The_Creative_Quitter

I know you posted months ago but yes, I'm in my first week - experiencing mild headaches that come and go.

Nov 11, 2021 I could have sworn I posted yesterday?! Oh well, busy at work. One thing I've found working in my favor with regards to temptations... I thought I would look at some form of "productive" games - then I'm reminded how everything these days has "in-app purchases" or some other hook to sell my data ... some catch or other. Then I get hugely turned off LOL. I grew up at a time where games were truly great, and you paid ONCE for them and owned it, no BS attached. Games at the start of that time period were what they probably should have stayed being: a bit of simple, time-limited innocent fun -- not life-sucking wallet leeching grinds to take up your whole life and move you towards the agenda of everything - your life itself becoming a fake 3D game. Not going there, no thank you, better things to do with REAL life, breathing the fresh air, looking at the REAL creation around me and appreciating these blessings. Side note - there is no shortage of hobbies. I'm having to focus down on hobbies as well realizing there really just isn't enough time! If anyone ever reads my posts, may you be Blessed in your life and endeavors, and stay healthy and free.

Nov 9, 2021 So I've hit my first bit of stormy waters today! That pang of "missing something" - and thinking back to my first childhood D&D session around a table. Weirdly, I miss the social factor, even though for quite a while now all of my gaming time I kept to myself. I have been in guilds and loved them but my stress levels lately made me less social than usual. I've been tempted into the "find a replacement" mode - but if I'm honest with myself, I don't think replacements like a D&D tabletop online group or something would work for me. It might be a nostalgia thing too - reading the old adventure books, I might enjoy it for a few minutes then feel like "been there done that." I'm facing some really deep stuff and trying to be hyper honest with myself - any desire to think about these things is an escape mechanism. I've got to get back into the work projects I want to accomplish and press forward and not let any negative voices delay or stop my progress, which is what I've done for too long. Procrastination is a hell of a demon to shake off, but I'm sick to death of him. Fear is another one - fear of failure (or success) - in fact its the biggest one. Reminding myself all things happen for a reason, we are here for a reason, and to carry that out as best I can. All this said, I know at some point I will want to reward myself a little bit for all the hard work. Pondering buying a fun jigsaw puzzle for myself and the spouse - or digging out the old rubik's cube, crossword puzzle book, whatever. Anything more than that seems like too much of a temptation, hook leading me farther back into wanting to play PC games/mmorpgs. My need for more social interaction, I think, will come once the work I need to do gets done. Pushing forward - first land mine avoided for today. And weirdly, a bit of the headache is back - I was never prone to them. Hoping to find a clue as to why dopamine withdrawal can cause these mild headaches...

Nov 8, 2021 On my lunchbreak. Did have some vivid dreaming last night, but the headache is beginning to subside and my sleep is improving... I seem to be naturally getting sleepier earlier, and getting up earlier! Happy about it!!! Starting to realize just how much overall distraction I have in my life. Two jobs is enough but I also have a ridiculous amount of tabs open in multiple browsers - it's dawning on me that while my tendency to escape into gaming goes hand in hand with any other unnecessary distractions I've used that is taking time away from what I REALLY want to do with the limited time we call our "lifetime." Reminding myself, our time here is limited, there is so much more meaning to our lives, its all for a purpose. That said probably constructive to think of the past time "wasted" on games and these other distractions as a micro part of the macro view - that we have to LEARN. We experience and hopefully learn from it, and turn it all into good things. In considering my hobby list I realized the potential for too many hobbies as "distractions" - and so I've decided to limit it to things that REALLY are a part of who I am. Tucking more into the gardening and sunshine, gentle walks, and reading for relaxation in the evening. This week I'm going to re-organize my browsers and tabs and eliminate unnecessary distractions! Onward and upward...

Also appreciate this, Believer and noobie here. I'm glad you posted this (even though it was last year lol).. Thank you!

I'm still a noob here but on some of these journal threads like this one I just want to say such a fantastic job, it's heartening to see that this stuff works if we stick to it. I keep seeing "BooksandTrees" and I love both of those items too lol, it's comforting to realize we have some veterans here...cheers!

