I am so glad that I found this group. I got EQ2 a few months ago, and when I first played it, I was lost.
I've isolated myself, and that's what I see now. My closest friend of 15 years and I had a bad falling out last August and it really ripped me apart. But I also knew it was for the best.
I used excuse after excuse to stay on this game, the weather, the fact that my hubby and I share one car, our poor financial situation, etc.
My brother gave me it as a gift, and he also quickly became addicted, playing 7 days a week, but extricated himself from it.
I am a mom of a young girl, and it makes me ashamed how I lost time with her. I made sure she was OK, but I let our Tivo rule her life with her favorite cued shows while I dissolved into my world.
My relationship with my husband suffered as well, though not to the point of an end (thank God).
I created 4 characters, my favorite was my level 22 necromancer. I also was invited to a guild, which was icing on the cake. But as time went by, I got tired of their demands (why aren't you leveling up? why aren't you using our voice chat? when are your friends coming back on?), I played with my alts.
I would use the time my daughter took a nap to go on, as well as the afternoon, and evening after she was in bed. It's like a drug--the rewards, the battles. One evening, I let my husband listen to the sounds as I was fighting and he even agreed "what an intoxicating world".
I had fun, I developed some friendships, I was known as the gal who made food for other players, etc. I just felt so worthless in my own life, living in an apt., comparing myself to others, just depressed.
But my wake-up call came recently when my phone line went dead (no DSL) and we were without it for 2 days. The first day I was inconsolable, ranting like a lunatic. The second day I realized how foolish I was and that at the end of my 3-month gift card membership, I'd quit.
But the real wake-up call came when I lashed out at my husband and daughter angrily when my computer became infected with a virus that prevented me from playing yet again, or their requests for family time had me seething.
Well, no more. This week, I've not only extricated myself from the game, but I am getting rid of the DSL (I have a 'net addiction too), and our phone line is going bye-bye as our phone will be my cell.
The only time I'll log in is from a library in a few days. I've also given my life to the Lord and am joining a church, and rejoining the living. Hopefully, soon I'll be able to reach out and help others with patience and compassion, the same grace as was shown to me.
Amen.
Theresa