Quitting another habit: MtG

Perhaps this is too much to do all at once, given that I’m only in day 9 with NoFap. But, the relative ease with which I’ve been able to refrain from PMO has be wanting to address another addiction that I see as being negative in my life.

I’m totally addicted to the game “Magic the Gathering.” Please don’t judge. I’m not the stereotype ... Most guys who play aren’t. Still, I see it as a negative in my life. I spend *A LOT* of time playing, and have spent ***A LOT*** of money playing. I’ve traveled to Grand Prix and major events, but really haven’t achieved much success. I cracked the top 20 in my state ... big deal (ironic face there), and won a few low level tournaments. And, from all that, over years, I don’t feel like I’ve made any friends from it, developed any relationships, and have instead wasted tons of time and money. I think about it a lot, watch YouTube videos about it, and go to MtG sites. I’ve tried to cut back a few times, but each time it comes back harder than before. Now, I do have a couple of friends who lightly play, and occasionally we’ll have some beers and play, and that’s fun. But, I don’t really want the huge hold the rest of it had on me. To put it plainly, I’m addicted.

Reading the NoFap forums and the hold PMO has on people — especially dopamine rushes and desensitization — I feel like (at least for me) there are major parallels to MtG and PMO.

So, I need to cut back. I don’t want to give it up entirely (I do enjoy it, and I don’t want to go entire ascetic) but I need to “reset,” so to speak. So, I want to go 30 days with no MtG — no touching cards (which clearly means no playing), no Web sites, and no YouTube videos. After that, I want to cut my collection by 2/3. That will be very hard, but, again, I feel like it will be necessary.

Somehow, this feels harder that no PMO. And, that means I need to do it desperately.

Anyone else here experience a gaming addiction? I could use some support on this one. I think I’d be a better person if I can do it.