Youtube videos

[bigboi69_420]

So my brother took away my wifi around the first of 2021 and right now i havent played for 20 days but I watch videos on the topic of video games and tutorials and im in this loop of watching youtube videos and im scared whether or not I should continue watching these videos. is this me trying to cope with this addiction?

[FDRx7]

You should be very careful with YouTube. It can become an addiction in itself because the algorithm is very good at feeding you what you want to watch. Thus, continuing to watch becomes almost a compulsion. Trust me, I know because I was there (just not with videos about video games). I would encourage you to do a YouTube detox as well and find a new hobby to replace watching videos. You can use the handy hobby tool or get some ideas from others on here based on your interests. The most important thing is to have the courage to give yourself permission to be someone else. Try a hobby you think you wouldn't normally like. You may be very surprised that it becomes something you love (happened to me with statistical programming).

[DaBest]

To answer your question, yeah it probably is. Any addiction or habit usually fills a need of some kind (comfort, connection, etc.), and your brain will try to do other things to fill that need. 

When I gave up gaming, I spent way more time on YouTube, Twitter, and other mindless time wasters. I still struggle with it, but it's better now, but I had to try and find stuff that filled that need--mostly connecting with others. The better I connect with others, the less time I generally spend on the internet, all things equal. 

Do you think watching YouTube is you just trying to cope?

[Jason70]

As the others said in this, YouTube is a huge time-waster and can become an addiction itself. I'm pretty sure anything online that's there for "entertainment" (YouTube, Social Media, PornHub) can become an addiction. I'd say in order to help you stop, get out of the house more. Of course with covid this can be difficult but it can be just as simple as taking a walk around your neighborhood (take precautions if you need to). At the beginning of my detox I noticed the more I stayed in my room or my house, the more I tended to lean towards binging YouTube. So finding a hobby and going outside is helpful. I'd also definitely would say it's you trying to cope now that you don't have games. As we gamed, our mind was getting these short bursts of high dopamine, it stimulated our brain. Those sites like YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, stimulate as well, without games we have an urge for something to consume, hence why so many people when they quit just go to YouTube. So, as I said before try to find hobbies - preferably safely outdoors that you can do. You can either use the hobbies list on Wikipedia, or use the one here available on Game Quitters. 

Best 

Jason