Many people come to therapy when they feel like their partner’s gaming habit is spilling into their quality relationship time. They may say things like:
“My partner often plays video games for several hours every day, and I’ve been feeling neglected and lonely because of this.” “Why do I always have to ask him to pause his game every time I need to talk to him? I feel like he enjoys his console’s company more than mine.” “It seemed like a hobby at first, but now his excessive gaming concerns me to a point that I’m scared for our future.”found that married women with partners that game excessively—or “gaming widows”—had less satisfaction in their marriage due to arguments, negative feelings toward addictive gaming behavior and not going to bed at the same time as their partner.
If you find yourself struggling to spend quality time with a partner that games excessively, here are some tips to strike balance in your relationship.When you’re discussing your concerns about your partner’s gaming habits, it’s essential to be honest and open with one another regarding your feelings and needs. Here are some thought-starters:Using “I” statements is a great way to express your concerns without coming across as accusatory.