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Videogame Detox and Detach.

Discussion in 'Self Improvement' started by greenishmoon, Aug 4, 2021.

Do you think dropping vg's will have a positive impact on you?.

  1. Yeah.

    58 vote(s)
    85.3%
  2. No.

    10 vote(s)
    14.7%
  1. greenishmoon

    greenishmoon Fapstronaut

    Hey what's up. Maybe there's another tread like this but whatever I'll delete it if there is.

    I saw this video from Mark Queppet's channel and thought that it was time for me to quit videogames and get a hold of things since life haven't feel like exciting for many years now and for some bizarre reasons irreality seems more appealing than life, and I'm done with that.

    Video.

    Maybe doing what a youtube channel says is stupidity but I don't think it is a bad desition at all and Mark got really good points and perspectives.
    I am sure I will crumble and cry and kick a little but I want to:
    • Regain my excitement for working, drawing and comic making.
    • See sports as even more appealing.
    • Get excited about "leveling up", "conquering", "doing quests".
    • To get a high from life again, basically. To stop being scared about everything and seek comfort in escapism.

    I make this post so I am less alone and anyone that wants to do the same can join and post. I don't think counting days is a good idea, just post and if reading this made you realize you were wasting time then great.

    I unninstalled all my games from my pc today, and I'll try to go as long as possible without falling into automatic gaming. I still have my ps2 and portable console in my room but I'll just use the ps2 when some friend comes, about the portable, heck idk, I may find a place to store it that isn't in sight.
     
  2. PegasusKid

    PegasusKid Fapstronaut

    Good luck with that, I don't think its stupid at all and I'm subscribed to universal man. I don't agree with everything he says of course, but he makes some pretty great points usually. I agree counting days isn't a good idea, I set my counter when I relapse for the sake of having a measurement of progress, but I forget about it as soon as I set it until I relapse again. I've been considering dropping video games and did do it for a bit at one point but I learned video games are not really my problem. I'd say the biggest way they impact me goes back to a recent video I saw by a psychiatrist who also happens to be a gamer and he made an amazing point that games tend to break down big tasks for you and that can impact you by reducing your ability to problem solve in real life or as he described it your executive function. Open ended games like dark souls make you experiment and fail and figure out how to progress, but most games give you a set of missions or objectives and they remove the need to actually create tasks and strategize what to do. See how you feel not gaming and if it actually changes anything for you, you might discover something new about yourself either way.
     
  3. greenishmoon

    greenishmoon Fapstronaut

    I like your post. Very positive.
    Yeah I agree that some games might be a boon to the mind sorta speak, I guess that's why I love Dwarf Fortress also, it helps me to put my energetic mind into use. However what I notice is that I just dont care about more substantial, real stuff as much, they aren't attractive, just being in auto pilot is. I guess that if I can nail down more essential aspects of real life and get going real projects and relationships in a healthier way then yeah why not to get back to games.
     
    capa_sin_heroe2102 likes this.
  4. Red Eagle

    Red Eagle Fapstronaut

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    For me video games (for whatever reason) are closely linked to the urge to fap to pornography, probably because like so many of us I spent my teenage years mostly gaming and occasionally fapping in between game sessions. I guess it's similar to how smokers who are trying to quit get urges to smoke by drinking alcohol. Both behaviours are closely linked. So for me quitting video games is a must or else I will eventually fall into the porn trap again. Since I have stopped playing video games my desire to watch porn massively decreased.

    Also, giving up video games gives you a lot of time. Time to be mindful, to do things that benefit you (exercising, reading, being productive etc..) and to learn to live in the real world instead of a virtual one.

    Don't get me wrong, I don't hate video games, but if for you they are like a drug you best quit cold turkey. Some people can drink a bottle of beer and that's it. They don't go of the rails. But there are some who when they start drinking they go all out and lose control. Same thing goes for video games. Ask yourself what person you are and then make your decision.
     
