Andrew Escapes the Escape

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Faxlite2
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Andrew Escapes the Escape

I posted here for the first time on August 15th, and its been an interesting road since then. I haven't been game free, but I've been trying. I think one of my problems is that I've been trying to be game free for the rest of my life. Its too much. Right now, I'm just thinking about tomorrow. If I can get through tomorrow without plugging in a game, I'll be ecstatic. If I get through the next day and the only game I play is some D & D with friends, great.

That's definitely a caveat of my recovery. D & D stays.

Another thing that I know I need to work on is my TV watching. I really need to cut that out. Before I didn't watch much because I spent all my time gaming. Now, well there's nearly always something on. I love cartoons, I love shows about science, I love fantasy and SciFi, I love history, but I need to give it up for right now. So the TV goes unplugged as of right now, and God willing I'll keep it that way.

Thing is, I don't have time for games or TV right now. I'm taking 9 credits in school, I have errands to run, I want to spend time writing, I'm trying to start a business, but that stuff has languished. No more. My goal is to be making A's in all my classes by the end of September (fortunately I've got that down right now), be making money on the side from my business, and have at least 3 pages written in a short story. Its a lot, but man I can do it so long as I keep off that wonderful glass anaesthetic.

Andrew

lizwool
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Re: Andrew Escapes the Escape

Hello Andrew,

Some thing that may help you, is to take it one day at a time (or one minute a time or 1 hour at a time).

If you can tell yourself, that you won't play, just for today - that tomorrow you can, it makes it a lot easier, because it is always today, and never tomorrow.

I find that is easier for me to handle, than saying I won't drink for the rest of my life.

Liz

Liz Woolley

anonymous (not verified)
Re: Andrew Escapes the Escape

Quote:Its a lot, but man I can do it so long as I keep off that wonderful glass anaesthetic.

Good luck with all the projects brother, and keep us posted !

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What you think, you create. What you say, you produce. What you do, you call forth more of.

Xandtar
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Re: Andrew Escapes the Escape

Huh.

D&D remains my primary addiction, the one I really got into first, close to thirty years ago.

I'm glad you can handle it, I'm glad I'm in a place where its impossible to be near.

Good luck to you.

Leveling in Real Life

aelwyn1964
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Re: Andrew Escapes the Escape

Hang in there, Andrew. I've been game-free for twelve days now. Liz's idea of telling yourself "I'll play tomorrow" really helped me. Don't forget to exercise and take good care of yourself. Keeping busy helps.

Faxlite2
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Re: Andrew Escapes the Escape

First off, sorry I haven't replied to those who commented on my last post. When I posted for the first time, they sent me E-mails letting me know that people had responded. For some reason not this time. Oh well. Thanks to evryone for your love and support.

Shortly after I made my last post I unplugged the TV and turned it around so its facing the wall. In the days since, many times I've plopped down on the futon and picked up the remote. Fortunately, I've never actually been able to turn it on.

For the first few days after I made the resolution to quit games (this most recent time) it was easy. I was taking it one day at a time, doing my homework, and in general getting things done. Odd to say, I think Labor Day Weekend messed me up. I didn't play games, I didn't watch TV, just did a lot of reading and sleeping. The one productive thing I did was some gardening, mounding up the grass clippings near my habaneros so that they'd hopefully decompose.

I would've done more, but man, I was in bad shape. I wanted to be playing World of Warcraft. It didn't help that I discovered (not entirely accidentally) a way to download it without ever having to deal with discs. As I'm sure most of you know, this is kind of like an alcoholic discovering he has a beer tap in his bathroom. Still, I overcame. I have not played World of Warcraft in months now, and I shall continue to be that way.

Tomorrow should also help. Its the only day this week that I actually have class, so I'll need to be prepared. I like having things to do during the day that HAVE to get done. It provides structure.

Its been 7 days since I swore off TV and games. In that time I have watched no TV and played maybe an hour's worth of games on Newgrounds. So far, so good.

Andrew

anonymous (not verified)
Re: Andrew Escapes the Escape

Quote:I like having things to do during the day that HAVE to get done. It provides structure.

