How can I break free of my addiction to online games?

Question

Well its been about a decade, and my gaming desire still has not been satisfied. ut the problem here is that my work days are coming and I am afraid that I will have no time to game. So is there anyway to break free of games? I really need serious help, I am like 24/7 on my computer everyday and thats not going to help build a bright future for me.

Well its been about a decade, and my gaming desire still has not been satisfied. But the problem here is that my work days are coming and I am afraid that I will have no time to game. So is there anyway to break free of games? I really need serious help, I am like 24/7 on my computer everyday and thats not going to help build a bright future for me.

Answer 1

It is called time to give up the ghost of the games, delete them from your computer, and start taking on adult responsibilities .. give the CDs or Discs or Games away ... and never let them back into the home.

Answer 2

I know what you are saying. I was not addicited as bad as you are but I know well how a gaming can ruin your future. I was playing games a lot at night and stayed up late which makes my work suffer because I can not concentrate and staying alert at work.

But, as you said - your work days are coming. You need to decide - work? or play? Work will give you NO time for games which might be a good thing. It also will give you time away from computer and engage your brain in somethign else - which is also a good thing. It will also give you income - which is a good motivator to stop gaming.

While I am no expert on this subject, here are some tips that might help you.

Turn the compute off! Walk away from it. Don't try to "wean" off it because you will end up saying "one more minute and I will stop" but you WON'T! Stop now and don't turn it back on.

Get other people to help you. Stay around people. Make appointment to see them. Make a time to go out with friends and do things outside the computer environment. You might just find out interesting things about your friends you never knew before.

IF you need to use the computer - then take ALL games off it.
Stay off games for a period of time - say two to three months. Once you have enough interests outside gaming and you don't feel a "need" for games anymore - you might try having one or two games installed and play it ONCE a week only.

I still have games I like to play - some of my favourites - still here on the computer, but I hardly play it now and don't feel the urge to play it because I have so many other things to keep me busy. Wrok is a great motivator. No work = No food or rent or petrol money or holidays.

Get people around you to help combat yor addiction. I am sure you can do it.

Answer 3

Forgetabout finding a job that would tire you! Believe you me, You would look forward to the killing spree!! lol!!

Try limiting your online gaming time to a few hours a night. (this all depends on YOUR discipline)

There was a time when gaming was more of a social occasion but now with online options, it has become very virtual and as you know, most virtual personas are very diffferent from their 'live' counterparts (especially when the only interaction is text messaging).

Get another interest that has some productive qualities or tangential potential in being productive. Probably something that is slower paced that makes you depend on thinking a bit than just relying on your fast twitch reflexes (which you loose as you get older anyway). Maybe take up a hobby like macrame, knitting, reading, model building, etc. or start doing something that requires physical exertion (You will feel better, crave healthy foods (that will taste better!) and have a healthier outlook)

Having a Girlfriend (as long as she does not have your level of addiction) can be Very nice as well.

Answer 4

Simple. Go to work.

You see, once you start working, you won't be able to "play games", especially MMOGs for the sole reason and fact that your employer will not allow you to or you will get fired.

Do not judge yourself too early, before you say "I'm sure I will still play online games even while at work or skip my work till I get fired..." be there first. Do you really think that you will let yourself get fired because of it?

Secondly, health issues. If your "future" is not enough to give you the "WILL" to control your gaming time then let health be your second important reason. If you keep on doing what you are doing right now "24/7", sooner or later you will feel the effects of your "sacrifices" and your body will soon shutdown.

What do I mean? Simple. Do you want to die early?

Now if your answer is still yes, then there's no way out for you, because "gaming addiction" is best solved by your convictions. Trust me, been there, done that, and I'm involve in the fight against gaming addiction. The solutions are really mainly "practical".

Answer 5

Self control. Game only when you have the time to, and it won't interfere with other things. If you can't do that and feel gaming will eat into and deteriorate crucial elements of your life...

Delete and/or sell the online games, and stay away from them. I am guessing you are addicted to some kind of MMO? If you can, I'd say go cold turkey. Get away from your computer for a week. Lock it up or let a trusted friend or family member hold onto it, and don't touch a computer until the week is up. During that week, go outside, and do other fun things or other hobbies. If you can't control yourself with online games to the point it becomes an addiction and hinders your life, total abstinence is the only option.

And if you still can't stop yourself from playing, I'd say, you might want to seriously consider some sort of therapy.

Answer 6

First, don't turn or use your computer for at least over a week. Your addictness will subside.

Second, never go online. Quit your internet service if you have too.

Third, find something else to do that doesn't need electricity.

Fourth, get as far as possible from your computer. Like hanging out at city malls.

I was addicted to online games once, till my eyes are starting to get blind due to monitor radiation. So, I strained myself from using the computer for a month. It wasn't easy, but now I', not that addicted to online games anymore.

Answer 7

And here you are on Yahoo Answers, on the computer!!! Just get away from the computer and go buy a book or something if you need to keep your mind actively engaged. The Library is full of them, and you will be around other people etc. Mostly steer clear of the computer, and go outside and breathe the fresh air and live.

Answer 8

Online games are much more addictive than regular games because there is no end to them. I was addicted to World of Warcraft for a while and I just said to myself that it was just taking up too much of my life. There are such things as withdrawals from online games, but if you get outside and be with and keep your mind active you probably won't be taken a slave by the power of online video games. The best thing to do though is to just cut off playing it completely and cancel all your accounts. If it's taking over your life, it's probably not a good thing. I haven't played World of Warcraft for months, and I'm fine now, but every now and then I kind of want to play it, but if you just do something else, it's really not that hard to stop.

Answer 9

I would say unplug your internet or even call your internet provider and tell them to disable it or just unplug your computer, put it in a safe lock it up and have someone that would not give you the key to keep the key. That way when you go crazy for the computer you can't open it.

Answer 10

go busy yourself. How about getting a steady girlfriend who doesnt play computer games? Or you could get a job that would tire you... :) Just stay away from your computer, find a party and enjoy your real life... :)