Addiction Solitaire: Is it Actually Addictive?
Clinical Review by:
Published:
Nov 26, 2024
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11:26 a.m.
ET
Solitaire is a wildly popular game that most people have played at least once in their life. You can find solitaire on phones, computers or play the old school way with a deck of cards. With the way online gaming has evolved in the past decade, it’s only natural that the classics have changed with the times as well.
Addicting Games is one of the most popular gaming websites that allow people to play simple online games without having to download any apps. This allows people easy access to variations of their favorite games. While this sounds like a positive situation, gaming addiction has been on the rise as ease of access and the cycle of addictive gaming behavior spiral out of control.
Addiction Solitaire is one of the most popular addictive games right now. It is available on multiple platforms, including the AARP website. There’s a reason why its gameplay can be addictive (hence the name), so knowing the signs of gaming addiction can help you maintain a healthy relationship with it.
What is “Addiction Solitaire”?
Addiction Solitaire is a twist on the classic Solitaire game. Instead of the game starting with a deck of cards that you reveal one card at a time, Addiction Solitaire has the cards dealt in a random fashion, face up and in four rows of thirteen cards. The rows are meant to represent each of the four suits and starts with the two of each suit. The four Aces are removed so there are blank spaces.
The goal of the game is to reorganize all of the cards by suit in ascending order from two to king. The game ends when you have done this successfully, run out of moves or run out of time in a timed game.
Is “Addiction Solitaire” actually addictive? Dangerous?
Any online game can become addictive if someone is unable to regulate the time spent playing and it negatively impacts their daily life. The site Addicting Games has over 1,500 available games, most of them “flash games” played on an internet browser. Addiction Solitaire is highly accessible and uses a combination of rewards and social interaction that can be used as an escape from everyday life.
Research has been done on the negative effects of gaming and has found that it can become addictive. When someone plays an online game it can trigger the release of dopamine which comes from the reward center of the brain. When dopamine is released, our brains want to continue the pattern of dopamine release and can make it difficult to stop playing online games.
Some platforms are even touting the “addictive fun” of Addiction Solitaire. The AARP site states “We don't want to make you a game addict. However, playing this fast paced solitaire game could be habit forming and lead to lots of fun. Play now!”. While this type of promotion appears harmless, gaming addiction should not be viewed lightly.
Signs of addiction to online games
Online gaming addiction can happen to anyone and sometimes it can be difficult to know if your gaming is recreational or potentially harmful. Knowing the signs of gaming addiction can help you identify if gaming has become a problem.
Common signs of online gaming addiction include:
Preoccupation with gaming
Unable to stop gaming even if you want to
Spending more time gaming that you meant to
Lack of interest in hobbies outside of gaming
Withdrawing from friends and family in favor of games
Prioritizing gaming over other responsibilities
Using gaming to escape negative feelings
Gaming negatively impacts physical and mental health
Continued gaming despite negative consequences
If you or someone you know is experiencing any of these symptoms, it is important to reach out to get help.
Treatment options for gaming addiction
Treating addiction to Addiction Solitaire is similar to other behavioral addictions and may involve combining a few different therapy modalities. Depending on the impact of someone's Addiction Solitaire addiction they may need individual, group, family or couples counseling to help understand the impact of their condition and how it has negatively affected their life.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a common and successful form of therapy for gaming addiction. CBT helps individuals identify their negative behaviors and the thoughts, feelings and patterns that lead to their compulsive gaming habits.
A convenient form of treatment for gaming addiction is virtual care, which allows individuals to participate with more flexibility. Birches Health offers 100% remote treatment with clinicians that specialize in gaming addiction. You can complete a free, confidential assessment with a behavioral specialist and work with a licensed counselor to help overcome your addiction.
You can contact Birches in a number of ways:
You can also call 833-483-3838 or email hello@bircheshealth.com to speak with the Birches team right away.
