I believe I've managed to keep away from my online-cocaine for 12 days. I've been really busy with school and I think that's helped keep me distracted. I have been tempted a few times but I tell myself I just can't do it.
I think I've got 3 issues drawing me back towards the game though:
-Social game. I feel like I'm letting my friends down by not helping them get their daily items.
-Virtual coin. It's one of those games you gotta set up workers every once in a while to build imaginary money. I know I quit but I keep thinking I need to go back & set up workers.
-Big-ticket item. Limited-edition character for a limited-time and it's limited. Again, I know I quit but I can't help thinking I'm missing out.
Fortunately ; or unforunately ; school is taking up my entire life. I've spent about 40 hours on-campus and then another 20 studying at home this week. I don't have any spare time for anything.
Yeah, those are some seductive reasons, I can totally identify. Here's what I can say:
1. If they are your friends, your mental health will be more valuable to them than your help. If its not, they aren't your friends and don't deserve your sacrifice.
2. and 3. If you aren't intending playing, coins and items are meaningless, and if you never go back, you won't be 'missing' those limited time limited items for a limited time only. (I way get that one though, that is a real hook.)
Twelve miles into the forest, 12 miles out.
Left my poisonous game July 4, 2012. Left online communities June 4, 2013.
The only thing in life that is truly limited, completely, is time. The time I spent gaming I will never have back. I don't want to spend any more time racking up "money", "troops", "cities", etc. Even though if I think about it, it *feels* seductive. But I know in my mind it's a waste.
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.
The longer I am away from games, the less I feel attracted to them. I used to love the game perks: "money", "guilds", "earning points, achievements, gear, pets, etc." And it took me awhile to get over that.
But like someone here said, 8 miles into the woods 8 miles out of the woods. It took awhile not to think of the game constantly (had slideshow of game images in the brain for months), including dreaming about the game....but now that it has been about a year and 5 months, I can say my real life perks are a lot more interesting.
The thing is, I didn't really want to do any real life fun things--at first--but I did some of them anyway (got back into playing piano and reading) and after a month of those activities, now I can't live without them. They feed me.