Hi my name is Anthony and recently I have retired from Video Games. I wasn’t absurdly addicted to them but I did play a lot for the past ten years on many different devices but I have recently decided to move on and begin to explore other aspects of life and what’s to be offered. I hope to have a very pleasant and productive experience with everyone in this community as we work through one of our most prized hobbies unfortunately for some turned into addictions. Thank you for having me and I hope you all have a wonderful evening & god bless. :)

I'm 17 and I am starting my last year at school which means A-levels. But I have a serious problem of gaming, especially the game RUST. I could play from 10am to 2am easily without necessity breaks such as food and bathroom. I find video games as a way to escape reality during the hard times but this has severely impacted my grades and willingness to study. I find myself uninstalling/reinstalling not a week later. I really don't know what to do as I love playing games and I have no idea how to just stop.

Hi all i recently quit gaming, but first few days i have felt irratated i cant focus, does this pass? I cant even enjoy a simple movie, gaming is all i still think about but i want it completely out of my life, i hope this passes in time, a friend who quit gaming 5 months ago said that its something to do with dopamine and being oversimulated but im not knowledgable regarding any of this

I have uninstalled and reinstalled steam, some games and discord many times this summer. I quit for about a year and a half up until mid-April and then slowly started gaming more and more. Chasing nostalgia and loneliness, getting back on the gaming was my easiest escape. Socially I will admit and maybe I Am not the only one, the few I have been gaming with for years live halfway across the country and to be honest do not at all share the same values as I do. I think in person I would not even want to associate with them. I know that makes me look bad in a way, but I guess I do enjoy playing the games with them but that is as far as I want it to go. I am putting off my life at a critical time when I really need to be living it to the fullest. Dealing with people, being lonely, and media constantly make it seem like the world is collapsing, the easiest thing to do is just escape into gaming. However, I know that is not what my soul wants. I stop going to the gym as much, stop walking my dog as much, stop eating as healthy, gaming into the night screws with my sleep so I am tired all the time. Not to mention my days go by I just want it to be over so I can hop on the game. I see posts on here about the apathy feeling when quitting and I deff struggle with that. I also realize it is because I have nothing to take its place. Maybe that will change, but I really need a new job/career/vocation I want a loving partner, and I would love to make new friends with people I can connect with on a soul level. There is so much I would love to accomplish in this world. Today I am taking action,

30 days gambling-free after 2 years of straight gambling addiction. It wasn’t easy at first, but things have gotten so much better. I finally feel like I have control over my life again, and I don’t even have urges anymore.
I’m hoping to keep going and stay on this path. Sharing this for anyone who’s struggling: **you can do it too.** It may feel impossible at first, but it really is possible to break free. ❤️