To the Editor:

Have you or someone you know ever played an awesome video game before? So awesome, that it was all that you did? I bet you have. And to be honest, I have had a lot of video game addiction.

Once it was so bad that I couldn't stop thinking about it. I couldn't even do the simplest task, like remembering to brush my teeth. It was hard to get out of my addiction but once I learned this helpful saying from my father, then I was never addicted to a video game so badly again:

"Everything in moderation."

Nothing is healthy if you constantly do it. This could range from games to working out, eating, or even doing homework.

Video-game addiction is equivalent to an alcohol or drug addiction. That bad, I know. According to the University of New Mexico, recent studies suggest that 6 to 15 percent of all gamers exhibit signs that could be characterized as addiction. Physical signs of addiction could be, but are not limited to: fatigue, extreme migraines, extensive lying to loved ones, and poor hygiene.

In some extreme cases, carpal tunnel syndrome has occurred in video-game addicts. Carpal tunnel syndrome is when the tendons in your lower portion of your hand get inflamed and you start to lose your grip. It can be very hard to pick up items if you have this.

Emotional signs of video game addiction are irritability when unable to play, isolation from others, thoughts about previous game play and neglecting other important health-related things like eating food, brushing your teeth, washing up, changing your clothes, or sleeping. Even in some extreme cases of addiction, death of yourself and murder of friends or loved ones has occurred.

An example of this is getting blood clots in your body. Sitting in one spot for a long period of time can cause a blood clot. It would be very unusual for kids to get blood clots because they are active enough to not get them, but hey, you never know.

Some people may say that video games can teach you life skills and lessons that you need to know to be successful later on as an adult, but the truth is, those people don't know what they're talking about. Playing video games more often than not can mess up your life or someone else’s life.

I believe the best way to help stop you or someone you know who is dealing with addiction is to talk to them. You should give them all of the terrifying facts and results of what could happen to them if they don’t stop doing what they're doing. This might seem crazy at first, but trust me, it will work.

My parents told me all of the scary results of what could happen if I kept being addicted to my game, and eventually I stopped playing the game. Even if they don't listen to you, keep trying to inform them. Would you rather forcibly stop yourself or someone you know that has an addiction, or just let it go and most likely have a long time injury or disorder.

Video games are fun, I know. They are designed to catch the gamer’s attention and get you to play the game more often, but when you play the game 24/7 and can't do the simplest of life tasks, then it's time to stop.

Peter C. Solimando

Farnsworth Middle School