Overcoming video game addiction. Experiences?

[Konada]

This isn't the right section to post this but I figured it'll get more attention here.

Well I presume most of us here at a certain point of time of our lives were addicted/obsessed with video games. I have always had this problem of video game addiction since I was 10 but have kept it swept under the carpet so far.

It was only today I realised how severe my addiction is, and how much time it has taken up which could have been used to hang out with my buds, broaden my social circle. Perhaps I wouldn't be in such a hopeless state with women if not for my obsession with DotA/xbox. I have tried to quit in the past but it always comes back to haunt me. I deleted warcraft off my computer, it went okay for awhile until the urge to install it came back and it was slippery slope from there. I gave away my controllers to my friend until he said his mom wanted those controllers given back to me, I started playing again.

So I really want to kick this stupid self destructive habit but it seems that everything I try ends up in failure due to my own lack of discipline. My finals are coming up soon, I don't want to jeopardize my future for immediate gratificiation, I know this but my addiction always overpowers my wants to quit. I need advice as to kick this habit, and possibly experiences of you guys who have done so.

 

[Comic]

Was in the same spot you were buddy, started playing online FPS games in grade 8 and quit at the beginning of grade 10. Haven't touched an FPS for about 10-11 months now. I would play morning til night everyday including weekends and would never do homework and **** because of it. Only time I didn't play was when I was at school. Even then all I could think about was playing. Probably spent close to $1000 if not more on things relating to the games I played, and no, that does not include a computer. Just little $50 credit cards and ****. About halfway through grade 9 I began to realise what I was doing to myself. I kept trying to uninstall the games but that never worked. I would cave. But I kept telling myself I didn't need the games. It was a process but eventually I got to the point where I was just like **** it, im not playing these anymore. I changed my appearence and went out made real friends and met real girls rather than sitting on my laptop and socializing with the people on there. This addiction totally stalled my life. Two months after I quit, I had my first kiss, a hand job, and a spot in one of the more popular scenes at my school. All can say is just find out why your playing these games so much, whether it be self-image issues like I had, or whatever. Try to correct it and put yourself back into a social circle. If that doesn't work, straight up get rid of anything and everything to do with games in your house. You wont be able to play them.

 

[DCC]

I, up until 3 months ago, played WoW for 4-5 hours a night. I'm 27. I met a girl at church, started hanging out, then started reconnecting w friends. My friends have a dikverse selection of hobbies and basically the way I broke out of video game addiction was to force myself to be social . After a month or vso my schedule became so full I don't have time for video games. Dealing with a vg addiction is like dealing with oneitis. The best way to win is to get out there and explore other options

Side note.... my video game addiction and laziness made me fat. SInce being more active I've lost 40lb and am healthier than I've been in 10 years.

 

[Iceberg]

I'm 30, and I haven't bought a video game since Madden 2001.

But prior to that, I was a huge video game nerd. The only thing that worked for me was moving away to college, and not bringing my Playstation with me.

Most recently, I noticed that I was watching too much TV. So when I moved into my new apartment, I got rid of my old TV. No more TV. More socializing in coffee shops or exploring my city.

So, cold turkey is the way to go. Get rid of that stuff, and use the free time to learn guitar or work out.

 

[t00dumb]

you can definitely throw it all the way but it won't suppress your future urges. just have it on there. but find other things that will keep you productive and you will yourself spending less and less time on it than before.

ever tried deleting your porn collection just to collect them again 1 week later? it's all about moderation. haha.

 

[GreyedOut]

I was addicted back in my high school days. I was friends with all the popular people and I had to hide it. I did a pretty good job. Was quite the closet video game addicted kid. It's been about 8 years since I've kicked the habit. I still play the occasional game, but never longer than an hour a week at most.

The amount of time I wasted on video games and the opportunities I missed out on has been one my biggest regrets in life. I wish I had spent my high school years developing stronger friendships, playing more sports and getting my grades higher. Luckily I dropped them near my last year of high school and was able to bounce back a bit so there wasn't as much permanent damage.

For me it helped that I knew a guy who is currently almost 30 and has been playing games religiously his whole life. He's a great guy but he's practically a ghost. No social life, no hobbies, unhealthy lifestyle, no career. Just rotting away at life. But I think it's a vicious cycle. You feel like **** because you play games but playing games distracts you from the ****ty feeling.

For me it was making the decision to have higher standards for my life. Read Tony Robbins' Awaken the Giant Within for more on this.

Next, I took video games out of my life. Just don't have them in your house. Take up other hobbies that distract you. After a month you'll start to feel the addiction slipping. After about 3 months you should be good. I really suggest you get a handle on this. It can mess your life up bad.

 

[f283000]

I haven't owned a console since super nintendo. It was a great choice I made getting rid of it. I can only imagine the countless hours of life wasted if I had kept it and kept buying newer consoles.

All the hours lost playing video games rather than being out in the world add up. You only live once.

 

[Quiksilver]

Just get rid of the console.

Some people can manage it, some can't.

Just identify yourself (you already have), and understand that video games is a weakness for you and to get it out of your life.

 

[Scars]

Just like any addiction, don't let it control your social life. Take breaks to see what everyone else is up to. If a buddy gives you a call, answer it. Don't ignore it. I'm not going to tell you to stop playing video games, because I love my xbox, and I play it quite often. But I also make time to see friends/party/meet woman. We all need an indoor hobby, just don't let it consume you.

