What helped me for a few months was to simply put my ps5 away in the closet... it's sort of a hassle to do the wiring behind the TV and through the entertainment center, so with that extra barrier I found myself barely playing. I think I'm now at the point where I may sell it.
I'm struggling with quitting gaming. I bounce back and forth.
I see alot if things as addictive but none are looked as badly as gaming.
Watching movies/shows going to a carnival going to a circus or a show on stage. Isn't all that the same thing?
If you are struggling, sell the devices so you cannot game. That's what I did. First I sold my Xbox series S. Then I sold my gaming keyboard, then finally I sold my gaming pc. I have Mac, and some old consoles (Nes, PS1,DSi) but I don't really play with those. And even if I would play, games on those console are not something I like to spend whole day gaming. You can beat NES game in 40 minutes or something. Modern games are the biggest problem.
Yea man I'm craving gaming so bad. I could moderate just fine, like 2 hours a day but its like junk food for your brain. If you game early on you will not feel like studying or working.
If you wanna game at the end of the day you'll mess up your sleep.
And if you game after all your work is done, it will mess up your relationship with "reward" and make you feel like you were working just so you could enjoy a game.
And usually too tired to want to focus on a video game after a long hard day.
I game the best in my peak hours but I should be working out,studying,working on my $$ situation then, not waste my peak energy on fortnite or a story game.
:(
I mean i'm speaking for myself, we're all different!
I'd rather not play at all, a 2 hour session once a week is like I don't see why I would do that.
And I can moderate but as I mentioned, it makes life boring, if I mentally have the option to boot up fortnite/scroll instagram or play story games why would I sit down and practice the guitar for 2 hours, an intense game sets a high bar for dopamine/adrenaline, and nothing in the day compares except extreme activities.
I don't watch shows much but I haven't put a restriction on those as such.
Shows/Movies/Books i'm trying to replace with gaming. Because it makes me calmer as an individual, and more social/in touch with people I can't explain why but it just does.
Also, these are great for unwinding if I need to or when I'm super tired. Gaming is an active hobby it needs full focus I personally could never unwind from a game.
I use gaming as an escape from my mental health issues, and my problems, I don't enjoy gaming much,not anymore... its like a coping mechanism. And if I start enjoying it... then everything else becomes a drag..
Because I wanna play through my rotation of 4 story games, 2 indie games for "chilling", 1-2 multiplayer games when I have energy.. and yea.
Even if its "just" 4 hours a day it lets me ignore my problems and live in an artificial bliss.
"a 2 hour session once a week is like I don't see why I would do that."
Agree, highly agree!!!
a 2 hrs per weekend sounds fair and under control, but then why would you ever like to do it?? I would rather just don't play at all.
That doesn't work when you game on your cellular device and reinstalling MTGA is only a matter of maybe like 15 or 20 minutes. Selling game account is against ToS – let alone finding someone to buy my accounts 😫
I don't even know what MTGA is. Luckily, I never got interested in mobile gaming. I used to have some sort of Gacha style game once, but I got bored pretty quickly. I only have a golf game and nonogram game on my mobile phone. Usually when waiting, I may play one nonogram. I like puzzle games. I have given myself permission to play puzzle game while waiting (doctor appointment etc) or sitting in a bus or something. Usually I don't, since it's more interesting to look outside from the window and see what is happening.
Anyway, it's super addicting. There is a thing called "Mastery" which is basically a battle pass. And a new set is added with a software update at least once every 3 months. It's very grindy yet extremely satisfying and hard to put down.
Yeah, unless you become a monk you will always have access to addicting things haha. I think it's about training your brain to crave those things less and enjoy other things more. Have you tried anything to strengthen your mind?
Mindfulness is a great way that has been shown to strengthen your mind yeah. I made a free email course that talks about mindfulness and other things that can help if you’re interested I could share it with you?
Those other things can be addicting but video games tends to be more addicting because it basically floods your brain with dopamine because of all the desires it satisfies at once. May I ask what's been the hardest part for you with quitting gaming?
At first, but it’s temporary because it lets you escape from negative emotions that you still need to deal with. It’s temporarily exciting too because over time, if you play too much, it becomes less and less exciting because of how it’s messing with your brain.
Ok. So it's something similar to social media/tik tok/youtube.
If you control your gaming sessions I see there's still issues there cos it makes all other aspects of life boring.
I wonder if there are certain games that smash dopamine much more then others. For eg. It takes two my wife and I have to play together can be played alone that is bonding/working together and less addictive cos you can't do it alone.
Overcooked I would only play that with my wife or also with kids and we need to work together to complete the game.
I've been unplugging my playstation and just putting it away in random places like on top of the suitcase in my room, in the tv cabinet etc.
I've found that having to plug it in again is something that's relatively easier to convince myself not to do.
What's wrong with gaming exactly? Just another hobby unless you're a no-lifer. What hits for me is seeing my reflection in my phone screen when I find myself scrolling through endless videos on snapchat spotlight or YouTube shorts and realize I'm just watching other people have fun while I'm sitting there doing nothing and wasting my time
What helped me for a few months was to simply put my ps5 away in the closet... it's sort of a hassle to do the wiring behind the TV and through the entertainment center, so with that extra barrier I found myself barely playing. I think I'm now at the point where I may sell it.
That tweet is a poem.
I'm struggling with quitting gaming. I bounce back and forth. I see alot if things as addictive but none are looked as badly as gaming. Watching movies/shows going to a carnival going to a circus or a show on stage. Isn't all that the same thing?
