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.
HI Becca and welcome back. Congratulations on getting off the games once again. I've had my share of relapses, too. It's hard. Fortunately for me, my relapses never lasted more than a few weeks at most. I'm almost a year game-free now after my last one. I'm thinking perhaps I've finally accepted the fact that if I game again, it will take over my life, no doubt about it. We gaming addicts have two choices: 1. Game and lose all interest in every other aspect of our lives; 2. Don't game and enjoy living our real lives.
I've found the online meetings to be very helpful when I'm getting those urges to go back to gaming. If you are interested, check out the schedule here.
Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending. ~Maria Robinson
Thanks for sharing Becca
INFO
Help for gamers here
Help for parents of gamers here
Help for spouses/SO's of gamers here
Parent's online meeting THURSDAY 9pmEST/EDT click here
Online meetings gaming addicts click here
Please help! Donate here