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Gaming Addiction Treatment in Houston, Texas

Harmony Grove Behavioral Health is a dedicated outpatient treatment program in Houston, Texas, treating substance use disorder (SUD) and underlying issues for comprehensive change. Our outpatient programs focus on proven care and community healing to provide new ways to address substance use while also addressing unhealthy coping mechanisms or destructive gaming habits.

Substance Use Treatment Programs Addressing Gaming Addiction in Houston

Harmony Grove Behavioral Health provides comprehensive outpatient substance abuse treatment in Houston, exploring the impact of drugs and alcohol on your daily life, relationships, physical health, and emotional wellness. However, substance use never develops in isolation. We explore not just the comprehensive effects of alcohol and drug use, but also other underlying needs, providing mental health treatment or addressing other challenges such as online gaming addiction. 

These two challenges may be more closely related than many realize. Addressing them in tandem and examining how they may continue to inform each other is crucial to embracing transformative change. 

Outpatient Gaming Addiction Treatment in Houston

Our treatment centers offer comprehensive outpatient care, creating personalized programs to address your needs while developing practical, daily strategies for a transformed daily life. From healthy and proven coping strategies to exploring new hobbies instead of playing video games, we work with you to find your best approach to change. We also celebrate each milestone, while pivoting to new options if certain strategies are less effective so that you can make the most of your healing efforts overcoming both substance abuse and video game addiction. 

Personalized Treatment Options for Video Game Addiction

No two journeys overcoming substance abuse or gaming addiction are the same. Rather, we work with gamers to explore the effects of game addiction on every aspect of daily life, including physical and mental health issues, relationships, and exploring deep-seated challenges like anxiety, depression, and self-esteem. Personalized treatment, backed by the healing spirit of community and peers, creates an effective approach to addressing the lasting effects of addiction on your daily life. 

Gaming Addiction and Internet Gaming Disorder

When discussing addiction, it is common for addictive substances like drugs and alcohol to dictate the conversation. However, addiction is much more than just engaging in drugs or alcohol. Rather, behavioral addictions can have just as much of a detrimental impact on daily life and wellness, from gambling and sex to even video game addiction. Exploring video game addiction, its effects, and how it relates to substance use is the first step in exploring change and healing at Harmony Grove Behavioral Health. 

Understanding Video Game Addiction and Behavioral Addiction

Video game addiction, or internet gaming addiction, is still relatively new and is a condition that demands further exploration. However, there are some signs of this form of addiction to be aware of. 

Video games can be a common part of daily life, and many of those growing up, or adults looking to relax, hang out with friends, or even enjoy time to themselves, may turn to video games as a form of relaxation, escape, or even as a form of self-care. However, not all who play video games are necessarily addicted, and understanding the difference is crucial to exploring each relationship with gaming. 
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Video game addiction involves not just playing excessive amounts of video games, but also various other challenges. These challenges include:
  • Inability to stop gaming even after an excessive amount of time, or loss of control over how much a person is gaming
  • Consistently and compulsively engage in gaming rather than tending to other responsibilities or activities
  • Self-isolation to play more games rather than engage in other previous hobbies or social outlets
  • Continuing to play video games even after repeated negative consequences of gaming, such as compromised workplace performance, attendance, or academic shortcomings
Those with video game addiction may feel a compulsive need to play video games. Likewise, a person may also have difficulty managing emotions when video games are not available, with feelings of anxiety, depression, irritation, frustration, and anger all being common as a kind of withdrawal from video games. 
A person may not only lose control over how often they play video games, but also exhibit increased emotional volatility while playing a game. This includes feeling excessive anger or depression at a loss in a game, or feelings of satisfaction tied solely to success in these games. A person may also lose track of how much money they spend on a game, particularly if the game includes microtransactions, loot boxes, or other impulsive spending options. 

Those with video game addiction may rely on games for satisfaction, a feeling of accomplishment, or even validation, and may find it difficult to experience these feelings from other sources, even academic success or other personal goals. 

However, it is important to remember that not all who play video games are necessarily addicted. Even those who play games frequently may do so as a hobby while still tending to other responsibilities, obligations, or relationships. Talking to a professional about video game addiction can help each person understand its signs and effects to create an effective treatment plan.

