Former Gacha game addict, decided to quit 3 years ago, and now going 2 years and 7 months without Gacha

[D_Cozy]

Hello everyone, you can call me Cozy. I recently discovered Cam's videos through Youtube recommendations; wish I would've seen them much sooner!

I am a former Gacha game addict, spent about 2.5 years from May 2018 to November 2020 playing only gacha games on my phone, mostly Empires and Puzzles. I would play this game on my phone every day, ignoring and pushing away my friends, my family (including my wife and baby boy at the time), I would schedule my life around the in-game events and daily login rewards, staying up way past midnight doing these events and quests. I didn't know it until recently watching GQ videos, but I was an addict, and I am glad I got help back then.

3 years ago today, I made the decision to quit playing Gacha games, when my wife advised me to track my screen time by apps on my phone. I discovered that day that I would play for 8 hours a day, minimum. I am here today a much better person; got a new and more satisfying job, now involved and present with my kids, and have restored some friendships with people I had previously pushed away. 2 years and 7 months ago, that's when I successfully stopped playing Gacha games.

I joined today because I wanted to share my story, hoping that it would help those who are currently struggling; also because I want to stay vigilant about my kids habits when they inevitably start picking up controllers as they get older, being fully aware myself of how destructive bad gaming habits can be. You can read my whole story here on this thread I replied to earlier today 🙂

Edited August 31, 2023 by D_Cozy

[Nicholas Stahl]

Your story is very meaningful I think it's time for people to review and not be too engrossed in the genres of games that make you addictive.

[D_Cozy]

I need to clear something up since I made this topic.

A few weeks ago from today, I realized that I still had not identified my addiction. I could still play different games, less than 2 hours a day with no cravings; I actually tracked ALL of my console playtime for an entire year, for my own accountability, and this is what I found to be the case.*

So I was left with more questions than answers, still feeling like I was wasting a lot of time procrastinating. Eventually, I realized the reason; social media and information on wikis. That is what I am addicted. Elements from those were also present in those mobile live service and multiplayer online games I got addicted to years ago; they had chatting rooms and groups that made me feel like "I was part of something bigger." It also explains why I only found certain "types" of games addicting; rather, what I find addicting is present in more than just games, but other websites and apps too.

I used to label myself as a mobile/gacha game addict. But I don't anymore. I'm an internet and technology addict; specifically social media and information.

I'm currently a participant in Internet and Technology Addicts Anonymous as well, another support group which I am finding helpful to get sober and use technology mindfully.

*for the record; I am not suggesting anybody has to do what I did, and I am not justifying playing video games either. I'm posting this for transparency and honesty, as well as my own self-reflection. With me, personally, video games are not the source of my compulsive and addictive behavior. I thought for a while they were, hence why I joined here... But I realize now that it extends beyond just "a few types" of games, beyond even just games in my case. So that is why I'm posting this update.

Edited September 27 by D_Cozy