Mom addicted to World of Warcraft. Can anyone help?

Question

My mom has been addicted to World of Warcraft for over a year now. It's all she ever talks about and all she ever does. This is one of the hardest things I have had to deal with in my 20 years on earth, even though my father is an alcoholic. I have no idea what to do to help her. My mom got worse after I moved away in September of 2005, I moved back in September of 2006 and I didn't know how bad it was as I only visited twice in the year that I lived about 300 miles away. Now I am back living at "home" until my boyfriend and I can get a place of our own. It is terrible seeing her as a zombie, she used to be so healthy and full of life. Now, she even takes days off work if something goes wrong in the game (usually something with her guild), and she took a day off when the expansion came out. The depth of the problem is so hard to get into. I don't know what to do. I am pregnant with her first grandchild and she doesn't even seem to care, as it is not WoW related. I am so hurt.

I'm not going to get into the game. I tried that with the last game that she was addicted to, and all it seemed to do was to make her think that I completely supported her, and then she played even more. That would be like taking up drinking so I could spend time with my alcoholic father.

I guess it's going to be hard to find people that believe this is a true addiction. She was a wonderful vibrant person before getting into online games, and now she is just a shadow of her former self. This is just as hurtful to me as if she were addicted to illegal drugs or anything else more common. She never skipped work for any reason other then illness before the game. We used to be best friends, and now I feel as though I don't even know her.

Answer 1

All i can say is to start playing the game with her. You will make her happy and possibly more involved with you. Once you become a character in the game you are more interesting as a person. I know it sounds messed up but that will be the truth of it to an addicted person. I just got my husband to start playing with me and it feels good when he comes to me for help. We have both computers right next to eachother which makes it more interactive.

Once you two talk about the game she will laugh with you and pull away from the game more often to spend time with her "game buddy" ..YOU

Answer 2

I agree with dudes answer in the respect of calling off work and stuff. Maybe if you get into the game too it might help reach her, but that could also blow up in your face too. It depends on why she plays the game, it could be shear enjoyment, it could also be a tactic to try and stop dealing with problems around her. I myself have used games to just get my mind off of things. But it isn't the game itself, people can use just about anything, television, shopping, sex, drugs, alchohol, internet chat, whatever. The fact that she picked a video game instead of some other things is better, but its still a problem if it used to just not deal with life. The fact that you are having a grandchild and she doesn't seem to pay any interest, might be signs of another problem that doesn't have anything to do with the game. I know when I had my first child I found out some of my mothers true feelings on all that, she didn't want grandchildren, she raised us and she was done, she didn't want to deal with anymore kids anymore. I hope in your case that this isn't true because that would be very sad, but things like this do happen in the world. I no longer talk to my mother anymore because of this. She didn't distract herself from life with videogames, it was television and books for her. Personally I would say that if your mom is skipping work and kinda like a "zombie" all the time, she may need to talk to a psychologist, though alot of people refuse such an idea especially when they need it. I can say this though, if there wasn't world of warcraft... she would be skipping work for other reasons. Series premier on television? New book released by favorite author? Could be anything. You can have a normal life and play World of Warcraft at the same time, just like their tooltip when the game loads says "take everything in moderation (even world of warcraft)"

Answer 3

I started playing WoW in November. My wife thought I was addicted. I didn't skip work and didn't play to all hours of the morning. But I did play on all my optional time, and didn't spend a lot of that time with my wife.

But it is easing up now. I reached level 70 with one character, and I find that I'm play somewhat less now. I actually enjoy it more when I don't feel pressured to level up.

Did your mom get a character to lvl 70 yet? I would imagine she has, so yeah, I'd say that she's too addicted.

My advice would be to tell her about how many people actually enjoy the game more if they take some time away from it.

Answer 4

I am a WOW player and find it to be easily addicting as a lot of other good things in this world can be. Calling off of work to play WOW might be a little excessive. Your mom might have an addictive personality and this is probably evident in the ammount of time she plays the game. You should try to distract her with other events and maybe even play a little yourself. If you build that relation with her through your common involvement in the game it will spill over into other aspects of your life together.

Answer 5

My advice would be to talk to her about it when she is NOT playing. I know it may be hard to find one of those minutes, but if you explain to her how you feel, she may not quit, but she may reduce her time on the game.

This Yahoo Group may help you find other solutions:

http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/WOW_widow/

I wish you luck and congratulations on your baby :)

Answer 6

Either break the cd if there is one or unplug the computer when shes not home or use the computer/lock it

Answer 7

everybody took a day off expansion day.

Answer 8

She's a grown woman, mind your own business.

Answer 9

Join in.

Multiplayer!