The most common types of addiction range from drugs, alcohol, smoking to gambling and sex. The ones I mentioned are just a few of the long list of types of addictions, and more commonly talked about. What about gaming addiction? Is this real? Some people argue that gaming addiction is not an addiction, and it all depends on the person’s mentality and behaviour. Now, let me summarise that for you in my personal opinion and experience..
For the information, I used to be a gaming addict as well, and I was a hard-core one at that furthermore. I could play my games for few days straight with very little sleep or even without sleep. Some of the games that I played are familiar ones for most gamers – Dota 2, RPG games, and even mobile apps e.g, Candy Crush, Party in my Dorm. The games had not become a part of my life. They had taken over my life!
I knew that i was wasting a lot of time, by spending so much time on games, but I simply could not help it. Some of the methods that I tried using might sound very familiar to most gamers out there:
- I’m gonna break Alex’s high score before I stop. <Playing Flappy Birds>
- (After winning Alex’s high score after 1 hour…) I’m gonna break my personal best now before I stop.
- Alright, this is my last game. I’m gonna stop after this.
- Ok, that wasn’t my last game. I will just play 3 more games.
- Screw this, those weren’t counted. Those sucked. I will give myself a limit of 5 more games before I stop.
- Ok, it’s 1.45pm now. I will stop at 2pm.
- (At 2pm…) Ok 15 mins more.. That’s it.. Really 15 mins more..
- (At 2.45pm..) Finally managed to stop…
- (At 3.15pm..) Playing candy crush now..
Do the scenarios listed above sound familiar to you if you are a gamer? Maybe it’s just me. Maybe other people don’t have this issue of being addicted to games, and they can stop whenever they want. But if the scenarios above happen to you very often, you might want to know more about this addiction to gaming. Some of the symptoms:
If you are feeling all those symptoms, you really need to get this problem fixed asap. Games are meant to be a form of entertainment, and you should not feel all these emotions when you play a game. This addiction is as hard to quit like any other addictions, and it took me quite some time to walk away from this addiction.
I did not manage to quit this addiction overnight. I was so addicted to a couple of games last year, that I felt my temper becoming uncontrollable sometimes. At times when my mother require me to run some errands, I would fly into a rage especially when I had “died” or lost in my game. I only started to reflect upon myself when my mother was hospitalised last year for her backache problem. I felt very guilty and bad over my actions. I decided to quit gaming for good.
Over the next few days, I still had the uncontrollable urge of picking up my phone and play whenever I have some free time. I couldn’t control the urge, but I was able to slowly cut down on the time I was spending on these games. Day by day slowly, I started to divert my attention elsewhere. To my mother, to youtube videos, to inspirational movies and etc etc. I was keeping myself occupied. I read up on inspirational figures, on travel guide and etc etc. I was reading and watching whatever stuff that I could get. I also took up a new sport. After a period of around 3 months, I finally managed to quit those games for good, and I have tried to stay away from games ever since.
Some people might feel that it’s a pity to quit the game, as they might have reached a certain “level” where they have spent too much effort and time on. But it is important to realise that those are not REAL, and they are just a part of the virtual world. In your virtual world or gaming world, you might lose your “items”, the recognition you gained in the game, your virtual friends or the time and effort you spent on the game.
If you can’t quit because you feel that it’s a pity to give it up after spending so much time and effort on the game, think about the time you will continue to waste if you continue to be so addicted to the game. Think about the time you are going to lose with your family, the chance to bond with them, the opportunity to show them your love. What if you lose anyone of them one day, only to realise that you have not done anything much for them. Instead you have done so much for the character in your game, and the developer of that game. Think about your health, and how much weight you have gained ever since being glued to your computer chair or mobile phone. Think about your future, and your dreams and many many more.
It’s never easy to take the first step. People can get addicted to games, that’s a fact. To remain stationary in your position, and play your games might make you feel happy for now. But they only provide you instant gratification. They are not going to help you in your dreams or goals, your reality ones. Why don’t you try looking for delayed gratification? You will feel more accomplished and happier after achieving those. If you do not know the meaning of gratification, start your journey of gaming rehabilitation today by checking out the difference between those two!
Sgurtle
*The writer blogs at http://sgurtle.wordpress.com/