Meetings in New York City?

I hope so. We want face to face chapters, we think people are ready for them.

Well.. I just signed up this morning; I'm living in brooklyn and looking for some help/support. I thought this might be more appropriate for me than AA, although I am struggling with both alcoholism and gaming (why do one when you can do both?). I am sure I would find RL meetings more meaningful, but I was hoping the framework might already be in place =) Doesn't seem like too many have heard the call. I may look to AA in the meantime, if I can work up the guts to convince myself it will be helpful and get over the fear of showing up at all. Will keep an eye on this thread as well though. ~a

AA would best for you in the meantime, I agree. It will introduce you to being in a group, working the Steps, having a sponsor and getting some sanity back into your life. You can get into the Steps in AA and find whats really causing you to be so absorbed into your gaming. Give it a try!

I live in NYC in the bronx, I'd be willing to have meetings at my house, but i'm no therapist. We would need someone who could run the meetings.

This is fantastic! I wish I lived in NY so I could join you both. Best of luck. Love, Solei

Way too cold up in NY this time of year :(... I lived up there for 39years before escaping to Sunny south Florida 8) . I think it is great that you have a small group in relativly close proximity. Maybe you guys can get together, even if informally at first just to meet and discuss the possiblity of getting a NY chapter going for F2F. . Even if you just meet to talk, it is very nice to sit and be able to talk to people who know what you are talking about and have an understanding what you are going through. . Early on my road to rocevery I had the fortune to be able to meet Solei here in Florida, myself her and her Hubby met at Crackerbarrel for breakfast one weekend. It was probably one of the most helpful things for me. Just to sit accross form other "people" and have them understand without looking at me like I had 2 heads for saying that I a grown man had problems with video games, meant a lot.

remember, AA started with just two guys having a frank discussion. Sometimes chapters aren't formed with fanfare, they grow from the bottom up. That's actually the best way. If you're really interested in hosting a few small get-togethers, please email Liz or John of the Roses, they can give you some extra help so that you won't need a professional. Good luck to you.

No therapist required. The best meetings are for mutual assistance, support, encouragement and comfort rather than group therapy. Leave that for the psychologists and social workers.

I'd be interested in going, and I live in NYC. I do go back and forth about wehther or not I have a game/computer/internet addiction though... and I'm not always as bad with it.... but anyway, I'd be interested in going, if for no other reason, just to see... it's not like I've flunked out of school or whatever though... but a year or so ago, someone did do an "intervention" for me. heh. didn't work at the time, I was too depressed to do anything about it anyway...but anyway I'd be interested in going if there is a group starting up... it doesn't matter where in NYC it is, as long as it's on the weekends or Fridays (PLEASE!! PLEASE let it be on the weekends or Fridays!! otherwise I cannot go, since I go to grad school on the weeknights except for Friday...) err, not that I don't skip classes to play games....or otherwise be on the computer... but hey I'm doing ok.... but anyway, I think I might feel better about meeting in person rather than on the net...specially since I'm trying to get away from it. I don't want to get myself addicted to posting to this website.... :P anyway anyway, if somethings on the weekends, I'd like to go... is there a group going already? If not, when is there one? The best time for me would be, uhh, Saturday (before 5 or 6 pm) or, uhm, Friday anytime... or Sunday after 3pm....

There is nothing to prevent the three of you from sending private messages to one another and arranging a time and place to have a discussion. If you want help from us, send me a PM for what you want and I'll see what we can do on the World Services side of the bench to make it as easy for you as possible. But if you're all interested, don't wait for us, go for it! Good luck to you. :|

bump... New Yorkers, there seems to be some interest here...

I'd be interested in meeting! We should meet. Would saturdays at uhm, 2pm be good for everyone? Also, its true that we could probably meet anywhere, even in a cofee shop or a church or something. but it'd be nice to meet at a home too. What does everyone else think about these suggestions? Any others? btw, I'm really good at starting things. I can get stuff rolling as long as someone else is willing to take over when I finish getting the ball rolling. (after that, err, I'm not so good at keeping things rolling) so, lets do this!