Gaming Behavior, Dopamine, and the Reward System

Video games are designed to be fun and rewarding, enticing players to want to play more. However, while this can be a healthy relationship for some, others may have a very different experience. Gaming can also be addictive and has a direct impact on a person’s reward system in the brain. 

Beating a level, opening a loot box, reaching a new online ranking in ranked play, or even achievement-hunting can all release a rush of dopamine in the brain, or the “reward chemical” that makes a person feel good for doing something. However, those living with addiction may feel completely reliant on gaming or substances to release this chemical, finding it difficult to get joy out of anything else, creating a cycle of use, misuse, and addiction. 

Both behavioral addictions, like video games, gambling, sex, or shopping, as well as substances like drugs and alcohol or even caffeine, can have this kind of effect, essentially “hijacking” the brain’s reward center and creating urges to re-engage with self-destructive behaviors, despite mounting negative consequences. 

Negative Consequences of Excessive Gaming on Daily Life and Well-Being

Gaming addiction can have a myriad of negative effects. While getting engrossed in a video game can cause a person to miss a meal or lose track of time, consistently experiencing these negative consequences can be a sign of a more serious relationship with video games. Recognizing these negative consequences and continuing to play video games regardless can be a reason to contact a professional healing program for more information. 

Some common negative consequences of excessive gaming include:
  • Increased levels of anxiety, depression, or self-isolation
  • Irritability when gaming is not possible
  • Low self-esteem or needing external reinforcement
  • Difficulty regulating emotions
  • Mood swings
  • Compromised physical health, either from long periods of sitting, resulting in back pain, or eye strain from looking at screens
  • Missed meals and compromised nutrition
  • Compromised personal hygiene
  • Reluctance to engage in social activities or lack of social skills in in-person events
  • Neglect of personal or professional responsibilities or obligations
  • Disrupted sleep routines or sleep quality from gaming stimulation
Those living with gaming addiction may experience these challenges repeatedly, and may continue to play video games against their own better judgment, or may even feel compelled to play even when they don’t want to. Likewise, as games are used to escape personal stress or other challenges, they can feel necessary for keeping these feelings down, even if they do not do anything to actually address the source of stress in the first place. 

The Connection Between Video Game Addiction and Substance Abuse

Addiction takes many forms. However, video game addiction can be closely tied to substance abuse. Behavioral addictions like video game addiction can activate the same reward pathway in the brain as drugs and alcohol. Excessive gaming and video game addiction can also lead to poor habit-forming tendencies, loss of impulse control, and lack of emotional regulation, with addictive substances often explored to further push down these challenges. 

Likewise, low self-esteem can also inform the use of drugs or alcohol. Understanding not just gaming addiction, but also how a person may also be using drugs or alcohol to cope with similar stresses, is part of exploring effective healing. Harmony Grove offers comprehensive substance abuse treatment, exploring the impact of addictive substances in your life and underlying needs like your relationship with video games for effective, comprehensive care. 

Evidence-Based Therapy for Video Game Addiction

Harmony Grove utilizes a blend of evidence-based therapy and holistic healing options so you can explore your best practices, overcoming addiction of any kind. Overcoming substance use demands a proven approach, and our dedicated outpatient programming can empower you to find your best combination of skills to explore sobriety and your relationship with video games for effective care.

Our programs include:

  • Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for gaming addiction
  • Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) and trauma-informed therapy sessions
  • Individual therapy and group therapy
We also believe in the healing power of community, engaging in effective healing alongside peers and professionals who intimately understand the unique challenges of overcoming addiction. Coming together in solidarity to stop using drugs and alcohol and explore mental health needs, underlying behavioral addictions, and the ongoing effects of stress is all part of an effective healing journey. 

Our outpatient programs also ensure you have access to practical, real-world skills. This approach helps you balance your needs in overcoming addiction while maintaining a healthy life outside of our treatment facility, all backed by our dedicated community across Houston. 

Co-Occurring Mental Health and Substance Use Conditions

Substance use, video game addiction, and mental health are all closely related and often interact. Addressing one without exploring the impact of the others can lead to incomplete coping strategies, a strained recovery path, and increased risk of relapse. Rather, exploring these challenges in tandem through dedicated dual-diagnosis treatment programs is crucial. 

