"Addict" or self-control?

[VincentHanna]

Saw this story on BBC Newsbeat. Full Story: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-49978427

Selected quotes below:

"I can be gaming for anything like six to 14 hours on any day."

"It's the priority of my life - I wake up and think about it, I go to bed and think about it," James Wisniewski, 28, tells Radio 1 Newsbeat.

He says gaming "consumes" him and stops him from dating anyone seriously.

"I don't want a relationship. Unless it's with someone who wants to sit and play video games with me the whole time, I just don't do it."

James says playing games is a mood influencer.

"When you put so much time and dedication into something - it massively affects your mood."

When he's winning he says he experiences "a right high" but when his luck turns then his mood drops and arguments become more likely.

"The other day I was playing with my mates and I absolutely snapped - I threw my controller across the room and broke the charging wire."

"I'll start playing at 6:30pm and go on until 1am in the morning."

"I don't sleep enough because of it."

James's job requires driving and when he gets home he starts playing games - meaning he is "constantly sat down".

He says his "back is in pieces" and causes him pain when he moves.

My person situation is that I am 37 and still play a lot of games at home (consoles and PC) but I don't play them if my Wife is around. I don't ever play mobile phone games either.

I imagine if I was single I would likely watch less TV series and spend more time playing games - But i'm not an angry person and though sometimes I find some sections of games can be frustrating, I never get rage and fling controllers around.

I assume considering the name of the Forum, that there are still a lot of gamers here? What are your thoughts on gaming addiction? Do you think at any point you've ever been truly addicted to games? Do you think it's worse now with paid loot boxes and things like FIFA Ultimate team?

 

[VincentHanna]

Sorry to hear that @mccarf , must have been hard to go through. Can I assume you are talking about your school years?

I was lucky that I wasn't ever bullied at school, despite being in to games back when it wasn't quite so mainstream (late 80's/early 90's). So you were saying you were addicted, but that actually helped you out in a dark time in your life? I suppose that's a positive in some way?

How did you break away from it? I'm assuming it's not like you went in to Rehab.

As for MMORPG's, I was quite keen on Everquest when it first came out but even then I would hesitate to call it an addiction.

 

[VincentHanna]

If you enjoy them I guess they are hobbies.

I don't particularly enjoy the Gym, so it's not a hobby.