My Video Game Addiction

Being married is tough. Nobody ever said it will always be a bed of roses but every couple wants and hopes that amidst the rough roads, a smoother journey will always prevail. Along the way of working on a marriage are numerous trials and pitfalls that every couple needs to brave through. Financial worries, career changes, house mortgages, kids’ responsibilities, and did someone say Video Game Addiction? Yes, video game addiction, of one spouse or both, can be a major setback in a couple’s already trouble-ridden marriage.

According to research, marital dissatisfaction happens when one spouse or both play video games excessively. Aside from the countless hours spent in playing, what happens after is what really causes stress and dispute in the relationship. The arguing about the less intimate time spent with the spouse and quality time with the whole family is the cause of marital distress. On the other hand, 76% of both spouses being video gamers actually experience marital bliss as they play on opposing teams. Mutual participation in a video game is the key to making excessive playing work both spouses.

But still, we cannot disregard the fact that 24% of incidents involving a spouse who is a video game addict are experiencing problems in their married and family life. How can the World of Warcraft or Doom pose such a big threat to a marriage? Will the marriage survive a gaming addiction as the player survives and conquers his or her video game battles? What can a spouse do to prevent video games from taking over his or her partner and their marriage?

How Video Gaming Hurts a Marriage

-          When your partner spends more time plugged in to his game than spending time with you in bed every day or with the family on weekends.

-          When your partner develops a habit of forgetting household responsibilities like taking out the trash or fixing a broken pipe in the bathroom and gets really defensive about it.

-          When your partner cancels on the last minute on a regular Friday night dinner date without the kids and fails to apologize for it.

-          When your finances are suffering because of investments on online gaming memberships or gaming consoles.

-          When a hostile environment is starting to happen inside your bedroom and in front of the children.

-          When your partner doesn’t get the long awaited promotion and/or loses a job.

-          When you are left with the entire decision-making responsibility in the household because your partner just doesn’t want to play his or her part anymore.

-          When you start contemplating about filing for divorce due to unreasonable and addictive behavior or when you actually already filed for it.

Will Your Marriage Survive Video Game Addiction?

If you act on things fast, you don’t have to consider the last resort of ending the marriage and filing for divorce because of your partner’s video game addiction. It is all a matter of knowing when the video game playing is already too much for you, your spouse, and your family to handle. Don’t let the avatars and the virtual world get in the way of your marriage and your family life. Be firm with rules about video game playing time inside the household. Maintain open and constant communication with your partner especially when the first sign of problem arises. Spend more time together outside the house, alone or with the whole family, and make them as active and physical as possible. Discuss your marriage and family goals with your partner and act on everything together to make things work. Your marriage and your family is what matters most in your lives and no virtual conquest or character should ever get in the way.

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