    Last edited: Aug 9, 2021
  5. greenishmoon

    greenishmoon Fapstronaut

    I agree with your post, though those things aren't as serious as alcohol . But I'm seeing more and more young adults like me completely immersed into gaming. It's allright, it's not a bad thing if you can put your life together first. But as I am not "the porn guy" anymore, I don't feel like "the gamer dude" either...
    I just don't enjoy it fully, I use it as an escape that doesn't even do it anymore. So, goodbye for the time being.

    EDIT:
    It's been almost a week off videogames. Time does feel different, I am more willing to do basic tasks, I have more time which I don't know how to use, but I want to learn from that.
    Working feels less like a chore.
     
  6. No harm in putting everything in the closet for a while. Might find other things you like to do. The only game I am playing rn is Ring Fit Adventure, and its just gamified exercise.
     
    greenishmoon likes this.
  7. greenishmoon

    greenishmoon Fapstronaut

    Hi pals. It's been something like a week off, and something like two weeks off social media right now.
    Things are going pretty well.

    I am regaining urges to work on my comic, and my job is easier to do now. I started reading "The Hobbit" and practicing mindfulness every day a little bit.

    Since I dropped off those two things I began to have like, more space in my life. I hope that adds up with time!.
    I also made out for the first time in a long time (I feel more confident after that and I just noticed some days after) and there are girls literally asking me when are we going out.
    Not wasting energy on those escapes really makes other things more exciting to do.
    I am more willing to do my daily chores and to excercise. And today I noticed it was really pleasant to swim.

    Some of this things are parts of receding anxiety, but social media and being unfocused only make that worse.
     
    88991s likes this.
  8. Redemptionisrequired

    Redemptionisrequired Fapstronaut

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    The issue for me is that it would turn into another dopamine chase. Of course, when I use to play video games it was WoW, which is the most addictive MMORPG out there. I don't think I could return to gaming in a healthy fashion sadly.
     
  9. greenishmoon

    greenishmoon Fapstronaut

    That's a thing on your brain and your psyche. You can't get rid of that. The thing I am attempting to do is to return that energy to more healthy/better things to do. Isn't that a good investment?.
    Maybe you're playing games that encourage being attached to the screen forever. I don't think I'll never play anything again. But in the "get score, get tiers, get good at it" no way man, sorry. That's just mind garbage.
     
  10. Redemptionisrequired

    Redemptionisrequired Fapstronaut

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    Agreed man, if you can work with something that doesn't keep you glued, then yeah go for it!

    For me I haven't played anything for about 6-7 years. I'd say I'm better off without it.
     
    greenishmoon likes this.
  11. greenishmoon

    greenishmoon Fapstronaut

    That's awesome. I actually begin to look up on people that aren't connected to the digital as much nowadays. We musn't forget that most of those things are designed for specific purposes, like porn, to make us glued.
     
    Redemptionisrequired likes this.
  12. Redemptionisrequired

    Redemptionisrequired Fapstronaut

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    Truly! Years ago, when I found out they have psychologists working to make sure a game is addictive, that was a key incentive for me to stop.
     
    greenishmoon likes this.
  13. greenishmoon

    greenishmoon Fapstronaut

    That's great information. Do you have links to that?.
    It may help to add that stuff in the original post and to see it myself.


    Also:
    • Today I noticed that reality seems...well, more real!.
    • Regular stuff feel really better to experience (also I'm on a good nofap streak).
    • I can pay more attention.
    • I began to notice bigger urges to M and to take caffeine. But I only label that as progress.
     
    Redemptionisrequired likes this.
  14. Redemptionisrequired

    Redemptionisrequired Fapstronaut

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    Here a few articles in relation to that.
    https://andyarttv.com/video-game-companies-hire-psychologist-to-make-gamers-addicted/

    https://www.apa.org/gradpsych/2012/01/hot-careers

    https://www.independent.co.uk/life-...uit-gaming-addiction-epic-games-a9146486.html

    https://gamequitters.com/are-video-games-addictive/
     
  15. greenishmoon

    greenishmoon Fapstronaut

    Hey, what's up. I am more and more far from VG's every day. Some times I miss them but it's just my maladaptative shit responding. I know I don't actually enjoy them.

