Video Game Addiction Support Group
Game addiction is a form of psychological addiction related to a compulsive use of computer and video games. People suffering from this form of addiction may experience intense cravings to play the game and may also suffer symptoms of withdrawal when they stop playing the game. Meet with friendly, supportive people sharing their experiences with Video Game Addiction.
Hello, I've lurked on this support group for a while without making myself an actual member. I had a year and 3/4 off of games, almost 2 years.
This all before recent stresses caused me to break down recently and I started playing again. I played for a week and a half and at first it wasn't so bad. I was able to manage things. But as time progressed I was slowly losing myself to the games. It didn't take long until the last day, Wednesday, I spent literally the entire day playing games. I only got dressed at the end of the day so that I could run to the grocery store really fast for some food because I had nothing to eat. That was the last straw. I recognized that I needed to stop. So now I currently have just about exactly one day off of video games.
Today wasn't so bad. The difficult times are when I have nothing to do, then the dreaded restlessness sets in. Luckily I was able to keep today pretty busy, almost always something for me to do. I didn't crave to play today, just had a few times when gaming popped into my head, which I was able to dismiss fairly easily. I can only hope that the next few weeks will be this easy.
I am working to get a 12 step meeting started in my area to help with this. It is an OLGA meeting. Online Gamers Anonymous (www.olganon.org). I have 3 other people in my area who are interested in the meeting, I just hope I can get them to meet up. Its not easy finding a good place and time to meet up. I had started the meeting up a year and a half ago but I only ever had one person show up (and today he is my boyfriend - he is also one of the 3 interested).
Anyway, I'm coming here to reach out for whatever support I can get. God knows right now, at one day off of games, I need it.
Thanks to everyone who takes the time to read this,
Jennifer
This all before recent stresses caused me to break down recently and I started playing again. I played for a week and a half and at first it wasn't so bad. I was able to manage things. But as time progressed I was slowly losing myself to the games. It didn't take long until the last day, Wednesday, I spent literally the entire day playing games. I only got dressed at the end of the day so that I could run to the grocery store really fast for some food because I had nothing to eat. That was the last straw. I recognized that I needed to stop. So now I currently have just about exactly one day off of video games.
Today wasn't so bad. The difficult times are when I have nothing to do, then the dreaded restlessness sets in. Luckily I was able to keep today pretty busy, almost always something for me to do. I didn't crave to play today, just had a few times when gaming popped into my head, which I was able to dismiss fairly easily. I can only hope that the next few weeks will be this easy.
I am working to get a 12 step meeting started in my area to help with this. It is an OLGA meeting. Online Gamers Anonymous (www.olganon.org). I have 3 other people in my area who are interested in the meeting, I just hope I can get them to meet up. Its not easy finding a good place and time to meet up. I had started the meeting up a year and a half ago but I only ever had one person show up (and today he is my boyfriend - he is also one of the 3 interested).
Anyway, I'm coming here to reach out for whatever support I can get. God knows right now, at one day off of games, I need it.
Thanks to everyone who takes the time to read this,
Jennifer
Well done for "catching" yourself early and stopping it. I really think you need to make some concrete plans to distract yourself and take your mind away from this state of "restlessness".
When I was going cold turkey from gaming, one of the first things I did was throw myself into getting my house clean and spotless. I didnt really have the concentration to do anything too cerebral - but at the end of the day I could look and see the results of what I had done.
I also found that being out in nature - especially forests really helped.
Hope you find yourself again,
Good luck
xx