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@article{202040,
        author = {Dr Ashutosh Santosh Ashtakar and Dr Ankush D Bhoye and Dr Vishal Madhukar Khandre and Dr Vishal S Wagh and Dr Radhika N. Kulkarni and Dr Pooja Rajendra Borse},
        title = {MOBILE GAMING DISORDER, ANXIETY AND NIDRA VEG DHARAN: AN INTEGRATIVE AYURVEDIC AND MODERN REVIEW ARTICLE},
        journal = {International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology},
        year = {2026},
        volume = {12},
        number = {12},
        pages = {5854-5861},
        issn = {2349-6002},
        url = {https://ijirt.org/article?manuscript=202040},
        abstract = {The widespread use of smartphones and affordable internet access has significantly increased the popularity of mobile gaming, especially among adolescents and young adults. Although gaming is commonly used for recreation and stress relief, excessive involvement may gradually progress into problematic or addictive behavior associated with emotional disturbances, anxiety, impaired social functioning, and sleep disruption. In recent years, Gaming Disorder has gained global clinical attention due to its psychological and behavioral consequences.
Ayurveda considers Nidra (sleep) as one of the essential pillars responsible for maintaining physical vitality, mental stability, cognitive efficiency, and emotional balance. Disturbance or suppression of natural sleep patterns, described as Nidra Vega Dharan, leads to symptoms such as lethargy, drowsiness, heaviness of head and eyes, body ache, irritability, and impaired concentration. These manifestations resemble many complaints observed in individuals with excessive gaming habits.
The present review article critically analyzes the relationship between mobile gaming disorder, anxiety, emotional dysregulation, and sleep disturbance from both Ayurvedic and contemporary scientific viewpoints. Modern evidence suggests that prolonged gaming exposure affects circadian rhythm, dopamine-mediated reward pathways, emotional processing, and autonomic regulation, thereby contributing to anxiety and disturbed sleep quality. Ayurvedic concepts such as Ratnaprabha, Raja-Tama predominance, Vata aggravation, and Manovaha Srotodushti provide a holistic framework for understanding these psychological disturbances.
This review also highlights the role of behavioral interventions, sleep hygiene, Yoga, meditation, Satavahana Chikitsa, and lifestyle modification in the prevention and management of gaming-related mental health disorders. An integrative approach combining Ayurvedic wisdom with modern psychological understanding may offer effective strategies for restoring emotional and sleep health.},
        keywords = {Mobile Gaming Disorder, Internet Gaming Disorder, Anxiety, Nidra Vega Dharan, Sleep Disturbance, Emotional Dysregulation, Ayurveda, Behavioral Addiction, Mental Health, Satvavajaya Chikitsa.},
        month = {May},
        }