[GTAO] Anxiety & Withdrawal

[fw3]

I was talking with some students of mine who are currently immersed in the game Fortnite, like fleas on a stray dog.

Some of them were saying how they'll play so much and so intensely, that it causes them anxiety when they stop playing.
Another said that he goes through a kind of "withdrawal" when he gets in trouble at home and can't play for a few days.

 

It got me to wondering about GTAO and whether this has happened or does happen to its players, too.

I know for me, in the early days, I'd be at work, looking at the clock with anticipation of heading home just to play GTAO.
And if work, family, or personal obligations drew me away from my normal routine, I'd feel a very slight yearning to be playing.

For some, playing too long can have the effect where the game seems to keep going in your head, like when you go to bed right after, which can cause anxiety.

I've never had any problem playing and my longest marathon session was probably 3-4 hours, tops.
But, I know many young players who sometimes spend entire days in-game, whether it's GTA, Fallout, Skyrim, or other games.

So what about you?

Ever feel anxious or stressed out when you stop playing GTAO?
Ever feel a sense of withdrawal when you couldn't play?

Are there other emotions or reactions you experience when you play too long or are kept from playing?

Just curious, as always. Hearing some of the high schoolers talking about it, honestly, concerned me a bit.
Especially since they care about 300% more about the game than getting good grades.

Would enjoy any responses. Cheers!

Since Dad took away my PS4, the only thing I want to play with now is my Rusty Brown's Ring donut. <sigh>

[HeavyDuke]

I feel bored after playing this game for 5 minutes and turn it off again. Ever since my daily main co-op person has stopped playing this game has become to much of a borefest for me to enjoy. I still kind of hope something good comes up but.. meh old game is old and the people playing it get more gumpy by the day. So no, i feel no anxiety at all. I kind of have moved on.

 

Getting bored by gaming in general by the way. I think my gaming days are numbered.

Edited March 28, 2018 by HeavyDuke

[Rafae]

Anxiety? Far from it.

 

I do enjoy this game alot but I also know when to put it away and such.

[J-Scott-D]

Age 48, been playing GTAO since June of 2016 and yeah, I kinda get withdrawals.

 

When I'm at work. I even come home at lunchtime when possible to sell a Dub2/run a Headhunter!

 

R* has done a good job keeping me out on the streets and in the sky making those GTA$s. Not the way they would prefer me to play it, but I'm out there nonetheless.

[IamCourtney]

I get a little stress/anxiety when I'm running deliveries in a full lobby, but that's what I'm after! Enough to get a bit of a rush but not so much that it has any negative impact. If/when it ever gets to that stage, the game goes off for at least an hour or two.

 

As for withdrawal, its probably too strong a word for it... my intensity-of-interest in GTAO tends to wax and wane but during the periods where I'm really into it, there are definitely times I'll catch myself daydreaming of San Andreas while I'm working or doing errands or what-not. Not to the point where I start tweaking out if I can't get my fix a while though

Edited March 28, 2018 by IamCourtney

[Killer Whale]

I don't get withdrawals due to lack of GTA. I've been a month and a half without power due to hurricane Maria, and I haven't felt a growing urge to play GTA Online during that time.

 

I do get stressed sometimes when playing, but it's because of playing heists with incompetent people. The anticipation of said inconvenience even stresses me out more which makes me turn off the game.

[fw3]

I've been a month and a half without power due to hurricane Maria

I'm very sorry to hear this. My condolences on what you, your family, and your friends have endured.

 

I have many friends there, and they share the same story about power and rebuilding their homes.

 

Fortunately, no one was hurt. I hope you are yours were safe and life is returning, somewhat, to normal.

 

​Buena suerte para ti!

[LaszloR1]

Ever feel anxious or stressed out when you stop playing GTAO?
Not really.

 

Ever feel a sense of withdrawal when you couldn't play?

Only when I had to spend so much time on studying, working that I didn't have any freetime, but I think that is more of a burning out thing.

 

Are there other emotions or reactions you experience when you play too long or are kept from playing?

When I play too long I either get tired, or just bored of the game, I feel like I've had enough after a few hours and I just feel like going away from it for a bit and do something else, I've felt this after completing Criminal Mastermind or a session with a similiar lenght, but that is probably because I usually don't play that much. In 2016 I stopped playing the game, because I got bored, after around a year I wanted to try it again and I've been playing since then. The reason I stopped was probably burning out, although at that time I didn't play much. I don't feel anyhting, other than maybe "missing" it a bit, it kinda helps me after a long day to just log on, drive a bit, maybe get together a race or something.