My weekdays are pretty simple. I usually wake up, go to work, go to the gym, then the rest of the night in bouncing back and forth between the internet/xbox checking emails doing whatever until it's time for bed.

However, weekends I keep wide open. My friends know this too. Everyone knows these are my available dates. Try getting a schedule or something like that. But don't be afraid to answer your phone.. just the other week I was posting in some thread about how randomly some plate called me a random wednesday night to go "spa" with her and her friend. Guess what I was doing at the time? Playing xbox. So I put down my controller, got ready, and later that night I ended up hitting it at her house. Like I said. Don't let it run your life.. it's all about balance.

-Scars

 

[King Of Nowhere]

My xbox broke and i couldnt afford to get it fixed. Thats what did it for me.

 

[The Pedantical]

I played like a nutcase until I got bored with it.

Eventually I got bored with it.

For example... okay, I have to beat this monster. Why? To get into the cave. Why? Because then I'll get the magic potion to take to the wizard. Why? Because then he can mix it with herbs to turn my friend back into a human. Why? So that my friend can teach me the access to the underground castle. Why? Because if I go there I can beat the dark lord and finish the game. Why? Uh....

At some point I ran in circles in my head and realized there was no point to it.

 

[Bible_Belt]

I know an mma ring girl/model who is a video game addict. Video games don't make you a loser, but at the same time, life requires balance and moderation in everything you do.

 

[Konada]

By addict I mean its taking over my life. Its way beyond balance and moderation. Deleting my games on PC as we speak, possibly gonna sell my xbox off too, though I'd have to discuss with my dad since he bought it.

 

[cablecow15]

Ive played wow for a long time , and now that i have my liscence i think im just gonna let video games fade away , fo so long i used my lack of a license as a excuse to keep playing them , well no longer..

 

[L B]

Play for 3 days straight. Other than the basic necessities like eating, ****ting, or sleeping, just play. Afterwards, unplug and never look back. Worked for me.

Also, make sure you have something productive in it's place to occupy your time or you'll just jump back to the old habits again.

 

[sharkbeat]

It's a simple realization of the uselessness of playing video games that made me stop. It doesn't take one second for that realization to sink in, it takes months or perhaps a year till I can completely reject playing, even when handed in an Xbox controller.

I've swung back in those months, but they didn't last long. A couple of days max.

 

[Rhino]

Until about 4 months ago I was a huge competitive Call of Duty player...all my weekend nights and about 30 hours a week would be dedicated to online tournaments and stuff. I always felt like it was a terrible, dead-end hobby, but never quit. It didn't affect my grades, which I put a priority on, but definitely my social life. Then one day I just stopped. It's weird and I can't really explain it. Moderation in all things: I still play PS3 from time to time, but only single player stuff and no more multiplayer Black Ops. It's a nice feeling - more time in the gym and doing other stuff.

 

[RockaRolla25]

I used to know a guy who would say "I play video games BECAUSE I don't have many friends."

So I said to him, "Maybe you don't have many friends BECAUSE you play video games all the time."

This was the same guy who would tell me, "There's no point to clean my car because I don't have a girlfriend. Maybe if I had a girlfriend, I would clean my car."

So I said to him, "Maybe if you cleaned your car, you would have a girlfriend."

This guy ended up changing his life within 6 months. I couldn't believe how much he changed.

You see? It's all about your mindset. He was in a negative mindset so I put him in a positive mindset.

Another example is someone saying "I smoke a lot of pot because I don't have many friends. I can't quit. I'd have nothing to do. I hardly have any friends."

Response: "Well, maybe you don't have many friends because you smoke a lot of pot."

 

[Deadly_Ripped]

Don't just UNINSTALL your games... break or give away or sell all of your games. Keeping them around is pre-acceptance of your descent back into this video game problem. Don't just get rid of the xbox... get rid of all games. If you can't sell the xbox, you can at least give all of your games away or sell them and sell the controllers... then the valuable piece will still be in your posession but will be useless. You MUST remove temptation from in front of your face before you can break your habits!

Konada, do you live with your parents? If so, maybe you should ask them for help...

They may be willing to disconnect you from the internet for a month - temporarily block all internet access, or get dial-up or put a choke on the bandwidth so that no matter what you can't play. You'll get desperate and you'll have to make sure that they are unwilling to budge on it.

Cold turkey is the only way to break an addiction, and for most people cold turkey is the only way to maintain that break.

Moderation is for non-addicts. You'll have to give up the games that you were addicted to or you'll find yourself repeating the same patterns of habit that alcoholics cycle through:
1. Rock bottom (change catalyst)
2. Withdrawl (agony)
3. Acceptance (I can do this, my life is so much better!!)
4. Maintenance (I am strong and I can go forever like this).
5. Temptation (I am so strong that I can indulge just a little)
6. Sliding back into addiction
7. Descent to rock bottom.
8. See 1.

You may not be able to quit on your own, especially if you've already tried several times. You need to lean a little on those who care about you to help get you through the initial phases. After that point, you need to realized that you're not above the addiction, but that you've simply kicked the habit.

 

[f283000]

I know an mma ring girl/model who is a video game addict. Video games don't make you a loser, but at the same time, life requires balance and moderation in everything you do.

Wait, are you trying to say that just because she's a woman with a hot body and parades it around MMA that disqualifies her from being a loser??

It's been proven that staring at a electronic screen (whether it be the computer or tv screen) kills braincells and is connected to depression. So if you feel lonely, depressed and wish you had a nice woman in your life just look at what you're doing! How can you not feel lonely staring at a tv screen all day playing games?