I relapsed after 1 week of sobriety. Maybe this is not so surprising. The withdrawal, dental problems, and hormonal problems may have been too much for me.
I encourage everyone who is going through withdrawal to see the doctor and/or to seek professional help. I have read so many stories of withdrawal, but not any about seeking help from their doctor.
There are many medications for depression and anxiety, which can help a lot during withdrawal. I chose not to see my doctor because I take plenty of medication for depression and anxiety already.But Perhaps my doctor could have adjusted my medication, but I thought it would be "wrong" of me too see a doctor, because I had not heard of anyone from the OLGA community suggesting to see a doctor for withdrawal. I did not want to go against OLGA "rules".
I am wondering if the OLGA community does not support seeking help from a doctor during a gaming withdrawal. Quitting gaming is enough to suffer through, then you have to suffer through a withdrawal. I would like to see my doctor during times like this.
Now that I am back into gaming, it is very tempting to continue playing the game. I may even spend money on the game!!! I am not looking forward to another withdrawal. Will I see the doctor or not??? Who knows....I am not looking forward to another withdrawal, which means that maybe I will not quit gaming for awhile....
- Jennifer Ann de la Torre
Dear Jenna,
We do not have any 'rules' other than what members are permitted to post:
http://olganon.org/?q=how_to_participate
We also follow 12 Traditions:
http://olganon.org/?q=12_Traditions
Neither state we should NOT get help from professionals. But you are right in that neither do we state recovering addicts SHOULD seek professional help.
I think this is a matter of individual conscience. Only bear in mind some professionals do accept the idea of gaming addiction and others do not.
It is a complicated subject and I do not believe there is one single answer on how to recover from gaming addiction. Sadly there is no 'one size fits all'.
Best of luck to you and remember, relapse is not a failure if you learn from it...
Olga/non member since Dec. 2008 Check out my latest video on Gaming Addiction and public awareness https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-6JZLnQ29o
Jena,
I'm sorry you had a relapse. But I'm glad you came back here.
If you have a condition, it's important for it to be treated. I'm bipolar and without my meds I'm pretty wacky. I'm very sure that being stabilized on the medication made my withdrawal easier.
I don't recommend medication specifically because it's not my place to. But I do think there are lots of addicts who have unmedicated disorders that could stand to have them treated. Treatment doesn't always have to involve medication but it can. Now that my symptoms are treated, I can see them outside of me sometimes. But people need to get thier own evaluation, of course.
I hope you get all the help you need. I'm getting therapy, medication, 12-step program with a sponsor, friends and recovery buddies, OLGA meetings, OLGA forums. I'm getting a lot of help but it's what I need right now.
Take care, Jena. Get the help that you need. Best wishes.
I am a recovering computer game and gambling addict. My recovery birthday: On May 6, 2012 I quit games and began working a program of recovery through OLGA No computer games or slot games for me since December 12, 2012. No solitaire games with real cards since June 2013.
Do whatever it takes to quit and stay quit. It is easy to give yourself reasons to game. That is what has kept you gaming for so long. Try to remind yourself why you tried to quit. How do you hope your life will improve ? It helps to make a list to carry around with you, and look at it when craving happens.
Good luck.
Perhaps a man who is worthy of the name should put aside this question of how long he will live ..., and turn his attention to this instead, to how he can live the best life possible in the time that is granted to him
Marcus Aurelius
I think i might be bipolar too. Its just speculation, I am not really sure myself. But its still fact hat somethings wrong, really wrong.
I'm sorry you have so much pain in your life: teeth, pms, withdrawals, bipolar etc. it hits some of us worse than others.
What I did for withdrawals was lots of water, yoga exercise, walking (if the weather is good outside), reading, watching movies, getting together with friends for lunch or just telephoning, contact with sponsor every day, sometimes more than once a day...and definitely meetings everyday.
You can do it! we all can do it together.
HUGS!
Hi Cadr!
I would strongly recommend that you be evaluated by a psychiatrist for any mental health problems. If you do have a mental illness, you can be treated with medication and therapy, and it might even help you quit gaming. I used gaming to cope with my mental illness. Once the doctor found the right medication and therapy, I was able to moderate my gaming, and then make a decision to quit. Now with my relapse, I do not want to quit!!! I am working on moderating again for now....
- Jennifer Ann de la Torre
Jennifer Ann, why don't you want to quit gaming?
I would suggest you write why you got started in gaming, what happened to you while gaming, what made you decide to moderate gaming, and why you wanted to quit; what happened to you and what did gaming lead you to?
Did gaming help with stress?
Did gaming help with finances?
Did gaming help your family and friendships in real life?
Did gaming help you sleep? eat right? get exercise?
Please write all this out and be very thorough.
Just for Cadr or anyone else who feels they might have a mood problem (depression or bipolar), here is my story along with a bunch of info that might be helpful to you:
http://www.olganon.org/?q=node/31600
I am a recovering computer game and gambling addict. My recovery birthday: On May 6, 2012 I quit games and began working a program of recovery through OLGA No computer games or slot games for me since December 12, 2012. No solitaire games with real cards since June 2013.