Do you ever feel like you switche from one addiction to another?

[TonyMelo]

So, I used to be a hardcore gamer back in the day. I used to be a competitive CS gamer and, later, I got really into world of warcraft, where I used to raid every night and spend all my free time. 

Some years ago, I was able to quit playing videogames, managed to get a really good job that allowed me to have a very confortable financial life, got married and have a 6 year old daughter. I think I can say I'm doing good. Sometimes, like a few weeks ago, I relapse and try to play again, with some moderation, but I always end up having to quit  because it is getting out of control. Last thursday I quit from diablo immortal and am feeling some of the drawback effects. Hard to be interested on other stuff, getting angry really easy and feeling depressed.

What I wanted to ask you all about was about switching from one addiction to another. When I first quit videogames I focused on being more social and getting a girlfriend. After I managed to do that, I started spending all my time studying to get a good job. After that, my focus was on my job and reading. I feel like I can't enjoy something unless I obsess about it, and when I get a big drawback on that obssession, I end up thinking about games again as a way to deal with my frustrations.

Anyone else feels like you are just constantly switching from one addiction to another?

[Ikar]

4 hours ago, TonyMelo said:

What I wanted to ask you all about was about switching from one addiction to another. When I first quit videogames I focused on being more social and getting a girlfriend. After I managed to do that, I started spending all my time studying to get a good job. After that, my focus was on my job and reading. I feel like I can't enjoy something unless I obsess about it, and when I get a big drawback on that obssession, I end up thinking about games again as a way to deal with my frustrations.

Anyone else feels like you are just constantly switching from one addiction to another?

I guess a lot of it depends on how you frame it. From the way I read it, I'd say you are goal oriented and progress from one thing to the next. That's not a bad thing. My idea after quitting games was to branch out into multiple important areas of my life and work on them consistently and with passion. Yes, sometimes I can get super passionate about a certain subject for a few months, but then it eventually passes. I haven't had my extreme highs and lows since I quit gaming, but I think the tradeoff for stability and sustainability is worth it.

[BooksandTrees]

On 11/27/2023 at 10:50 AM, TonyMelo said:

So, I used to be a hardcore gamer back in the day. I used to be a competitive CS gamer and, later, I got really into world of warcraft, where I used to raid every night and spend all my free time. 

Some years ago, I was able to quit playing videogames, managed to get a really good job that allowed me to have a very confortable financial life, got married and have a 6 year old daughter. I think I can say I'm doing good. Sometimes, like a few weeks ago, I relapse and try to play again, with some moderation, but I always end up having to quit  because it is getting out of control. Last thursday I quit from diablo immortal and am feeling some of the drawback effects. Hard to be interested on other stuff, getting angry really easy and feeling depressed.

What I wanted to ask you all about was about switching from one addiction to another. When I first quit videogames I focused on being more social and getting a girlfriend. After I managed to do that, I started spending all my time studying to get a good job. After that, my focus was on my job and reading. I feel like I can't enjoy something unless I obsess about it, and when I get a big drawback on that obssession, I end up thinking about games again as a way to deal with my frustrations.

Anyone else feels like you are just constantly switching from one addiction to another?

I quit gaming and started watching porn heavily. It made me realize I had a porn addiction as well as gaming and I had to go to therapy to come up with healthy stress outlets. 

[Amphibian220]

You may be a very competitive person by character and / or desire a sense of progression. A sense of progression (if it lasts) is the reason athletes spend decades competing in a sport. 

[Lifelvlup2]

I quit playing video games. I sold my Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck; and put those accounts up for deletion. But, I spend too much time on the web or on my phone. That also includes online "work" time. I have started to delete old online accounts, and unnecessary apps on my smart phone. But, I will also write in my journal about it.