Video Game Addiction

1. 71

   passthejellyposted 12 years ago

   Hello everyone. My life is in shambles and I do not know what to do with myself. I don't know who to talk to or ask for advice so I came her. I am suffering from an extreme video game addiction and I do not know what to do with myself. I have been playing league of legends for about a year now and it has come to the point where I cannot stop playing and this game takes over everything in my life. It has ruined my priorities and made my grades in college and my social life extremely pathetic. I have used video games as an outlet for purpose in my life which is why it is extremely hard to quit or even accept that I have an addiction. Today, I finally got discussed enough with myself enough to admit I have a problem and that I need help. This game is all I have in life and I do not know how I can ever quit but I feel like it is necessary to quit in order recover my life. Please if you can offer any advice on what I should do or suggest anything that would help me I would greatly appreciate it.

   replyreport
2. 88

   WryLiltposted 12 years ago

   I used to be like that with Maplestory and then later, WoW.
   
   All the time I once put into games, I started to put into writing game guides - then I could just call gaming "research". Then slowly I began to write more and more and play less and less. And now I earn money from writing instead of pay money to play games. LoL

   replyreport
3. 69

   jamesmuiaposted 12 years ago

   I can understand what you are going through, I've been there myself. Perhaps not as far deep as you have become, but I too realized at a young age that I had to step back and re-prioritize my life.
   
   I love games. To this day I play them whenever I can, but I'm also 28, work full time, engaged, have a house, and many other things that have to come first before I can play any games.
   
   You are already on the right track because you've just admitted that you have a problem playing too many games. Some people might tell you to go to a counselor, and that might help.
   
   But this is the truth for gamers just like it is for smokers: You won't quit, if you don't "want" to quit. You can use all those products that supposedly help you quit smoking and you can go to a counselor who will tell you how to quit playing so many games. That won't really help you though. I quit smoking because I had the will to do it. I made myself do it. Just like I prioritized playing games in my life. It's not easy, but you can do it. Just like I did.
   
   You have to find things outside of games that you enjoy doing. For me, I found the gym. I started to work out and exercise. It ended up becoming a routine in my life. Then I found something else to do instead of playing games such as video production and making fun short films. Find other activities that you can do with friends. Not your gaming friends, but other friends that like other activities.
   
   Your friends will eventually pull you away from games and you'll spend time in bars, clubs, maybe meet a significant other. Then they will pull you away even further. Then when you realize it next, you hadn't played any games that entire week because you were out enjoying life outside of games. From there you can manage how much you play. If anything, make a schedule and try not to deviate from that plan.
   
   You can do it, just believe in yourself.

   replyreport
4. 85

   BraidedZeroposted 11 years ago

   It's been 2 months so I hope you're better by now. But since it's still here I'll put in my two cents. I can't say that I was ever "addicted" to gaming but I do play it a lot. A few years ago I was given a deadline by my Agent that I had to finish my book. So I took all the power cords from all of my systems and even from my modem and router and I gave them to my girlfriend. She was strictly not allowed to let me have them back until I proved I had accomplished what was required of me. She even took my phone during the day and would let me know if something important had happened that I needed to know about. The only time I was allowed to be on the internet was for a little while at night or while at work.
   This is my personal experience. I hope that helps, if you still need it...

   replyreport