Hi all
I appreciate it has been a while since I showed my face. Most of you probably won't remember me besides, but I joined over four years ago now to quit gaming having recognised with the support of the other members here that I was an addict.
I'm proud to say I'm still going and come June 2015 will have been clean for four years. It has been a hectic ride and have had some near-misses but I have stayed the course and placed hope in my little children and my beautiful wife to get me through. My days are now full of things to do and it is rare that the thought of a game even crosses my mind.
To those who are quitting, starting out or thinking they may have an issue I do make this promise and hope to reinforce your decision to quit should you so feel like doing that. It does get easier. The cravings do subside and you will find peace in yourself again. Those connections have been stripped down and almost completley rewired - bar the odd craving I find myself generally not caring about those infernal machines any more. The only thing I am now slave to is a two-year old, which is fine by me - the time I spend with him is fun, warm and filled with happiness - I would not exchange it for anything, least of all a game!
Peace be with you all and good luck with your journeys. It is doable!
Silent
Clean of my video game addiction since June 2011.
I failed my Wife, my Family and everyone who has ever supported me before. I spurned, I avoided and I dug deeper in my shame until I finally admitted to myself - "I cannot do this without the help of a higher power".
I commit myself to never picking up a videogame again and to supporting all recovering addicts and their affected loved ones in any way I can, whether through advice I can offer or simply through my story.
Wow, Hope Lost, that's awesome! Congratulations on almost 4 years game-free and thanks for the update. I know it will give hope to others who feel hopeess in thier gaming addiction. I think you need to change your name to Hope Found.
Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending. ~Maria Robinson
Thanks for sharing! :-) Good to hear this!
"I want to see people and I want to see life."
I may just do that Silvertabby. At one point I could not see the light at the end of the tunnel but now my days are filled with determination and strength to steer well clear of those warning beacons when I consider them.
I am going to start spending more time around here now that I have been fully committed to the cause.
Clean of my video game addiction since June 2011.
I failed my Wife, my Family and everyone who has ever supported me before. I spurned, I avoided and I dug deeper in my shame until I finally admitted to myself - "I cannot do this without the help of a higher power".
I commit myself to never picking up a videogame again and to supporting all recovering addicts and their affected loved ones in any way I can, whether through advice I can offer or simply through my story.
Heres for you, Hope -
Liz Woolley
CONGRATS! Hope, consider leading meetings on OLGA. We need "veterans" to lead others during recovery.
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.
Thanks for sharing!