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The Secret to Overcoming Video Game Addiction
Simply: take up a sport that is FUN.
It is that simple, it amazes me that there are so many self help / weight loss / etc. books out there which cannot ever be as effective as this, because they all involve doing something that you do not want to do.
I have been a life long video game addict, and I don't consider this a bad thing. It has brought me many challenges and joys, but still there were times when I went a little too far and some time would have been better spent elsewhere.
About a year ago a friend took me to go rock climbing (not your cliff hanger type scene, but much more mundane toproping). It was scary and fun, and after winter was over, I started getting more and more into it. Now I go 2-4 times per week and love it. It does everything for me that video games did, plus it is a killer workout. I still enjoy a good unwind with some random video game of course, but I don't feel the need to play very often.
I had no intention of breaking my addiction to video games, it just happened (because it is more fun). I have completely shifted my addiction from video games to rock climbing (I am prone to addiction). This is good primarily because of the exercise (it is also more social which is valuable for me as I am behind a computer, programming most of the day). I have always exercised, just to be healthy, but I am more motivated to workout on the days between climbing than I was before, because I can see the improvement it makes, by conquering new climbs which were previously impossible to me. Whereas being "healthy" is not something so obviously measurable.
I would guess that nearly an sport involving more than just physical feats (anything but running, swimming, etc.) would work so long as it is challenging (both physically+mentally) and social. Climbing is very mentally stimulating because it is very technique driven. There is also a seemingly never ending amount of things to learn regarding gear usage: you can start with almost no knowledge by toproping at a climbing gym, and then progress to outdoor, lead climbing, and trad climbing. Still I'll admit Starcraft or any strategy game is more mentally stimulating than climbing, but this is why he have jobs/school/more games too.
The biggest problem with climbing is getting into it if no one you know does it. If you are interested, I would recommend getting a friend into it too and going to a climbing gym (together) and taking the intro package or whatever they have. (Or if you are in the DC/Maryland area hit me up with a PM). The other problem with climbing is the initial cost (I was lucky since a friend had gear to do it for free outdoors, and got a couple free guest day passes at the gym). Still though with rental and day pass purchase it isn't too bad to start.
I share this info because this has been a positive change for me that only happened due to chance. I estimate that there are a good amount of people here that were/are in a similar boat as me.
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Agree. I had no motivation and no stamina. I'd come home from school and just sit at the computer all day doing nothing but playing RTS games and I didn't even have fun doing it because I felt like a loser doing it.
Then I decided to just take up running and bodybuilding because I was a fat slob and knew I was addicted. Started going to the gym before school and then going for a run on the beach before dinner. Felt so good about myself after a 3-4 months of doing this and helped me get my life back on track. Now I'm always out and about but I always make time for some sc2 because it's a passion of mine..
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I work out because it makes me look good in front of chicks ...
guess that's my motivation 
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Internet high-five for TL climbers
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I had the same problem; I'd sit in front of my computer for twelve hours straight everyday.
But one day a random urge came over me to go run some laps at my old high school. So I jogged on over and sprinted two laps, six times, with 1 half lap walked between each. It was freaking amazing.
I do that every other day now.
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Totally agreed. I played dota 10 hours a day over the summer, and as of now I haven't touched video games in one month, thanks to squash.
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I find i don't have video game addiction so much anymore but rather forum addiction , i check the same 5-6 forums constantly for hours.Along with youtube and various news sites.
How very sad!
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konadora
Singapore66201 Posts
what about ESPORTS Kinect?
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This thread is inspiring. I myself is not addicted to games but a lot of my friends are so I'd definitely recommend them here.
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I play 3 sports a week. Still addicted
Tbh, My main computer that can play sc2 just died, and leaving it to cool off for a while might be the only thing that can stop me ruining uni for games.
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Glad I could inspire some people, have fun.
On October 13 2010 12:48 XinRan wrote:
Totally agreed. I played dota 10 hours a day over the summer, and as of now I haven't touched video games in one month, thanks to squash.
