Someone help...

Hello,

I'm addicted to video games. I couldn't figure out where else I'd post to get help. This forum is all about video games. Let me explain.

I'm 15 right now, 16 in about 5 months. And I've been addicted to video games since 2002. It all started when I was with my friend and we saw a commericial on TV about a LAN gaming center, I was like "That place looks fun", he said "Yeah we should go". So we wen't for like 3 hours. We played Counter-Strike (FPS for PC). It was fun. Really fun.

Days later we wen't back. This time we had more money. Stayed for 5 hours. We made a deal with the owners where we could get unlimited time for 100$ a month. So we ended up going everyday for about 5-7 hours a day. After school. Or whenever. We played there until it closed it down. Which was around a year later.

One of people that played Counter-Strike recommended us to another local LAN center. So my friend (same friend as before) wen't to the new LAN, different owners, so it wasn't re-opened by the owners that I played at in 2002. Since 2003 we've been going to the new one. Recently my friend moved away. He moved in June 2004. I've been going everday (except sunday) until just a couple of days ago. Playing 7-8 hours a day. I really want to go back. But I'm trying to stop playing video games. And it got boring (yes, boring), since he moved away. But yet I still keep playing there because it's addicting, not fun. Strange, but true. Nothing like a good gaming friend.

Just 2 days ago I bought an Xbox... Yeah. When I was walking out of the store I thought in my mind, "What the heck am I doing?".

I just can't stop playing video games. I love being entertained. I like when I'm doing something that I enjoy, I just can't find anything else that I could enjoy until I figure out how to remove my addiction.

I'm home schooled right now, because I got kicked out of my school for not doing enough work. That's how I get to play so much games for that many hours every day.

I think I've "over-stimulated" my brain from playing so much. I don't feel normal. Like I can't feel. It's like I can't understand what people say. Like I can't comprehend it. Nor can I listen. Sometimes I don't know what I'm even saying. It feels like the symptoms of ADD, ADHD, Anxiety, and all that other junk all combined into one disability, which I blame on video games. Because before 2003 I never had these symptoms. Incase you were not reading, that's when I started to get addicted. I really can't feel life. I can't explain it very well. It feels like all my brain cells are dead and I can't access anything without forgetting it 2 seconds later, or I can't slow down. Like my brain is going so fast and I can't make it slow down. Sort of like that. Sounds like ADD? Maybe. Ideas?

I don't know what to do. Can't ask my Mom to help. She just does the laundry, makes food, ect. She's sort of like a Robot, it's either "Move to your Dad's house", she normally says that when she says that when she's angry at me. I can't talk to her. She just doesn't understand. It always turns into some arguement. My Dad... he lives in Colorado, I live in Oregon. He can't do much. Although my Dad would generally speak more intelligently then my Mom would in this situation, and help more, phone should never be an offical use of commuication in this particular problem. He works too. So I'm all stranded, by my self. And he doesn't play games. So it's different.

I'm not depressed, I don't smoke pot, I don't use any kind of substence, I don't drink alchohol. Incase any of you reading think this may be the problem. I'm just sad, and misguided, addicted, not knowing what to do.

This may sounds extremely stupid and demanding, but can I ask for whom responds to be "professional", not like "why don't you just stop playing video games?". Can't help anyone with a reponse like that.

I hope all that made sense.

Thanks a million,
James

I don't know how much I/We can help you. First I'm not sure how you got bored with games, unless all you did was play Counter Strike and other LAN games. Try playing a lot of other games on diffrent platforms in other genres. You can still play with your friend as well through X-Box live etc.

If you really want to stop playing games... well it's not as simple as saying "Stop". I still don't understand why even want to though when you enjoy them so much. Try finding something else to do. Read books, write, anything else yout intrested in.

I'm sorry, I know this doesn't help much. What other games have you tried?

It's more of stopping playing games all together. I don't know if I should just get rid of all my video games. Might regret it. Like what did you guys do to stop your addiction? If any of you ever had any...