[MeisterJazz]

Not anxiety but boredom.

[G U M M I]

I feel like I play too long when my internet slows down to sloth speed.

 

That. And I really hate the word immersed/immersion etc. Seriously, people need to find a different word to use *all of the time*.

[UKPortista]

- Never
- Never
- Sometimes

I did used to get a little anxious during the Special Crate countdown clock, especially if it was for an item I really wanted...but anxious in a thrilling kind of way.

[flexcreator]

I know for me, in the early days, I'd be at work, looking at the clock with anticipation of heading home just to play GTAO

 

That happens to me when another DLC drops

 

Some of them were saying how they'll play so much and so intensely, that it causes them anxiety when they stop playing.

 

 

I would say this is typical for intense PvP games. However, this can be cured with experience (the game experience and the life experience).

The younger generation of gamers don't know how to deal with such emotions in general, not just in the context of video games.

 

The anxiety is originally born while they are playing, players are too excited to win and experience the fear of losing. Starting to breath faster. the heartrate goes up. But they don't notice these effects until they stop playing the game.

 

Players should learn to focus on the things they can control - form and tactics, breathing.

Winning, losing, the end results and probabilities are NOT something that players have complete control over, so they should never worry about these things.

 

Do your best, but don't worry about results. This should reduce anxiety and improve performance at the same time.

 

As for the Withdrawal, it won't be a thing as soon as they start to appreciate other things except video games.

[Verbal Soze]

Nah, i never feel that addiction feeling, maybe because i have lots of other stuff to do

 

Although i do find this game becomes boring lately, i barely touch the game anymore, i used to play the game after work for 4 hours but last year i cut it to just 2 hours weekend and down to lately just an hour or 30 minutes

 

Last night i just logged in for 30 minutes only to buy and destroy ellie and tezeract

 

After that i log off that's it

 

For those who become addicted to the game

 

find something else to do or better yet find a job hahaha

 

[Willy A. Jeep]

Anxiety? If a game is causing me to grow anxious, I'm playing the wrong game, or playing the right game wrong. Sure, a little bit of excitement is welcome - Faster Than Light and Cook, Serve, Delicious are good examples of frantic fun - but if I'm growing anxious because of GTA, I'm doing something wrong. I came to goof off with friends, enjoy the world that Rockstar has created for us, and enjoy cars while not wasting gasoline. I certainly don't feel anxiety when I'm away from the game, I'm not sure what I would have to be anxious about. I don't need to worry about my apartment getting broken into or my cars not getting waxed or the wheatgrass I left out on the counter. It'll all be fine, suspended in cyberspace.

 

I don't think I've ever been addicted to any video game. When I first play some games that I really like - including exactly those mentioned above, Fallout and Skyrim - I do play a lot, but it's never that I need to play a game. I want to experience a story and have fun, but I don't let it tear me away from friends or real life needs. I always wonder about those unfortunate folks who develop blood clots from sitting for so long, playing games, or those who would invest thousands of dollars and hours into a single game that it can take over their entire lives. I've never had such an experience in my life, so I can't really wrap my mind around it. So, no, I don't suffer withdrawal from games. I think the only thing I've ever suffered withdrawal from is probably chocolate...

 

On the other hand, I am a writer. It's what I do, and while not all of it is fiction, I have written a lot of stuff related to video games. Fan fiction is probably the most robust, and for GTA specifically, I have a twenty-some chapter draft I'd love to finalize sooner or later. I've spent much of my casual, personal writing time on crafting things inspired by or a part of my favorite franchises, video games included, and so they do have a large stake in my life beyond my playtime. I've long considered this to be a big part of why I don't feel the withdrawal like some other people seem to - the story doesn't end when I stop playing, I don't stop enjoying it. I can imagine an entire day in Los Santos or New Vegas or Whiterun even if I'm stuck in traffic in Cincinnati, and I don't feel like I need to play the games to fulfill my need for some escapism. I've got my own little corner in my mind all decked out in memorabilia that I can withdraw to if I have to.

 

So... No, in all, I don't suffer for my fun. That's silly. I have plenty of patience with the quirks of the games, and I have plenty of creativity to keep myself occupied and satisfied beyond the games. Keep up the good work, fw3!

