Are video games good or bad?

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Video games can boost brain health — but they can also hurt it. Let’s dive into the pros and cons of gaming.

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00:00You are literally in the zone, like, all your essence is put into the game.

00:11It's very addictive.

00:14I used to play for, like, 12 to 14 hours a day.

00:17Couldn't stop gaming.

00:19Because if it wasn't for gaming, I wouldn't be here.

00:23Gaming basically saved my life.

00:30Video game addiction describes the compulsive use of video games.

00:39It is officially recognized as a behavioral addiction.

00:54My name is Adam.

00:55I'm 26 years old.

00:56I'm a professional gamer.

00:57Gaming provided that escape for me since I was a kid.

01:05I struggled with mental health at a young age.

01:07Because I remember just waking up and always having that dark cloud.

01:12Like, a very heavy feeling on your chest.

01:18I didn't like school.

01:20What the teachers care about is only if you're a book smart.

01:23And it also added to my sad feelings and depression.

01:29So gaming actually gave me the limit to at least put my mind somewhere else.

01:33It's one of the best feelings.

01:35Whatever happens around you doesn't really matter.

01:37Video games can improve mental health by breaking negative thought cycles and shifting your focus from worries to engaging challenges.

01:44But turning to gaming as an escape can be risky, increasing the chance of it turning into an addiction.

01:52Usually after school, I will run straight to the gaming cafes and spend all my time there.

01:57Since I used to come home very late at night, I was also starting to fail in school.

02:02My mum worried about me.

02:06Behavioural addictions can be linked to low feelings of self-esteem.

02:11In online games, success often feels more achievable.

02:14I will make sure my mum is asleep and then I will sneak out again and go to the sitting room and play on mute so that she can't hear me.

02:22I'll play the whole night.

02:25Immersive storytelling, skill and character progression, rewards and leaderboards are all designed to get you hooked.

02:32Multiplayer games are especially addictive.

02:36Typically, gamers are considered addicted when they play at least 8 to 10 hours a day.

02:41This one time, it was in the morning.

02:42I just saw like a figure beside me while playing the game and I looked up and I saw, oh, it's my mum.

02:50I was busted and she decided to take me to boarding school almost immediately after.

02:55It was a very tough time for me because literally my only escape was the console and now it's taken away from me.

03:05Being in a depressive state for me, you literally have no motivation to even get out of bed, just cry.

03:12And so, uni was also adding more to my depression as well.

03:17All I used to do in uni was just go to the student center, play games.

03:21Gaming triggers dopamine production in the brain.

03:24That's a neurotransmitter that boosts pleasure.

03:26But over time, overstimulation can actually lower natural dopamine levels, contributing to anxiety or depression.

03:33One time after I was done gaming and taking a break, all these sad feelings came back.

03:41I was actually coming to find a way and, you know, try to end my life.

03:46I was thinking maybe if I cut, maybe an Atari, maybe if I hang myself.

03:50Those were the things that were playing on my mind.

03:56My PC was still on.

03:58I was like, ah, you know what, let me just play for a bit.

04:00I played, played, played until around midnight and it just dawned on me.

04:06Gaming basically saved my life.

04:08And I think that also justified my time put into gaming.

04:12I didn't even see it as an addiction.

04:14I became good, I became better, I became better than most people.

04:19Everything changed when I met the beast.

04:21I think that was now the beginning of the turning point when I'd start to limit my gaming hours

04:26and start to also work on myself as well as a person.

04:30Every time I would call him, he was always in a game and he was missing out on a lot of things in life.

04:37I found my new passion in teaching.

04:40I am happy to see the steps that Adam has made in life.

04:46I mean, he's one of the most unbeatable fighting game players, not just in the country, but in the region.

04:51And that is because he took an initiative to consume gaming in a more productive and safe way.

05:00There was a skill gap between our local community and the players I play with online and I tried to bridge that gap.

05:09It's also about creating that unity, creating communities be there for you when you need us and we'll enjoy that year.

05:19I am happy to see the next video.

05:28Who doesn't mean I know, hey, I, I

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