Video game addiction.

[ShadowDog94]

Hey guys, just wanted to talk about a possible problem I may have. I play a lot of video games, and something is starting to worry me. I think I may be addicted to them. I just literally stayed up all night playing my PS3 last night and didn't sleep at all, and now I'm really tired. I forced myself to stop playing, but I'm still feeling an urge to go back to it instead of going to bed, even though I know it isn't healthy and will cause me to lose even more sleep and mess up my sleeping pattern.

 

This happens frequently to me, especially whenever I get a new game, and my family gets pretty angry whenever it happens. They say that it isn't normal and it's interfering with my sleeping pattern. But whenever I start playing games at night, it gets hard for me to stop playing them. I get so into them that I don't even realize that I'm getting tired and morning time is fast approaching.

 

Does anyone have any advice for me on how to avoid playing video games all night? It would be greatly appreciated.

[Daz]

I can't really suggest anything if you can't pull yourself away from them. If it is your day off, that is nobody's business what you do with your time. However if you are missing school or work or not get enough sleep for the next day, maybe if you know you have plans the next day, start playing an arcade style game or something you can just pick up and drop easily. Games like Fallout for example, just beg for you to continue playing them and the need to explore more can keep you on them for hours.

 

I usually have totally f*cked up sleeping patterns but that is mostly as I alternate from in the week during work being up at normal hours to on the weekend being up until 5-7am and waking up at 4-5pm, usually done so I can play online with those in different time zones. I end up being completely f*cked on a monday morning, and sleep a whole day away when I get back from work that day, and alternate the days having one day to sleep and do nothing, and the other to play all day.

 

I get a lot of gaming time in without doing much else but maybe limit the amount of games you buy or plan to play, maybe set out a goal to leave, earlier than you would normally to give yourself time to finish up.

 

Or who knows, maybe just go ahead and do what makes you happy, it isn't really doing much harm and whatever anyone else says on the subject is irrelevant, they don't understand it so they can't relate to the problem.

 

Not sure if any of that is helpful or not.

[Osho]

To stay away from desktop/console, socialize, travel, play outdoor games, do whatever you can to stay outdoors rather indoors. You MUST get a use for something more resourceful other than playing video games like working some part time occupation, and creative that serves you more knowledge and useful in the long run. Besides, I regularly do simple exercises and have morning walks daily, it assists a great deal to maintain your stress levels down.

These are the basic things you can easily practice and with focus and discipline it will aid you significantly.

[Daz]

I guess that depends on if you consider it something you want to cease doing and consider it an actual problem or if that is someone elses idea.

 

I personally love it and it usually just tells me that I enjoy that more than I do spending time with other people, going outside or doing mundane activities. If you thoroughly enjoy it and don't want to change then don't. If it is ruining your life and you could be doing better things then take Osho's advice.

 

I would be doing the same even if I were a millionaire. Games are always something I get much more out of than anything else in life. So that will never change for me personally.

[Aintgottime2bleed]

My only advice ( bad but works ) is find something thats more fun as gaming or makes you sleepy, i sleep very bad and game alot but i dont really care. When i tried stop an addiction i pick up an other addiction ( dunno you age so find a thing u like and are allowed to do ). The trick is the 'new' addiction is more fun so you forget about gaming, after two weeks of alternative addiction you just drop that addiction. Quite something you do/use 2 weeks is easily to stop and after 2 two weeks no gaming you prolly not addict anymore so its win win situation. Dont do to long else you have new addiction but i think gaming addiction aint take months to lose but i dunno your life. So basicly find some new kick ass stuff that make you forget gaming but quite it on time so you end with zero addictions. Desperate attack = destroy you games and evrything so its impossible to play.

[Shmoopy]

Best thing you could do is get some kind of family games (Scrabble for example or even Mario Party ) and gather your family, they are actually more fun than normal video games , just try them .

[kipakolonyasi]

i wish i had just this problem. in my situation i can't get into any game other than gta 5 right now. whatever i try i lose interest within first ten minutes. i tried bioschock infinite lately for example, it certainly looks like a very good game that's for sure i can't tell what i don't like about it. but i just didn't feel like playing it anymore after a while.

Edited February 27, 2014 by kipakolonyasi

[Misbegotten cad]

For me the best way to keep from playing too long is

A: unconfortable chair and

B: the electricity bill.

 

Now, I do not have a comfy chair for gaming, so my legs start aching about an hour into gaming, so I have to stop!

 

Also, I am very stingy, and so, to keep the electricity bill small, I only play hour a day, two at the most.

 

For you I would suggest keeping your gaming machines in the living room so that you cannot play them in the night.

 

or taking the controllers and putting them in to your parents bedroom for the night. Okay, this might sound silly, but it would work.

 

It's about self control. Your playing hours are unhealthy so you must stop. Get a grip, dude.

 

Also, getting a girlfriend would help you. That would make you forget games!!!

[PKarco]

Sounds like me when I was younger. I remember when my thumbs would be sore from playing too much. Anyways, the key to keeping a hobby from turning into an obsession is simply moderation. Like schedule a chunk of your day to just gaming, then get off the console/desktop and just do something else. Go browse youtube or go jerk off. Just get yourself off the console and take a break.

[Misbegotten cad]

remember that you can always ask Jesus for help!

 

Just pray thusly: Jesus, help me to get rid of this addiction. And that's it.

 

I've always gotten help from Jesus when I've prayed for it. And if a miscreant like me gets heavenly help, then everybody else can too.

 

Praise be Jesus!