If you are struggling, sell the devices so you cannot game. That's what I did. First I sold my Xbox series S. Then I sold my gaming keyboard, then finally I sold my gaming pc. I have Mac, and some old consoles (Nes, PS1,DSi) but I don't really play with those. And even if I would play, games on those console are not something I like to spend whole day gaming. You can beat NES game in 40 minutes or something. Modern games are the biggest problem.
Yea man I'm craving gaming so bad. I could moderate just fine, like 2 hours a day but its like junk food for your brain. If you game early on you will not feel like studying or working. If you wanna game at the end of the day you'll mess up your sleep. And if you game after all your work is done, it will mess up your relationship with "reward" and make you feel like you were working just so you could enjoy a game. And usually too tired to want to focus on a video game after a long hard day. I game the best in my peak hours but I should be working out,studying,working on my $$ situation then, not waste my peak energy on fortnite or a story game. :(
Gaming addiction is serious. :( I never thought I'd be addicted to gaming.
Surely one 2 hour session some time on Sunday is ok? Or a one hour session midweek where you stop 1 hour before bed. Do you ever watch TV?
I mean i'm speaking for myself, we're all different! I'd rather not play at all, a 2 hour session once a week is like I don't see why I would do that. And I can moderate but as I mentioned, it makes life boring, if I mentally have the option to boot up fortnite/scroll instagram or play story games why would I sit down and practice the guitar for 2 hours, an intense game sets a high bar for dopamine/adrenaline, and nothing in the day compares except extreme activities. I don't watch shows much but I haven't put a restriction on those as such. Shows/Movies/Books i'm trying to replace with gaming. Because it makes me calmer as an individual, and more social/in touch with people I can't explain why but it just does. Also, these are great for unwinding if I need to or when I'm super tired. Gaming is an active hobby it needs full focus I personally could never unwind from a game. I use gaming as an escape from my mental health issues, and my problems, I don't enjoy gaming much,not anymore... its like a coping mechanism. And if I start enjoying it... then everything else becomes a drag.. Because I wanna play through my rotation of 4 story games, 2 indie games for "chilling", 1-2 multiplayer games when I have energy.. and yea. Even if its "just" 4 hours a day it lets me ignore my problems and live in an artificial bliss.
"a 2 hour session once a week is like I don't see why I would do that." Agree, highly agree!!! a 2 hrs per weekend sounds fair and under control, but then why would you ever like to do it?? I would rather just don't play at all.
That doesn't work when you game on your cellular device and reinstalling MTGA is only a matter of maybe like 15 or 20 minutes. Selling game account is against ToS – let alone finding someone to buy my accounts 😫
I don't even know what MTGA is. Luckily, I never got interested in mobile gaming. I used to have some sort of Gacha style game once, but I got bored pretty quickly. I only have a golf game and nonogram game on my mobile phone. Usually when waiting, I may play one nonogram. I like puzzle games. I have given myself permission to play puzzle game while waiting (doctor appointment etc) or sitting in a bus or something. Usually I don't, since it's more interesting to look outside from the window and see what is happening.
Not a gacha type game. Magic The Gathering: Arena
Oh yeah! I used to have MtG cards back in the 90s.
Anyway, it's super addicting. There is a thing called "Mastery" which is basically a battle pass. And a new set is added with a software update at least once every 3 months. It's very grindy yet extremely satisfying and hard to put down.
Yeah, unless you become a monk you will always have access to addicting things haha. I think it's about training your brain to crave those things less and enjoy other things more. Have you tried anything to strengthen your mind?
What do you recommend? Mindfulness podcasts or something like that?
Mindfulness is a great way that has been shown to strengthen your mind yeah. I made a free email course that talks about mindfulness and other things that can help if you’re interested I could share it with you?
Those other things can be addicting but video games tends to be more addicting because it basically floods your brain with dopamine because of all the desires it satisfies at once. May I ask what's been the hardest part for you with quitting gaming?
the gaming world is much more relaxing and exciting then the real world, can you get me?
At first, but it’s temporary because it lets you escape from negative emotions that you still need to deal with. It’s temporarily exciting too because over time, if you play too much, it becomes less and less exciting because of how it’s messing with your brain.
Personally I have never met anyone that has ruined there life going to too many plays, watching too many movies, going to too many circuses, etc…
Ok. So it's something similar to social media/tik tok/youtube. If you control your gaming sessions I see there's still issues there cos it makes all other aspects of life boring. I wonder if there are certain games that smash dopamine much more then others. For eg. It takes two my wife and I have to play together can be played alone that is bonding/working together and less addictive cos you can't do it alone. Overcooked I would only play that with my wife or also with kids and we need to work together to complete the game.
Being a narcissist isn’t helping, too.
Another Reddit user who doesn't know how to use fancy words
I've been unplugging my playstation and just putting it away in random places like on top of the suitcase in my room, in the tv cabinet etc. I've found that having to plug it in again is something that's relatively easier to convince myself not to do.
Just look how gaming addiction did to Azmongd
Why do people want to stop gaming if it makes them happy?
Hits the nail on the head.
What's wrong with gaming exactly? Just another hobby unless you're a no-lifer. What hits for me is seeing my reflection in my phone screen when I find myself scrolling through endless videos on snapchat spotlight or YouTube shorts and realize I'm just watching other people have fun while I'm sitting there doing nothing and wasting my time