[Sanches]

This game just can't get any serious emotions from me anymore.

[secrecy274]

Never.

Never.

Never.

 

And screw Fortnite.

[Zader]

This game is an obnoxious slog that seeks nothing more than to impede me from playing it, but I do admit, when it works, it works.

 

When a friend and I are sitting in a desync and making money by the minute, it's all aces, but the moment someone else comes in and starts racing towards a helipad, looking to do Rockstar a service and prevent the last eight hours of grinding from having any kind of payoff, all for $2000 and a firework rocket, I'll admit, I feel pretty anxious.

[xwinkx_girlYakuza]

I always have a good time when i play. When i'm away i miss LS but it's okay coz i know i'll be back soon

[TankGirl]

I never really miss being on GTA when I am not playing it. I have other games I like to play and other stuff to keep me busy. I really only go on GTAO to hang out with friends. If it wernt for them I couldn't even see myself playing it at this point.

 

As far as getting stressed on it, I think any game where there is a multiplayer community involved it is easy to get stressed because there are so many pure sh*t bags out there. When I get annoyed I just play the Sims.

Edited March 29, 2018 by TankGirl

[Cadtruck]

Fortnite has taken over my middle schoolers lives. I had a kid playing the mobile version waiting for his bus. He got 2nd and was apparently one shotted by someone with a pump shotgun. He FLIPPED out, was cussing, threw his phone into the grass and would not calm down. I was embarrassed for him. You see the same attachment to cell phones. The kids will start balling when you take them from them. They also don't seem to understand why they can't use them in class when it is a very clear school policy.

 

 

BUT ANYWAYS... I do not feel anxiety when playing, except when I lose a large gun shipment etc. I will log off if I get too pissed about it and remind myself it is a video game. I never feel anxiety or stress when I quit playing. Always feels comfortable and satisfied when I log out. Now I do get itchy about looking forward to play at work, especially looking at new things on this forum or reading about methods that I haven't used.

[Gantons Most Wanted]

Played religiously since launch until last March I lost interest due to several factors the constant grind to keep afloat for each update and not having the majority of the Players from my Crew around as much made the game stale. No disrespect to this game it has given me no end of great game play and good times with friends but there just isn't really any incentive to play anymore.

 

Never felt anxiety or withdrawal from it during that time I think it all boils down to your priorities and life balance.

[Lonely-Martin]

Sometimes

Never

Never

 

There's things in game that can irritate on a bad day for sure. Bugs, players, me. It's all bad when I don't want something going wrong, lol. But 2 minutes later, all done and on to the next task/bit of fun/game, or time to take a knee.

 

When I don't or can't play. I'm busy with life or the game's down, either way. Though I might think about what I may do that evening when I do get a chance, if I can't, I can't. No biggie. Game's there when I'm free.

 

Many things I could list are all big in my world too. I game when I can, but I game hard when I do, lol.

 

(Funny this Fortnite gets mentioned again. I've say 40 friends added, had invites there from at least 10!. I ain't playing that pap, lol)

Edited March 29, 2018 by KWF1981

[fw3]

Fortnite has taken over my middle schoolers lives. I had a kid playing the mobile version waiting for his bus. He got 2nd and was apparently one shotted by someone with a pump shotgun. He FLIPPED out, was cussing, threw his phone into the grass and would not calm down. I was embarrassed for him. You see the same attachment to cell phones. The kids will start balling when you take them from them. They also don't seem to understand why they can't use them in class when it is a very clear school policy.

I've seen this, as well. It's a different kind of ramped-up excitement than most players have dealt with in the past. Young people are becoming so intensely affected by game outcomes, that I've witnessed tantrums, total disrespect to adults and peers, and one boy who threw his phone down onto his backpack, but missed and it hit the floor and cracked.

 

A $600-800 piece of ridiculously advanced technology hardware slammed down and damaged because you came in second place in Fortnite. I blame the kid, first, then the parents.

[RedDahlias]

I don't see what the big deal with Fortnite is

 

A bunch of the people I know are super, super into it. Even some of the ever-so-slightly generic "valley girls" people who are absolutely not the type to play video games.

 

Anyways, on topic, the game is kinda stressful mid-game if only from frustration at game mechanics, but I've never really felt anxious or anything when shutting it down or having no access to it. Then again, it's lost a LOT of its appeal to me as of late. I just really haven't been nearly as interested in it as I used to be.