Source
r/StopGaming•
CaptureEverything

I need to stop gaming before it's too late

No more fucking around here. I have one year to go from shut-in idiot without anything worthwhile going on to actively pursuing my dreams and funding them myself. Parents are pulling the plug on me, as they should. I'm ready for it, I can do it, I have everything in place to go live my life the way I envision it... but only if I stop gaming. Only if I can stop spending like 8 hours a day high off my ass playing pointless videogames. If I spent even half those hours, I'd be living my dream already, but instead I'm here, with a deadend job and meager savings account. A little more saving and managing my physical/mental health and I'll be ready to take the leap into a new industry, but I have to put the time in. I have to WORK HARD. Life isn't easy, it's the hardest game out there, but it's the only one that matters, and you can't beat it if you're distracted by all the side quests gaming has to offer.

Does anyone have a good way to ween off this stuff? I'm thinking I'll set timers and schedules, it has worked in the past to get me on the right track. Cheers

Posted Oct 17, 2018, 1:41 AM UTC

189
zemdu8 days•

If you're addicted, then moderation doesn't work since your mind is unable to moderate (same thing with alcoholics, they can't moderate alcohol, need to give it up entirely). So likely you need to quit cold turkey. It's the only way I've ever been able to quit (and I still relapse occasionally).

There's lots of steps you can take. The real question is, what are you willing to give up in terms of games? If you really want to take this the whole way, then you need to delete your gaming accounts (make sure it's unrecoverable), give away/donate all of your gaming systems, and commit to not play anymore.

Then comes the most important step! You need to fill all of your spare time with new highly fulfilling hobbies. This is so key. If you don't find new activities then you'll get really bored and just relapse back into gaming.

Good luck! Admitting you want you change is the first step.

12
jetpuffedpanda296 days•

I agree quitting cold turkey for gaming is the way to go. I tried moderating for a long time and failed constantly.

Alcoholics are different though and should not quit cold turkey. Alcohol withdrawal leads to seizures and, in severe cases, even death.

2
zemdu9 days•

Agreed. It was just an example that over time their goal would be to completely stop, not just to moderate.

1
NPMTRADES47 days•

I had to quit cold turkey bro, and I was hardcore addicted. I deleted my steam account by using a spoof email, switched my 144hz monitor to a 19' 60hz one, joined this subreddit and set my day counter and just held myself accountable. I will watch twitch once in a while but soon you learn just to live without gaming. Good luck, if you need anything holler at me.

6
Scott36112390 days•

I was going to respond to your "I need to stop gaming" post with thoughts on how to stop, but by the end of the post you switch to weening off and then end up on timers and schedules.

I have tried every conceivable method of moderation, control, and weening off and failed with all of them, so I can't help you there. If you get back to stopping completely, let us know. There is a lot of experience we can share.

3
Whatusernameisfreee55 days•

The only way this will work is cold turkey. I've been there 3 times. This is the only way that's working for me.

3
NorthEasternNomad•

That's because it's the only way that does work, for the truly addicted.

2
deeghetal•

I'd also recommend pacing yourself. You are really motivated to succeed right now and that's great but you don't want to try to change too much all at once and burn yourself out and say "F it". That's how a lot of relapses happen.

1
theyreinwa•

when it comes to gaming setting a quit date and going cold turkey is best. It will work even better if you make a plan: find new hobbies, write out a schedule, eat healthy, get good exercise. Then on your quit date get rid of all your games. Like you have to actually get rid of them - not just put them in storage. donate them. If you're on a PC then uninstall your games and put up blockers. Also, check your mental health. If you think you're playing video games to escapes something deeper then you'll need to address that too or it won't work. Good luck.

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[deleted]•

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