Hey guys,

I just thought I'd share my experience with gaming addiction here in hopes that it will inspire and help others with similar problems.

Where to begin haha xD So I once lived in California. I had lots of friends there, and a great job at the California Conservation Corps. Everything was great. I played video games back then but it was never a problem. I had to move to Oregon for a few reasons. Ill spare you guys the details because its hardly important. So me being a kind of country boy, i had no idea how to get on in the city lifestyle. I had no friends, no healthy hobbies, and i didn't have any motivation to change that. I missed my old life. So i indulged myself in video gaming. For the greater part of 5 years.
I found a way using Discord and other games to fulfill that social need for interaction. But it felt shallow. Friends online came and went. I never built any REAL meaningful relationships expect for 1 or 2 that i still talk to sometimes. Anyway. After moving to Oregon i eventually found a Girlfriend. It was great! I loved her with everything i had, But overtime my addiction started to weigh on the relationship.
I found myself playing video games instead of calling her, or playing video games while i was talking to her (she always knew when my mind was preoccupied lol) When we lived together i would even play video games instead of cuddling her to fall asleep. Its important to note that all throughout the relationship i couldn't hold down a job because i would stay up wayy to late or not sleep at all. Calling out, being late for work ect. We both had a dream to buy a piece of land out in the country to raise livestock and grow vegetables. To make a long story short she left me, because i loved video games more then her.
It broke my heart. we had been together for about 3 years. I was planning to marry her. I already had the Building plans ready for our the house we were going to erect. It took me about 4 months Id say to move on with my life. Lots of crying, lots of alcohol, And still lots of video games. I still couldnt hold a job for long. Eventually had to move back in with my folks.
One day My graphics card on my tower broke down(MSI Gforce 1050). I spent hours trying to diagnose the problem. Turns out it was a hardware malfunction. Ok no problem, ill just buy a new one. I had to wait 2 weeks until my next paycheck and those two weeks were amazing. I did so much more to preoccupy my time. I played my guitar, spoke with friends that i haven't talked to in awhile. Helped my mom with everything she needed. Read books. Spent quality time with my little brother, and took him out on the town. When i got my paycheck I questioned whether or not I really wanted to get a computer again. So at that moment I decided to never game again, and threw away my tower. Throwing that tower in our large dumpster was one of the most satisfying things Ive ever experienced.

Everything in my life changed. I didn't realize how much of my life I was loosing playing games until i stopped. I had my whole life on lock. Never lost a job after that, started going to bars and card shops to hang out with people, started working out at the gym, payed all my bills on time, and took care of my mom and everyone else in my life who was missing out on me. It was about 3 months later that I went to a best buy to get a computer. I had a lot of money saved up and i could buy just about any computer i wanted. The temptation to buy a $2,000 laptop was overwhelming. I stood there for a solid 30 minutes staring at the computers. The best Buy employees were starting to give me strange looks. In my mind I was scared to buy an expensive computer. Because i knew that if i did there would be no way to stop myself from relapsing. So with much deliberation, I settled on a cheap $150.00 dollar Windows PC. Now the only games I let myself play are, Hearthstone, Nintendo games with my brother,
and a few low profile steam games. Never going back to competitive addicting games.

So in closing, I am now 9 months free of gaming, and 4 months Alcohol free. I'm making the most money i ever had in my career. I have a girlfriend now, and she's very lovely. I will never ever make the same mistake with her that i did the last one.

THANK YOU GUYS FOR READING! I know it was a long one. I hope these speaks volumes to anyone who is still struggling with the massive addiction. Live long and prosper my friend :)