I honestly do not know whether or not to take your post seriously.

If your serious or not...follow these directions to stop gaming.

1) Buy a Phillips CDI system
2) Buy as many CDI games as you can afford.
3) Play these CDI games everyday for as long as you can stand it.
4) If this does not make you want to stop gaming then purchase a Sega Genesis and only one game..Time Killers. Repeat Step 3.
5) If steps 1-4 do not work seek professional help...seriously.

well.... *taking your post seriously as I know some people do actually have Game Addiction* IF you really want to stop..... you have to get rid of your games.

if you are addicted and they are there.... you will play them.
We do take offers on Video Games @ Game Addiction (Not trying to throw in an advert.. but in case you want to drop them).

Heres the deal though. If you can control your problem and only play a little here and there.... then do that.
BUT get rid of all your online games for sure. Keep only consoles without online play....

OR just get rid of everything all together.

The best way to stop is cold turkey.

†B†V† :hat

I think I tried to stop once when I was a kid. Then I was like "Wait, why would I want to?"

Your to young to be spending all your time with video games. At that age you need to be concerned with 3 things, school, girls, and friends. Games will always be there but youth is a one time deal, when it's gone it's gone. And as fun as games may be they do not compare to the memories you can make with friends/girlfriends. I'm not saying quit them entirely, just don't let them interfere with what's most important in life

I thought about just taking my RAM out of my computer and giving it away. It's all about regreting anything I do. I'm asking all of you because your all gamers. If I give away my RAM my computer will be not usable or anything. Then the next day after I get rid of it, I might say "Okay, I really need on the computer". Video games are part of my life. I'll probably seriously regret getting rid off all of it. Though it needs to be done.

One of the reasons why I do so bad in school is because "over-stimulation"... as I mentioned.

I'm really thinking about this...

aimsjames said:

I thought about just taking my RAM out of my computer and giving it away. It's all about regreting anything I do. I'm asking all of you because your all gamers. If I give away my RAM my computer will be not usable or anything. Then the next day after I get rid of it, I might say "Okay, I really need on the computer". Video games are part of my life. I'll probably seriously regret getting rid off all of it. Though it needs to be done.

One of the reasons why I do so bad in school is because "over-stimulation"... as I mentioned.

I'm really thinking about this...

Click to expand...

if its as bad as what you say.. you need to just sell off all your stuff and forget it..... join a sport.... read books.
Reading books will help your brain again.  It will be a slow process, but give it time.. it will work.

you'll have to stay away from the TV, games, computer....

BUt if you really want to get help.... kill off your collection.  Help you help yourself.
No professional help in the world will help UNLESS YOU are willing to take the steps needed for self-betterment (is that a word).... and you know what I mean.

Not to sound harsh, but grow some balls and take your game addiction problems by the throat.... and kill them off.  I am sure you will feel tons better.
Seek counselor help as well.. someone that will keep you accountable.

This happens to almost everyone addicted to something. 

†B†V† :hat

perhaps you should talk to your dad. It doesn't sound like your mom is helping the situation any, so perhaps your dad can help. Explain it to him in a calm and orderly way, tell him exactly how you told us. If your parents love you they'll recognize that you do have a problem and will help you take steps to remedy it.

I think the best way would be to quit cold turkey. Just get rid of everything.

But another way to do it would be to calculate how much money you spend on games and then think of something non-game related that you could use the money on instead. You're 16...you'll be driving soon right? Pick out a car that you want and then every time you are tempted to buy a game or go to a LAN center, put the money in savings towards your car. If you're still spending at least $100 a month on gaming, and assuming you get a car around 18 years old, you'd have a pretty good amount of money towards your car already.

If you don't already have a savings account, you could bring that up with your mom or dad. They could make it so that you could put money in yourself but not take any out. That way you wouldn't be able to spend it if you got tempted.

I think Mai makes the best sense yet.

