r/StopGaming

I'm a (20M) gamer. Yesterday, I had a problem, and I realized my behavior caused it. I became very possessive and afraid of other people. I control the people I love and am afraid of people who may get close to them. After thinking for a while, I realized the core of this behavior. It is a gaming addiction.

I've been playing video games for the past 10 years; during that time, there was barely a day when I was off. I probably racked up over 25k hours. It's almost 3 years behind a screen.

Because of that, I neglected every other aspect of my life. I know I haven't used my life to the fullest. I compare myself to other people, who are actively going to the gym, working, or doing other hobbies, and I was procrastinating, doing everything as late as possible, or even quitting things. Because of that, I think I'm worthless to my friends, and I tend to overthink and act badly toward them.

All my friends have left me because my behavior was enough for them. I have just one online friend that I have known for the past 7 years. She is someone I want to change for.

I have tried to quit gaming addiction many times, but every time I failed. For me, quitting is hard because I can't fill the void in my free time. Secondly, gaming addiction has shaped my expectations so much that if I don't see fast progress in something, I get bored or irritated and quit that hobby/thing.

Lastly, for now, I think the best thing I can do is quit gaming 100%. But I would also like to return to it when I get more stable; I still get a lot of joy from it, and I have met many wonderful people. I just don't know if it's a good idea.

I would like any tips on how I should try to quit. Also, I'm a little afraid that I will lose the only friend I have. But I think this change is needed if I want to improve myself and my behavior.

I’m 8 months clean off of WoW. After a 15 year addiction. I finally hit one of my biggest goals and during it, WoW Forever was announced. Many of my friends are spamming me with excitement, some betting on if I’ll return or not.

I keep thinking it’ll be different because it’s a slower game. But I know I’m lying to myself. I’ll undo all the progress I made in life to focus on it. I already began day dreaming of guilds I’d make, and things I’d do.

Is anyone else struggling with the announcement for WoW Forever? Any advice? Any slap back into reality?

My husband 26M has always used gaming as an escape, we are 6 years into our marriage with two kids 2 and under. His game time is getting out of control. He is a full time student (from home) and games in his “free time”. Between commuting/work the kids and I are gone 12+ hours a day. And even when we get home he is still gaming. Dinner time, myself and our toddler sit at the table eat and talk about our day, he sits at his computer either gaming or watching videos and does not interact with us unless repetitively prompted to engage. I just checked his steam, and his game time over the past 2 weeks was 100 hours.
At this point I don’t know how to help.
Is there hope?
Or should I cut my loss and focus solely on myself and the kids?
Edit: I feel like I should also add that the bulk of his gaming is done while the kids and I are home, which is truly where most of my gripe lies in the situation.