Video Game Addiction...how can I help???

Question

I have been with my ex for almost 6 years. I have always known him to be hardcore into video games and I too play games for hours on end.However, it's getting to the point where he doesn't want to do anything but video games. He even found out he can play video games at work in between customers so now he's playing his Nintendo DS at work, and World of Warcraft at night. Lately we've been talking about getting back together, but his addiction makes me feel sometimes even unwanted. He never goes to see anyone unless they come over to HIS place to LAN computers. He plays video games at work. He plays video games when he comes home til he goes to bed. We never go out like we use to.He's become very unsocial and impossible to reach unless you log into the game he's on. I'm starting to feel this is very unhealthy. Also he needs to exercise to keep his heart healthy because he has a heart condition. Anyone have suggestions of inexpensive fun ways to help him get of the computer chair??

He's 21. Last night he bought a flat panel wide screen monitor for his computer, which is cool. Then informed me he almost beat his new DS game in a day shift at work cause that's all he had to do cause it wasn't a busy day. So he's spending on this money and I asked if he wanted me to pick him up some food and he claims he has no money for it. So when I asked him if he'd help pay for some of the food when we go out to dinner Tuesday he kept blowing me off for World of Warcraft to the point where he had no idea what a simple question I was asking if he was gonna help pay a little...he thought i was just lecturing but I just kept asking him the same question, he got so mad he kicked me out of his apt and refused to talk to me cause I was bothering him during "WoW time" But I only was seeing if he'd help pay before I went to get groceries for our date thing. Now he's deciding whether we're gonna spend our 1 day off together doing anything or not....cause he's now upset. >_>

So there's this "in the zone" he explained that when he's in the zone, he is unresponsive and that "guys get this in the zone" where they don't notice their surroundings cause they're so into what they're doing. And told me that when he's like that he's not gonna respond. But I swear from when he gets off work til when he gets to bed which is either 10:00pm - 4:00am or 7:00pm - 1:00 am he is completely in the zone and non-responsive. So now it's like I'm being punished cause the little time i get with him off the games to go out to town and hang out, he says he's mad and hurt how I give him a hard time about his addiction and now he has to "think about" whether or not like I'm worthy enough to do our one day off together. And if we don't don't do that...it'll be gaming for him from 12:00pm - 4:00am with a few eating breaks. It's really the only chance I get to be with the real him besides WoW time.

Also he needs to get out at at least walk once around the block or anything to keep his heart healthy. I feel like if this chain continues there will be no him any longer. He's got a mechanical heart valve that needs special care and he's on blood thinners because they will clot easy. He does nothing to take care of himself. These games I think are going to kill him unless he can unplug for 30 minutes a day and maybe walk a little. Our day out once a week in the town is the only time we walk around town and do anything. But every time he gets upset he cuts that out of our week and just sits home alone all day in the dark. Sometimes I think he pretends to be mad unpurpose just so he has an excuse to go back to World of Warcraft or his other RPGs.

Answer 1

Why would you want to be with someone like that. Dump the dude and move on, he's a waste of time and space.

Answer 2

How old is he? Could be just a phase I was exactly like this but I still made time to hit the gym and treadmill and weights, then headback home to play my games, now I still have about 300 games but haven't played one for about 5 days.
And when I do I put in maybe 5 hours tops.

Answer 3

Glue a book to his screen!!! There are groups on the internet the help with this problem. Try there, If he will let you log on!

Answer 4

Get rid of DSL or cable. The game is not that fun if you dont play it online. Eventually he will get tired of the game but he can buy a new one and play that. Viedo games are better than sex i know i'm a fanatic. I'm not as bad as your boy friend but i'm close.

Answer 5

I wish I could help you, my hubby is the same way....except now he is out in camp working so he can't play right now, but when he is home it is non stop. But on the bright side he is not in the bar or out fooling around and I know where he is :)