OK...listen...its all in your head. If you feel your addicted to video games, then its a mental addiction only..this is a good thing...you cannot be physically addicted..its impossiblle. So being that its a mental addiction there is really only one thing to do..and thats to have a strong will, and just stop.

Yes ..I know..."its not that easy" ect ect...
But really it is as easy as you make it be. I have conquered several physical and mental addictions in my younger years. I did not seek help for any of them..I simply recognized the problem..decided I nedded to change..then I stopped doing what I was doing. Simple as that....honest to god it is. You just have to convince yourself that your not weak..that you have a strong will.

There is really no need to sell your games..disable your computer ect...just stop playing games all the time. I know this sounds hard to do..but its only as hard as you make it. I was addicted to drugs, marijuana, crystal meth, and LSD at one point in my life. I just realized one day...that I was making my life worse..I had no cash..no friends..felt aweful..so I just simply made the concious decision to quite..and I did. That was 7 years ago and I have never had a relapse of my addictions.

Its all a matter of willpower..be strong, convince yourself that your stronger than all that...don't let anything beat you in life man..especially not video games. If you find that you cannot make such a decision and stand by it on your own..seek professional help...but the important thing is that you have at least made the first step..which is realizing you have a problem.

..or you can do what I first suggested and play nothing but crappy CDI games..which will make you totally hate gaming :lol

Well, I'd say first off, get back in a regular school. You need to get some other friends that you can hang out with and do things with in real life. As well, it'll eat up some time in your day. Find other hobbies or interests that you have, like reading to help slow your brain down, but especially something physically involved. Any kind of team sport, or something else like weightlifting, cuz sitting on your ass for 7-8 hours a day for a year is gonna come back to haunt you. You don't have to quit cold turkey, but that should be your ultimate goal. You've gamed enough for an entire lifetime, and as X2 pointed out, you really should be involved with other things at this time in your life.

Just keep busy doing other things. Get a part time job somewhere, take a more active interest in school, get your driver's license, hell, have a beer or two every now and then to mellow out (though that is also ill-advised as it too could easily become an addiction). Try to plan out a balanced day that maybe only allocates 1 or 2 hours to gaming, and just keep in mind that power switches are meant to be turned off every once in awhile.

Well everything else has pretty much been said, but do you have any good friends you can hang out and talk to?

I have friends. All of them are mass gamers though. I'm just going to take it easy. I have all the fitness stuff I could ever want... Boxing, Bowflex. I'm just not motivated to do them with video games around. And how could I drink beer if I'm only 15? Haha. I've tried wine like 5 times at some religous event at my friends house. And it makes me feel at ease. Can't ask my Mom though. When I did ask her She thought I'd become and alchoholic, even if she monitors it. I'm a responsible person... just not with video games. Theres very few things that motivate me, I love entertainment. I never really liked sports. It's really intimidating when I see someone who is obviously better then me, and knows it. That's Just me. I recently just got a ton of language stuff. I should be doing that. But I can never remember it, nor comprehend it. So I end up not doing them. Once agian, I do think it's the video games that cause such problems. Hmm.


Well I should just take my RAM out of my computer. I just wanted to ask everyone here since you guys are gamers, so am I. Taking the wrong approach could be bad. I have a N64, I should be playing that to get my "game fix". Should be playing PD or Zelda.

That's that, Just a simple explaination, simple answer.

Good day,
James

What don't you set a time limit for yourself and stick with it. Like at first only play 4 hours a day no matter what, then after awhile limit that to 3 hours etc.

I wonder if aims is the only person who's mistaken this board for an actual game addiction board. I never really thought about it before, but maybe a lot of people who see this board are actually looking for help with their addiction. This would almost be the worst place to go to do that, just because we almost endorse having that addiction here.

stealth toilet said:

I wonder if aims is the only person who's mistaken this board for an actual game addiction board. I never really thought about it before, but maybe a lot of people who see this board are actually looking for help with their addiction. This would almost be the worst place to go to do that, just because we almost endorse having that addiction here.

Click to expand...

the first time I saw the forum, thats sort of what I thought.
then I read on.