Nov 7, 2021 The clarity of mind and body I'm already feeling is strange but great! I still have a strange headache and yet I feel good overall - if anyone knows what causes the headaches I'd love to know! Cam mentioned them in one of his videos (the signs of withdrawal one) but there must be some chemical cause in the body? Considering the various hobbies, or re-taking up old ones I've neglected for a while, organized and cleaned the home a bit. Weirdly not 'really' missing anything just yet. Hoping this mild but continuous headache goes away. Carrying on!

I only started this two days ago - I slept so well last night despite a few dreams, and things already feel more clear, definite feeling of positive changes in my body and mind. Just waiting for my first withdrawal cravings to hit.. lol! Trying to prepare for it and have lots of other things ready to fill my time. Thank you for being on this journey too.

My first journal post! Quit cold turkey as of yesterday (Nov 5, 2021), after playing games since childhood. Initial Thoughts: -I've skimmed several people's journals and some of the reddit posts, and you guys are fantastic, even just for caring enough to try!!! You give me hope too. -Games originally weren't intended to have the negative effects they now have on people. Funny how good things can get ruined when there is human greed involved on the part of corporations, exploiting needs in the rest of us. -Seems when any feedback loop/pavlov/skinner box or gambling is involved is when the negative effects begin. In the old days, it was poker and betting (still is of course); now machinery and computers hypercharge it. -I've never seen people have negative effects from playing Monopoly or Ticket to Ride in a group (except the odd kid that's losing and decides to throw the board off the table in protest). -I still have a love of the concepts and creativity that went into making games, having designed them: a love of the keepsakes, designs, little parts and pieces. Games should have been a far more positive thing than what they have been turned into. My Goal: To specifically quit Video and Computer games completely - to fully break the "Loop" I end up in every time, and replace the time with things I want to do while still breathing! Today: -I've started watching more of Cam's videos, particularly the symptoms of withdrawal. I rarely get headaches, but funny, today I've had a mild one - and only during the hours I normally start casually playing a game! Here I thought I was a 'casual' gamer but years of it makes me believe this is proof I really do need to quit and spend that time wholesomely. -Beginning to work out what to do with the extra time, and how to re-balance my schedule. -Anything that is overstimulating has been brought to my attention - dopamine depletion. Lot of studying to do. All for now, thank you for creating this space. -TCQ

Hello to all of you, I want to say I appreciate what is being done here very much. Thank you to Cam and all of you battling this. I've played games a very long time, and worked in the industry for a few years but left not to return, because I didn't like where it was going. Up until today I was at a point where I would only play an hour or two in the evenings, but found myself slowly getting sucked into later and later hours. I have tried to fully quit before but would completely forget the problems game playing can cause, rationalizing that "just a casual game" or "I'll limit the time." Even when I was limiting the time...I kept asking myself WHY. WHY am I playing this game? I wasn't actually having all that much fun...lol... All for these pseudo-goals and achievements? I also rationalized "it helps my brain wind down, zone out" -- in reality, I think it has been taxing my adrenal system and causing worse and worse sleep ability. This is very personal but I hope it's okay to say - I believe in God, and in prayer I asked Him, what is causing this? And the very unexpected answer was "you're under a spell." So I asked him in prayer, to break the spell, take it off me - and today I deleted ALL games from my computer - it's bizarre, like a fog is lifting in my mind. I do believe that early video games were innocent and fun, but over time... they have become progressively more evil and deceptive. I allowed myself to be yoked by it even if only "part time" - it still adds up greatly. I'm calling it "Spellbound" but ... Trance, Hypnosis, Under Manipulation - it's all the same thing. I also see where technocracies are wanting to take us and I see nothing good there either. I came across Cam's booklist today and am particularly interested in the book titled (I think) "Hooked" - planning to give that a read. It's strange suddenly "waking up" like this, after thinking I was "fine" for so long. I am both feeling a little anxious but hopeful at the thought of having more time to be doing the good things in life. For me, the challenge will be socially as my day job is isolating and I am also an artist (as I see some of you are here). Thank you for providing this place for me to vent and cope! Bless you all, -TCQ