts playing. Standing before him with your grim face, saying, "Do you have to do that now?" Or "I need you to do some help at home" or "Will you ever finish this game you addicted to?"

Champion stresses that this method will do more harm than good, and advises that instead, the wife should wait until later, when her husband finishes playing, and when she is quieter and without anger wearing it, in this case a quiet conversation can be conducted face to face and cross over to her husband In practice, the reason for her annoyance and the need for some time spent playing.

4- A compromise
A compromise proposal, a request to stop playing video games altogether is not a generally accepted request. Instead, communicate your feelings to your husband, clearly identifying what can help you feel better and asking for your husband. As if you were telling him, "I know that you like to play after work, but when I bring dinner, I need you to sit with the kids. They need to spend time with you. I know you are tired and want to relax, but I worked all day long, so let's finish and then rest together."

5- Resort to help
Knowing when to seek professional help, if your husband deviated by playing a video game normally and acceptable to some form of addiction, such as staying up all night to play, and no longer interested in his work, or does not leave the house at all on weekends, it is time to get Some support.

Once you have a clear idea of ​​the difference between healthy and unhealthy habits, you can get the advice you need to get your husband back again.

Your husband is in danger
How do you know that your husband has become close to his relationship with video games?
According to Jim Quarters, it is possible to note that the relationship with video games has become a serious problem when it meets the nine criteria for Internet gaming disorder, which are set by the American Psychological Association "ABI", namely:

Withdrawal symptoms such as sadness, anxiety, and excitement when your husband is unable to play.

- The need to spend more time in games to satisfy the desire.

Failed attempts to reduce or end the game.

- Give up other activities, or lose interest in fun activities in the past, because of games.

- Continue playing despite the problems it causes.

Deceiving family members or others about the amount of time spent playing.

Use toys to relieve negative moods, such as guilt or despair.

- He may be in danger or lose his job or relationship with others because of the games.

Snyder stresses that there are no confirmed guidelines yet for a person to get rid of video game addiction, given that it is a relatively new problem. But there are online programs that are easy to refer to to help couples get rid of the extreme attachment to video games.