Nice, sounds like same scenario.
On October 13 2010 23:37 -Genome- wrote:I play 3 sports a week. Still addicted Tbh, My main computer that can play sc2 just died, and leaving it to cool off for a while might be the only thing that can stop me ruining uni for games.
They must not be fun/time consuming enough!
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Sorry but how is a mainstream activity somehow better then the digital escapism? You're all going to be dead someday are you really going to be glad to have lasted longer when the planet turns into a burning ball of garbage?
Seriously though wrong topic for this forum I don't think many people will agree with the sentiment shared here. Do as you please but if you like video games play them. If you don't then play soccer if you prefer that but don't throw around the word addiction like you have any clue what that world entails. Try meth-amphetamine and trust me when you're crying uncontrollably from withdrawal and experiencing hallucinations then get back to me.
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On October 14 2010 12:56 Carefoot wrote:
Sorry but how is a mainstream activity somehow better then the digital escapism? You're all going to be dead someday are you really going to be glad to have lasted longer when the planet turns into a burning ball of garbage?
Seriously though wrong topic for this forum I don't think many people will agree with the sentiment shared here. Do as you please but if you like video games play them. If you don't then play soccer if you prefer that but don't throw around the word addiction like you have any clue what that world entails. Try meth-amphetamine and trust me when you're crying uncontrollably from withdrawal and experiencing hallucinations then get back to me.
Some good points, I did not cover these issues so I'll add to my thoughts:
Many games are more mainstream than many sports, mainstream has nothing to do with it.
There are also difference degrees of addiction, I know what it means, and I have been addicted even though I haven't tried heroin; just like you know what pain is even though you have never given birth without anesthetics.
I'm also not saying that you should do something just for health reasons (especially if you don't care about health), I didn't choose rock climbing over starcraft because it's healthier, I chose it because I like it more. We are mental and physical beings and as such enjoy both mental and physical challenges and development.
The real point is not to try sports, but in general to just try new things, because chances are if you have been stuck in your habits there are things you will like more, but just never tried them.
(Yes I know you can take this to mean do drugs, and if you only care about pleasure, I'd say go for that too)
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Do you have to interact with other people during this 'sport' event you speak of?
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It's less than that really, it's as simple as finding things outside of video games you enjoy doing. When video games are the only thing you like or are good at it's very easy to play them all day.
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On October 15 2010 02:56 GreatFall wrote:
Do you have to interact with other people during this 'sport' event you speak of?
try getting snippy with the dude who is belaying for you
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On October 14 2010 12:56 Carefoot wrote:
Sorry but how is a mainstream activity somehow better then the digital escapism? You're all going to be dead someday are you really going to be glad to have lasted longer when the planet turns into a burning ball of garbage?
Seriously though wrong topic for this forum I don't think many people will agree with the sentiment shared here. Do as you please but if you like video games play them. If you don't then play soccer if you prefer that but don't throw around the word addiction like you have any clue what that world entails. Try meth-amphetamine and trust me when you're crying uncontrollably from withdrawal and experiencing hallucinations then get back to me.
this is very true. A lot of people view playing games too much as a bad thing...but if that's what you like doing then why not do it as much as you can? I mean i like being alive so i breath all the time.
But obviously there are instances where it interferes with people's lives but those cases are rather extreme and those people need to be able to balance things better as well.
I also like that you understand what addiction actually means when people think they're addicted to video games i just lol
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It isnt really important that you pick a sport.
It's important that you pick a fun activity.
It doesnt really matter if you go rock climbing, body building, play soccer, learn a new language, read a lot of books, paint pictures, play an instrument, play video games, hang around with friends or whatever.
It also doesnt really matter what you want to get away from (in your examples video games).
As long as you're not bored doing your new activity you wont think about the thing you want to get away from. And when the new thing is fun it's not really that hard to motivate yourself 
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EPT
