Hello everyone,
I come here today because I know I have a problem with gaming. No matter how hard I try to moderate/abstain from gaming, I always seem to find my way around it. In this past, this has never been a problem because school came easy to me and I did not worry much about my social life. Now, howver, my excessive gaming is getting in the way of what semblance of a social life I just so happen to have. Which isn't much.
It does not help that my therapist is reaching his limit of what he is able to do for me, and my parents seem unwilling to support me in this process, and in some cases act (unintentionally) as enablers. It also does not help that most of the people around me play games too. But giving up games also scares me because gaming is basically all I know. I've done real life activities, don't get me wrong. And I am smart enough to know that to talk exessively about games is detrimental to my social development. But I have no real life hobbies outside of gaming. When I'm not studying, I'm gaming. Which basically means I'm almost always gaming. But that is not how I want my life to be. I want to get out there, and do other things. Go to a party, join a new club, and other such things.
Someone help me. I'm really anxious and I feel like I'll be wrecking my life if I keep going down this road. I want to recover. I want out!...help
-spm
Is there anyway to escape this hell? Yeah, probably by living in a world with no Internet...
Welcome to OLGA, Spm. You're definitely not alone in dealing with all of this...I always found school to be rather easy as well, and gamed pretty heavily in my "spare" time. If you have an addiction (and I have no reason to argue with whatever diagnosis you think fits), then therapy alone can only do so much for you. There's something about going to meetings and talking with fellow addicts that is really helpful, and that's where places like OLGA come in. If you click on the "meetings" tab at the top of the page, you'll go to a calendar that lists all the meetings available, most of which are held in the chat room. I know that meetings have been helpful for me, as well as a few other things, but meetings are a good place to start. I look forward to seeing you in a meeting some time soon. Hugs...
When you're going through hell...keep going. --Winston Churchill There is no pit so deep that God is not deeper still --Corrie ten Boom
Welcome, Sean! You're in the right place.
Quitting games is tough, but if you're like many of us, you can't do it alone. It turns out that with help, I've been able to quit.
Here are some ways to get help using our website and the OLGA fellowship:
1. Read stories on forums, and post your own story and your own progress.
2. Like LS said, meetings.
3. At meetings you can connect with other people. Perhaps get some phone numbers and skype ID's if you are comfortable with that--then you have people to talk with, people to support you.
4. For me, there have been two things I did after quitting that have been extremely helpful: I got a sponsor and started working the 12 steps, and I go to face-to-face meetings (I go to GA and I go to open AA meetings because you don't have to be an alcoholic to go to those). I go to a couple each week. And I still go to lots of OLGA chat meetings.
Bottom line: We can do it if we support each other. It's tough, it takes time to turn your life around. But you're young--congratulations on seeing this problem now, before it steals years and years of your life away.
Best wishes. See you at the meeting....
I am a recovering computer game and gambling addict. My recovery birthday: On May 6, 2012 I quit games and began working a program of recovery through OLGA No computer games or slot games for me since December 12, 2012. No solitaire games with real cards since June 2013.
Thank you guys so much!
I for sure intend to go to some of those meetings you guys have mentioned. I really wanna get in touch with others that are facing these or similar issues because I agree that it will be very helpful.
I also intend to explore the other opportunities available here. No matter what reservations I may concisouly or unconsciously have, I want to try! Because like I said, I want out!
Thanks again!
-spm
Is there anyway to escape this hell? Yeah, probably by living in a world with no Internet...
spm62, I'm 20 as well, it's good to see another young dude in the forums. It is my experience that game-addicts who take the suggestions and follow through with the program work will recover, I myself am an example of that.
I'm happy that you've taken the step to reach out to us here. It's a good sign for you, however, you need to keep up the work.
Prayer for the Day: Higher Power, help me to be realistic about the challenge I'm facing and to take good care of myself. If you need help PM me! I will gladly offer you whatever aid I can.
and that would be the abosolute hardest part for me. Which is why I am extra glad I found (or more accurately, was referred to) this resource.
-spm
Is there anyway to escape this hell? Yeah, probably by living in a world with no Internet...
I'm the mom of a thirty year old gaming addict. I left a link to this site for him so I pray he comes.Any other suggestions on how to help him realize he is an addict. All he does is work and game.