Hey, send these guys some PM's too, k? Good to chat with you. -Brad

Hello everyone, I am a journalism student at Columbia University in New York City, and am working on a video news story for PBS called "Digital Nation." The documentary series focuses on living in the digital age, and the positives and the negatives that can ultimately come from it. Although I've had no experience myself of being addicted to online gaming, I know it causes serious affliction for many sufferers, and I would really like to report on those who have experienced the addiction and are either overcoming it or in the process of overcoming it. If you reside in New York City, I would love the opportunity to meet with and interview you for the piece. I understand this forum is "anonymous," but I feel that perhaps some may not mind getting their story out there, if only to help others feel not so alone or to inform the outside world of this addiction. My email address is jkp2121@columbia.edu. I would greatly appreciate the opportunity to speak with any of you. Thanks, JP

I would be interested in joining or setting one up. I've PM'd everyone on this thread who expressed interest in an NYC meeting - anyone is welcome to contact me for a hook into what's going on and, if nothing, I will definitely set something up even if it is two or three people. Regards, Mike

Good for you, xithix! (I'd call you x, but then I'd be "big X", and Big H might not like that ;) ) PM me your contact info and we'll see what we can do to help you out from our end. Good luck to you.

Start with what works... structure is to deal with organizations like for renting space, etc. Good luck to both of you.

Yes, for a first meeting just concentrate on where and when to get together to just chat. You wont beleive how good just that will feel. . I will be visiting NY in June to take my son to see my parents, if you guys are still getting together by then I would do my best to make it to one of your meetings 8)

GameAddict35 wrote:

As for running the meetings, I'm not sure if any one of us is truly qualified to do something like that. We can just meet, talk, and share ideas. I doubt there i any way to make this truly "Structured" or "organized".

Nobody has to be qualified to run a meeting. It's mutual aid, not group therapy. Good luck guys - you can do this! Brad London, Canada Chapter

I can come to New York to help you with this, if you have a place for me to stay. Liz

Saturdays before 7pm are good for me. However, earlier than that even would be better, especially if it's in brooklyn. I have to be somewhere in Manhattan at 6:30 on Saturdays... so maybe something like the afternoon would be best for me. Uhm, unless you guys are meeting already? heh. If people arn't meeting, what about something like 1 om or 2pm or 3pm?? Any suggestions of where to meet? And does anyone like those times? Oh, I also concur about it being better if we meet in a public place. Central park sounds like a good place, but if we go there I think it should be before it gets dark... which is uhm, what time? so again afternoon-ish would be better. Also there is the problem of, what to do if it rains? I don't know Brookyln or Manhattan as well (i'm new to NYC) so maybe someone else should make a suggestion about where to meet... is there a cute little coffee shop that has tables that are usually available? Is there a library with a private room that someone knows of? This is all assuming you guys haven't met already! I think, uhm, if I were to make a stab at a time, how does 1pm on Saturdays sound to everyone?

Are there any NYC meetings going on? My son needs help. He's 18.

Hi my name is yaakov and im a game addict among other addictions. I am willing to start a meeting and shell out money for a place but i could use some input about where and when. I have chaired SA meetings before so I know what Im doing and I have reading material and flyers. PM me, email me recoveringjak@gmail.com, or call me at 917 703 5770 - just say your first name and that your from OLGA. Im really dying to get a meeting I have had this issue for 16 years.

Thank you all.

God Bless.

Good to hear from you, yaakov. Can you post date, time and place of the meeting and we will post it on our message board? Be there, and they will come! Liz

Ladies and Gentlemen i would like to announce that I have a place for a New York City olga meeting!! It's in a synagogue in a but not in the section where they pray. The address is 347 west 34th st between 8th and 9th avenues. The closest trains (landing you at 8th and 34th) are the A C E lines. If you get off there walk west for about 3 quarters of a block. When you walk in you need not say anything to the people there just walk all the way up the staircase to your left. Now, about the times the rabbi will e-mail me back either mon. at 12-1 or wed. 10:30-11:30 (maybe both depending on the crowd).

Enjoy the news I'll keep everyone posted

Yaakov

Woot, gratz guys/girls!

Hey Yaakov, when you have your time set, PM JamesW here on the site with your exact meeting place, directions, and details. He will set up a link on the "my links" corner of this page. We have gotten SO many requests for a meeting in NYC, it feels like this is an answer to prayer! Good you!

Jane in CT

Good luck Yaakov!!

Hooray!

this is GREAT news

Hey my name is Yaakov and I am a game addict. I have the good fortune by the grace of GOD to give you some awesome news. There will now be a NYC OLGA meeting this Monday (and everyone after it from 12 - 1 at 347 West 34th street. It's in a synagogue but not in the room where they pray. The closest trains are the A C and E trains. There is also the 1 2 3 B D F and V trains nearby. If you come from the east side there is a crosstown bus M34 or M16. When you get to the building go all the way up the left staircase (3 flights). I have some material and flyers and will ask for volunteers to help with chairing the meeting.
Many thanks for all your support (especially you Liz)

Yaakov in recovery.
P.S. My month of sobriety is saturday so i'll have some sobriety.