Our dedicated programs explore not just the effects of drugs and alcohol and video games, but also the feelings of anxiety, depression, or stress that may have informed the need for escape in the first place. Alongside dedicated trauma-informed healing options, we can create a program that addresses all of your needs in tandem for truly transformative change. 

Why Choose Harmony Grove for Gaming Addiction Treatment?

Harmony Grove Behavioral Health is a dedicated outpatient treatment facility that provides practical, life-changing care to Houston and the surrounding areas. With personalized programs, holistic and evidence-based care, and a focus on healing through community and camaraderie, our programs address your needs while introducing you to the larger healing community of Houston so you can build a new and transformed lifestyle at any point in your journey. We offer:
  • Dedicated in-person, outpatient care to integrate recovery into real life
  • Experienced mental health professionals who explore challenging feelings, their impact, and practical coping strategies
  • Life-changing, evidence-based care focused on success and finding the right strategies for you to meet your next milestone
You also have the option to change your program at any time, finding your best combination of strategies while making use of the resources and community support available. Healing from substance abuse and gaming addiction is a journey, and our outpatient support takes a person-first, practical, and community-focused approach to each program. 

Getting Started Is Easy

Harmony Grove Behavioral Health is here to help you transform this commitment into action, working with you to make beginning your healing journey as smooth and easy as possible while providing support each step of the way. 

Step 1

Contact Our Admissions Team

You can contact our team by phone or through our website. We offer a confidential line so you can talk privately about your needs and expectations at our drug and alcohol rehab, and how our approach to drug addiction treatment can be personalized to fit your life and needs for effective healing and relapse prevention.

Step 2

Verify Payment

Next, you will verify your payment with an admissions team member. We talk with you upfront about any costs and work with you to explore insurance coverage. While we are currently an out-of-network provider, we still strive to provide affordable and effective care at our addiction treatment center. 

Step 2

Schedule Admissions

Once approved, we’ll schedule your admission. We can get you admitted and joining our recovery community within 24 hours of your call, ensuring that you have access to an effective outpatient rehab facility when you need it most to take your first step toward a transformed, sober life.

Support for Family Members and Loved Ones

We also understand that addiction is a disease that affects not just individuals, but entire families. Harmony Grove Behavioral Health offers dedicated family programming to facilitate healing both inside and outside our walls. With strategies to support a loved one overcoming video game addiction, including family therapy and recovery support, we bring our culture of healing home for effective care for entire families. 

What to Expect From Gaming Addiction Treatment in Houston

Each program overcoming gaming addiction is unique and can be personalized to fit your needs and goals. We do offer daily structure and therapy sessions to explore your individual needs. Individual and group therapy, adventures and group experiences, and structured support are all part of each day in recovery from substance abuse and video game addiction.

Daily practices to build coping skills and healthy routines at home are also part of our program, while measuring your progress over time, exploring community healing options, and embracing new social relationships in recovery. 

We can support your change today

Underlying needs for lasting change. Harmony Grove can help.

Frequently Asked Questions

We offer comprehensive treatment for adults from all backgrounds, but can also be an effective resource for families seeking healing for their adolescents. 

We proudly offer in-person comprehensive care, giving you face-to-face attention and personalized programs to address your challenges and create a plan that works for you. 

We use a blend of evidence-based therapies, including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), motivational interviewing (MI), and individual and group therapy with holistic healing options, like mind-body connection, nutrition, and more. 

Absolutely. Gaming addiction can have a profound impact on both the mind and body, and treating these effects in tandem is necessary for comprehensive healing. 

We encourage family involvement, empowering healing both inside and outside our walls. Educating family members on how to support a loved one, or host interventions if necessary, is part of the healing process, with family members being integral to long-lasting success. 

Yes! Addressing co-occurring disorders like ADHD, substance use, and behavioral addiction like video games is part of our effective, long-term healing program. 

We are currently an outpatient-only facility. However, we will introduce residential options in the future. 

Yes, there are always new options to explore when it comes to finding the right care. We celebrate the healing culture of Houston, but we understand that your healing may take you elsewhere. However, we strive to still be an effective resource for understanding addiction, its effects, and empowering you to find the program that works best for you, not just the first one you find.