thetimehascome

Day #6 Yesterday was a tough day. I felt super depressed, and ate too much terrible food. I wanted to play video games badly, but I didn't give in. My unhappiness was triggered by facing a school assignment in which my negative self talk kicked in, and kept repeating "you're not good enough to get this done. Give up now." I let this control me for most of the day, and felt like I couldn't snap out of it. Eventually I found the strength and pushed through it. Yesterday was a good example of why eating bad food is not conducive to health, physical or mental. It put me into a negative mindset, and set the tone for most of the day that was hard to push back against. A discovery this led to was how often I played videogames and binged on junk food. I believe I was attacking myself with food to try to cope with how empty I felt inside. I want to move forward this and leverage it to improve my diet, and how I react to the stresses that show up in my life. Today will be better than yesterday.

Day #5: The power of habit is fascinating. This morning, as I was walking to the bus stop to go to university, my mind kept attempting to direct my attention towards what games I would play this weekend. I mention habit because for the past two weekends in a row, I would be at home from friday through sunday, playing videogames and avoiding my studies. I've set up that expectation in my own mind, and sure enough, my mind expects the same routine to be followed. It's also exciting, because it shows how by writing in this daily journal over this 90 day detox, it will reinforce a habit I have partially embraced time and again, journalling. I'm glad to be at school, and this week has been the best of my post secondary career since I've started. I just feel confident, I'm exercising regularly with weightlifting, walking, and cardio, and most importantly, I've consistently attended classes and studied in the range of 2-4 hours per day. I actually feel myself getting stronger, and there is no doubt in my mind that quitting gaming with thorough commitment this time is the reason why. Thanks everyone! I'm looking forward to growing with you all more and more.

Day #4 Time is flying by. My focus on studies the past few days have been fantastic. This is exactly the reason why I quit gaming, and why I don't want to go back. I'm working hard at school, and keeping myself on task, as opposed to endlessly browsing reddit for new games or hardware for my gaming PC. The gaming thoughts still come regularly, but I appreciate the assurances from others that these will abate in time. I'm glad to actually be posting in this forum consistently. My previous times I've quit, I used the subreddit Stopgaming, also set up by Mr. Adair. I'm working to limit my use of reddit as well as it is a major time sink with next to no benefit, so I'm doing my journal here. Thanks for the encouragement all. Reading your stories really helps me as well. Keep up the great work and lets get through this together!

Day #3. Feeling good today... I have my day clearly planned out, and I know what I would like to accomplish. Being early onto gamequitters.com to leave my message is just a step in continuing the momentum I've been building already this morning. Staying aware of my thoughts, it amazes me how pervasive gaming has become again in my thought process. It just peaks up from nowhere repeatedly, throughout the day. I'm in the process of making decisions regarding whether to get rid of this ridiculously overpowered gaming laptop I'm writing this very message on. I like ehow powerful it is, but I also feel it's a potential liability as it provides a gateway to get back to the old bad haabits. Looking back at my motivations for getting this laptop in the first place shows me how clear my purpose really was to fall into the old trap. I bought this laptop so I could game away from home so i wouldn't feel guilty for gaming in front of my significant other. Pretty insidious, but a direct continuation of the dishonesty that surrounded my continued gaming abuse. It's interesting to examine my behaviours, and this journal over the next 90 days should prove a great way to dive into my thoughts and motivations for clinging to my own destructive gaming behaviours. Now for a good day ahead.

Go for it J(e)RK. You're inspiring the many of us around here. I think it's amazing you've realized at such a young age that video games are a path to unhappiness and wasted potential. You sound bright and ambitious from several posts here in your journal.

Day #2 of no gaming. Feels good man. A solid day at school, and getting ready for my Math 0130 (grade 12 math) test tomorrow. I'm doing grade 12 math again this semester because last semester I gave in to VG addiction. I'm grateful to do it again, and I'm keeping in my mind the cost of gaming last semester. I have planned this weekend to sell my videocards from my home PC, and thanks to the Cryptocurrency boom I hope to make back a decent amount of $$$. Perfect for a student with many years to go. To anyone reading this, keep going on your journey too. I've fallen off too many times, but I'm always going to comeback here. I'm working hard to make this the last time I come back. I want to be a fixture here and share my experience with others like so many here have done before me. Keep on going, not gaming makes us better, it makes me better.

Thanks J(e)RK. Great username by the way Doesn't fit your message though hahaha. You're right for sure man. The idea that games are there to trip me up, and that's all they have done. You're also right about the fun that they don't really provide. Just an escape, and after that escape I have to deal with the consequences, which are never good. I hope you're doing well in your recovery as well. How far along are you? Any specific tips or tricks to stop a relapse?

Thanks Cam, you're a solid dude with a great message. Keep up your inspirational work.

Day #1, I've attempted to quit before. The closest I've made it to the 90 day detox was 88 days. My life had been improving due to it, but I keep allowing the though "games are fun in my spare time" to sneak back in. Every time it robs me of opportunity to better my life, most recently interfering with my university studies and lowering my grades. I'm done for 90 days, and longer after that. I don't want to submit to the emptiness that is my gaming addiction any more. Thanks all. I look forward to embracing this community fully.