Totally agree .... Andrew, my prayers are with you brother, we walk the same path

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What you think, you create. What you say, you produce. What you do, you call forth more of.

HomebrewNY
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Re: Andrew Escapes the Escape

Keep up the great work Andrew, I'm here and listening in.

aelwyn1964
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Re: Andrew Escapes the Escape

Excellent work. Keeping yourself busy is the key. Find things that reward you, that fill the hole that you used to fill with games and TV, and that are healthy for you.

Faxlite2
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Update - 17 Septmeber 2006

I have to admit that I went on a bit of a bender there for a while. For a few days I was back to all that I'm trying to leave behind. The good part of that is that I protected (quite competently) a fictional home from a massive army of stick figures. The bad news is that no matter how many stick figures I kill, it never gets me anywhere outside that one small game. I think I'm better now though. I believe that run was about three weeks, and to be honest with you, two weeks is not bad. I feel progress has been made.

I went rock climbing today, and maybe that's another thing that has to go. I mean I absolutely love rock climbing, and I recognize its legitimacy as a sport, but I started thinking today that free climbing (no ropes) may not be the best course for a rank amateur such as myself. Oh well. Pretty soon that gym membership for the gym they're building practically in my backyard will kick in, and I'll have some distraction there.

I've also made an effort to eat healthier. Man, fruit and vegetables are expensive! Oh well. Nichevo and all that.

Andrew

P.S.- Nichevo: Means "There's nothing to be done for it" in Russian.

anonymous (not verified)
Re: Update - 17 Septmeber 2006

Welcome back Andrew, nice that you are back from your bender. They DO get shorter in time, and then they disappear ... miraculously

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What you think, you create. What you say, you produce. What you do, you call forth more of.

Faxlite2
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re: update

Yeah, I debated whether or not I should even talk about what happened. Thought that maybe I shouldn't, but I realized that it happened, it wasn't good, but it wasn't shameful either. Just a bump in the road. To deny it doesn't do me nor anyone else a service.

Andrew

anonymous (not verified)
Re: re: update

Quote:Just a bump in the road. To deny it doesn't do me nor anyone else a service.

Exactly, I have had a few fallbacks, and they did not do me well, but it did me even less good to keep them secret.

And itA's no service to the community either, because if everyone of us keeps his dark sides and lost battles to him/herself, we will not have much to share left, as letA's face it, success often only comes at the end of a long struggle for us addicts.

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What you think, you create. What you say, you produce. What you do, you call forth more of.

Faxlite2
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October Update

"My goal is to be making A's in all my classes by the end of September (fortunately I've got that down right now), be making money on the side from my business, and have at least 3 pages written in a short story."

--Me, from about a month ago

Okay, time for an evaluation of those goals. I'm locked pretty tight on the A's in school. In one class I have an A average, in another I'd have to cease breathing in order to drop to a B (phy-ed class) and the third class hinges on the final. An A on the final means an A in the class. So not bad there. Thoroughly in line with my goals.

About making money in my business...I've got a vending machine, I'm contracting with a locator, but the locator has consistently ignored me. Today I got the bright idea of calling the people who sold me the machine and seeing if they could apply some leverage. Minutes later the locator calls me back and apollogizes profusely for the delay and promises me that if I don't have a location by next Tuesday he won't take a comission. A promise worth its weight in gold, but hey, its better than nothing.

About the story...forgot about it. I've got about a page, and I'd love to share it if there are those among you who would love to read it. After its finished of course.

On another note, I've come to realize that games have been a significant problem in my life, but not THE problem. THE problem is that I love diversion. Anyhting that takes me out of the flow of everyday life has my immediate attention. But having recognized the problem, I'm no longer wrestling smoke. I have given my enemy form, now its just a matter of going for the pin.

Andrew

P.S: I cannot thank the members of this site enough for their love, support, and understanding.

anonymous (not verified)
Re: October Update

Thank you for the news Andrew, congratulation to sticking to your goals

Would like to read the story when itA's ready, I love diversion (jokingly)

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What you think, you create. What you say, you produce. What you do, you call forth more of.

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