What's up Nick, welcome to the forums. Always nice to see someone from my home province here, although I wish it was under better circumstances. ?You'll find a lot of support here and we've got your back to make a transformation.
Take your goals and put them into smaller chunks. What's the first thing you can do/complete to start moving in the direction of writing your novel? What's an actionable step towards your social skills goals? CLARITY is what leads to action.
Don't text her bro. GIVE HER SPACE. Wait until after freshers which is the time you've agreed to. I know it's challenging, but just like when you quit gaming and had cravings, this is the same.
Hey Max welcome. One of the keys to successful recovery is learning how to navigate the times of heightened stress - which are common times to relapse from a desire to escape. This video on escapism will help you with all of that, as will this video on relapsing. Grateful you are here with us. ?