Quit Gaming Cold Turkey?

[mai72]

I've been a gamer for the majority of my life. I enjoy video games and find them fascinating and stimulating. I've had just about every console up until the PS3 and Xbox. Since then, I've been a PC gamer off an on since the early 2000's. I currently own a gaming laptop.

Anyway, gaming has been interfering with my life goals and my daily habits fall by the waist side.. I live in an apartment by myself. Red bull and C4 cans littered the living room. Dirty dishes were left on the floor, and they were piled up in the sink. I eat nothing but junk food while I'm gaming, and I'll sometimes go a few days without a shower. My apartment is a mess. Luckily I live on my own.

I've also lost girlfriends because of my gaming habit. I don't have many friends as they all have moved on with their lives. they all have families. I don't have a family, or girlfriend currently. I have a gym membership but don't go. I've fallen into a bit of a depression I guess.

I've tried moderating my gaming. Its hard. The first thing I do when I get up on my day off from work is play video games. I say to myself only for an hour. An hour turns into an all day gaming session. regret will creep in. I'm sure there are people here who can relate:

The urge to game increases- you give in- dopamine levels rise as you continue to game- a few hours pass, but you can't get off the damn computer- nightfall hits and regret creeps in. The cycle starts over again...

I love gaming. In fact, I was playing Red Dead 2, and I know I'm late to the party, but the graphics are amazing. I was in the process of downloading mods for the game and stopped. That is another thing. I'll quit gaming, delete my games, come home from work, and download the same games I deleted because I'll lie to myself that I can only play for an hour. Never works out.

Its a vicious cycle. I'm wondering if gaming is like a drug addiction. I seem to have very similar issues that drug addicts tend to have. Has anyone quit cold turkey? Has your life improved dramatically since quitting? Do you play in moderation? Any insight would be appreciated. Thank you.

[Irene ❤]

Many people blame gaming in their life. I think that is wrong, because successful people can game. They can even use games to expand their social network, you can find their clans and outings. Not just managing people, they can manage their business, food and body. So why is it that one can benefit and another have to quit?

Going to gym, cleaning the house, study or work is just daily routine. It is really no big deal. What prevents people from doing them is not gaming but laziness. Without gaming, they also won't get them done.

Blaming is a sign of laziness. It is the easiest thing to do. If one has motivation, then one will not be lazy to blame on things. Find that motivation, get things done. Enjoy work done and games done together.

[✽Ðás0s™]

You don't have to quit completely. Find a balance. If it's interfering with your life then yes perhaps try to reduce it. Implement other habits and hobbies along with it and you'll just find it as another activity to de-stress and disconnect from every day life for a short while.

Look, this comes from someone who has basically been on all sides of the gaming spectrum. There was a period of like 5 years when I basically didn't play a single video game. I can't say my life was particularly better than now, when I do play games occasionally. It wasn't. As the person above said, exercise really does synergize well with gaming. But also having more than just one hobby. It's all about finding a balance.

[Insomniac Jack]

You're right it's time for an upgrade, it's time to give crack a shot. But first find yourself a wife in a line at customs, to cook and clean for you in exchange for her green card. Reward her with a dozen children, then put them to work to generate passive income whilst getting high, playing video games all day and twerking on tiktok. The modern American dream.

[Tonepoet]

Um, you're asking a bunch of drug addicts in the opium den of the dealer how to kick your habit.

Also, rather than quitting cold turkey and suffering withdrawal symptoms for hours on end, it's probably going to be easier to take baby steps towards a better balance. Force yourself to do 15 minutes of exercise before you allow yourself to play games for example[www.cnet.com], since that's not an inordinate amount of time to spare and just about the amount you need to improve basic health. Doesn't have to be anything super special at the gym. Could just be as simple as walking.

Start developing a list of quick chores like emptying the trash, washing the dishes and doing laundry, then just expand upon it until you start making progress in the cleanliness of the house.

[steven1mac]

Video gaming can be an addiction, just like social media and other vices. I don't know if I'd rate it as bad as some of the other addictions, but it can destroy ones life if you allow it to. Try setting an alarm when playing games, if you only want an hour a day, set the alarm for that.

[Yuzu]

There's nothing wrong with wanting to better yourself. Don't listen to anyone trying to make you feel bad for taking a break or leaving gaming for good. I see so many depressed people using video games to cope with their emotions instead of dealing with the reality of their lives. The more they play, the worse it gets because they are neglecting the underlying issues that make them unhappy in the first place.

Here is what I suggest: uninstall steam/games for 30 days. If you feel like you don't have the mental strength to avoid reinstalling, set a random password and email it to yourself in 30 days. Then start cleaning up your apartment and doing the dishes. Your physical environment is important to your mental health, and you'll be surprised how much better you feel once your apartment is cleaned up. Listen to a podcast or something while you do it. Then try to do something productive with your time like getting some exercise or reading a book. Try new things, just get off the computer. Avoid screen time as much as you can. The world has a lot to offer, go out and enjoy it.

Good luck, I hope you find the happiness you are looking for

[Xautos]

you said it yourself, the chemicals in your brain are causing your reward centers to get what they so badly want, the correct stimulus. when they don't get what they want you feel in the form of a withdrawal and the longer you go without it the stronger the the feeling becomes until you either withstand its effect and break the habit (until something reminds you of it and then that intense feeling returns and also hits you in the gut like butterflies) or you give into it.

it's not just computer games, that reward stimulus hits everyone differently, some go for drugs or alcohol, others go for music, art or whatever that is the most enjoyable activity that works.

so yes, it is an addiction and has been classified as such just recently. like any habit, it takes a while and a lot of willpower to kick it.

[Grendalcat]

The solution is to pair up with another gamer. My wife was a gamer when we met.