Success stories

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Devoit
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Success stories

Hi, I'm currently freshmen at Devry University writing a paper on videogame addiction. I've been looming around these boards for the past few weeks reading alot of these stories people have posted about how videogame addiction have ruined their lives, or the lives of their spouse or children. I was wondering if I could hear some motivational stories of how going through this program was able to help you, or a friend, or family member. I've scowered the internet for stories of how videogame addiction have ruined lives, but I'd also like to include some success stories as well.

I'd like permission to include some of these stories in my paper, if you would like me to change name's in the story please include that at the bottom of your response.

(Once this paper has been finished I would like to post it here as well.)

ElizabethA
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Good idea for a paper

Good idea for a paper Devo....You have my permission to tell them you can be pretty old and still get hooked on gaming. I"m nearly 60. And yet hooked as can be on a game. I left my game a couple of months ago and it was very hard. (check out the area with withdrawl symptoms--I had most)

Its really simply and not very exciting: I'm working with a sponsor, and I'm doing the 12 steps. I come to meetings at least once a week and I read and reply to posts daily. I exercise a lot and read tons of novels. I blog now and then.

Good luck with your paper: remember that gaming addiction can be found in many guises...even someone who looks like your mom!

ElizabethA

.Left the games behind Tuesday, March 28, 2011...I have a new left knee and a lot more appreciation for the word "recovery"....blessings come in the darndest forms!

.

John of the Roses
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This thread needs to be

This thread needs to be moved to Interview Requests.

"There is little difference in people, but that little difference makes a big difference. The little difference is attitude. The big difference is whether it is positive or negative." --W. Clement Stone

Desire to Stop
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Making this nice and

Making this nice and clear--the reason John is suggesting this needs to be moved to Interview Requests is because the content here is private, not to be posted elsewhere. We're anonymous for a reason. You don't have permission to repost anything you have read at this site. You do have permission to ask for volunteers within the Interview Requests thread and if you get takers, then proceed with that.

Cheers, Desire to Stop
ALL quoted text (unless otherwise stated) comes from the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous (with wording sometimes changed only to make it more relevant for gaming addiction). I will include page numbers.

Hoping & praying for a measure of recovery for all of us today.

Devoit
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So I don't have permission

So I don't have permission to quote the twelve step process? This is website on the internet, as in it is available to the public, meaning what ever is posted in these forums is open to the public. Just sayin.

Desire to Stop
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The steps themselves, I

The steps themselves, I believe you have to request from Olga proper if you can reprint or quote. But the personal posting of those of us here at the site? You absolutely cannot quote or use. You do have permission to ask for volunteers within the Interview Requests thread and if you get takers, then proceed with that. If you're not willing to put forth the effort to go through the proper channels, for us this is a red flag.

Would you walk into an AA or NA meeting and ask for the right to quote people? Maybe, but if you did you would be told the same thing--no, you can't quote what you hear here. At open meetings students training to be A & D counselors, etc do attend and take notes on their personal impressions, but they are forbidden to relate information shared by members or within a meeting.

Cheers, Desire to Stop
ALL quoted text (unless otherwise stated) comes from the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous (with wording sometimes changed only to make it more relevant for gaming addiction). I will include page numbers.

Hoping & praying for a measure of recovery for all of us today.

Andrew_Doan
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I would be glad to discuss

I would be glad to discuss the dangers of gaming from the point of view of an addict, physician, and one who has recovered. Send me a private message.

Here is my history:
I am an eye surgeon who recovered from 30 years of gaming addiction that nearly destroyed my life, marriage, and everything I love. It was faith in God and biblical principals that helped me to regain my life, marriage, and career.

As a youth, I played games excessively (10-20 hours weekly) on Atari, Commodore 64, Original Nintendo, and Sega. I used games to escape into a fantasy land.

As a young adult, I was hooked on Civilization, Master of Orion, X-COM, Master of Magic, Warlords, Sim City, and other strategies games (devoting 20-25 hours a week per game). I moved to new games after mastering previous games.

With the internet and multi-player play, my addiction fortified with Warcraft II (30-40 hours a week) using Kali's IPX Network Protocol over the Internet (I was one of the first 200 users of Kali)... then Ultima Online (30-40 hours a week)... then Diablo and Diablo II (30-40 hours a week)...

Medical school was easy for me so I used the gaming to give me "thrills", "adrenaline rushes", "sense of accomplishments", "mental challenges", "camaraderie of online guilds", and "mental avoidance of daily stress of having little money and raising a young family". This led to an ugly, out of control, positive-feedback loop of addiction.

In 1999, my wife moved out with our children due to my intense irritability and severe verbal abuse. This was a wakeup call. After 6 months, my wife agreed to return IF I went to church... so I went to church... BUT I tried to "control" and "hide" my game playing... I played when everyone else was sleeping!

I played Starcraft (30-50 hours a week)... then Warcraft III (30-50 hours a week)... Eventually, I had to stop playing because carpel tunnel affected my ability to do eye surgery. The pain in my right forearm increased due to my game play, and it was difficult to perform intraocular surgery.

I avoided video games for 3 years until a colleague seduced me with World of Warcraft where I lost over 1400 hours over 2 years of my life, equivalent to 4 months of my life!

I went through all 12 steps of recovery, but it took about 4 years to complete all the steps! Some steps took longer than others. After quitting video games, I devoted my energy and time to church, seeking God, rebuilding my marriage and family, creating meaningful organizations & businesses, and through the Lord, regained my life.

Video Game Addiction is REAL and it is DESTROYING our talent. I was lucky that I survived, but I know other doctors, professionals, and friends who did not do well. People lose their jobs, families, and some have lost their lives.

But there is hope. We need to educate gamers, parents and families about the signs and dangers of Video Game Addiction. We need to take action as a society to prevent our youth and adults from wasting their lives and talents!

Time Since Last Play: Summer 2008...

Alias: MudPhud

Andrew P. Doan, MPH, MD, PhD

My Gaming Addiction Videos on YouTube: YouTube.com/@DrAndrewDoan

*The views expressed are of the author's and do not necessarily reflect the official policy of the U.S. Navy, DHA or Department of Defense.