    GOOD NEWS:

    I am kind of proud, or happy or whatever, because this year I had sex for the first time in quite some years with a non paid partner.
    I also shared my number with a girl I met this week.

    As a side note, both of those things didn't actually...felt like I expected. With the first girl I was just so tired in the moment, and chemistry is a ... complex thing to let flow. With the second one I allowed myself to just feel what I was feeling, and it was fear! I was scared and felt like I could have enjoyed the moment more but that's just me going back to the past. What it was, it was, and it is another life experience. I look forward to see if she calls me one of these days. For so many years I felt sexuality in a so maximized, idolatrized way. And now that I'm kinda back on track it's just... idk. I suppose it's the rewiring process that I have to take care now. All that years of fantasies had to charge me someway?.
    I haven't done the 90 days reboot but many 40 days ones and I've been quitting for quite some years now. Lately I don't really want to play videogames or masturbate. Hell, I don't want to do much, really. But At least I'm not binging with that shit.

    I couldn't have done it if not leaving that stuff behind.
    I don't know where happiness or growing up are, but I'm living more.
     
    88991s and Redemptionisrequired like this.
  16. nan1234

    nan1234 Fapstronaut

    Good stuff dude! I too want to reduce my VG usage (but not drop them entirely, I still enjoy them in an healthy way). I'm afraid going cold turkey on PMO and VG at the same time would be too hard, especially since I only recently started my recovery, but I will be sure to check this thread again when I'm cured.

    Anyway, thanks for sharing.
     
  17. greenishmoon

    greenishmoon Fapstronaut

    Hey! It's great if it's of use.

    I wouldn't quit both things at the same time with the same seriousness, in the case one does not lead to the other. If not, then leaving just one thing is enough and already a huge step.
     
  18. Joseph Campbell

    Joseph Campbell Fapstronaut

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    Just sold my xbox and ds... I miss Halo and The Witcher, but not as much as I thought, I just started reading a book for shoots n giggles the other night and it's a fucking great book and I'm hooked. The habit seemed to replace itself fairly seamlessly- outta sight outta mind is sometimes the move
     
    greenishmoon likes this.
  19. AtomicTango

    AtomicTango Fapstronaut

    I love videogames, and have a true passion for them. But, most are absolute garbage, are designed to manipulate your monkey brain into playing them, and actually aren't fun, engaging, or otherwise worth it if you detach yourself from them and think objectively. This is true of a lot of media, but because games are inherently more of a timesink, the issue is amplified tenfold.

    What I did, rather than quit cold turkey, is only play games I get something out of as opposed to playing for its own sake. Now this is nebulous and open to interpretation, but here are a few examples. I play Spelunky while listening to music to destress and to power through PMO urges, because the sensory pressure of having to focus on the game (which is hard as hell) and listen to the music is a wonderful distraction. I play games like Yakuza because I they are actually fun, not just timewasters. I play smaller indie games because I find unique games interesting. I play games with interesting concepts or settings because they might influence my own creativity in writing fiction.

    What I DONT do, is get hooked on the latest fad multiplayer game. I dont grind for hours in MMO's, and I dont get invested in "games as service" games. Basically I dont play any game that is designed to be a skinner box, and not a worthwhile experience. The byproduct of this is I play games less now, because I'm not filling so much time with endless matches in Call of Duty or (shudders) Overwatch.
     
    Hadrian3 and 88991s like this.
  20. greenishmoon

    greenishmoon Fapstronaut

    That's great. Why did you sold them in the first place?.

    I think now that this is the real problem. I can't tell you enough how many troubling emotions I face when playing something like league of legends. And the game is not only addicting but a single session is probably always more than an hour and a half. It is often NOT fun, and it is often very very tilting.
    But then I have the handheld NES I bought last month which I use sometimes when I go to the bathroom or when I'm tired and a single run of mario 2 is just enough, the game is over and I'm already doing other stuff.

    So yeah, videogames are not a problem as a whole but some of them are definitely garbage.
    The whole point is that I aim to live more of life than of imaginations.
     
    88991s likes this.

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