The urges will pass

It's now about four years since I started my recovery journey. 

For over two years I did not game, nor drink at all. I had to focus on keeping my life to a strict time table, discovering new hobbies and was terrified of games, even game adverts.

All that time I had regular, distracting urges to game. 

Then, I relapsed. The worst possoble thing that could have happened, I explored all the games that I had added to my list to try. I played excessively, I worried my family. I remembered the pain I caused, a few weeks pass, I eat up the interesting story-lines and invest time trying to regain levels on mmo's.

Eventually I realised something, during the peak of my addiction, I found games boring. The constant grind of levels, the faf between missions. Boring. During my time in recovery I changed to an active, unstressful job which was outside and I loved, I made new, healthy friendships, became a Christian, Developes hobbies which I had a true passion for and learnt how to do other things with my spare time. 

My name is Becca, I'm still a recovering game addict but now life is so much better! I have to be careful around games because I know that they make me tired, unwell and irritable. They also prevent me doing the really important things in my life. 

The best advice I can give to someone new is:- abstain, quit. - Develop new hobbies, get a good nights sleep. Realise that you are essentially allergic to games, then try to work the programme, learn about co-dependency and make friends with other recovering people. Be accountable, make it a game to see how long you can go without gaming. Find a social niche, whether at a job you really like, a climbing gym or even a church.