Hi

[MJIthewriter]

I'm mostly a lurker on these forums. You see me the most active in the autism community, but I figured I'd stop in.  My DOC was not drugs, but online computer games which you can read about in my journal somewhere. I went through what I think was the psychological aspect of addiction, denial, hiding web pages, checking the addictive gaming website as many times as possible, as well as ruining my life at the time I was on it.  Just for the heck of it I added that in my ticker a few weeks ago to show that addiction doesn't have to be related to substances.

I know this is a forum more for people who dealt with substances, but I wonder if there are a few ex gaming addicts here too?

[MJIthewriter]

BTW I think I've seen a Mt. Dew ticker somewhere on the forum community or at least one for Pepsi I believe. I know there is one for coffee somewhere.

[MJIthewriter]

Oh yeah.... I have all the expansion packs up to Makin' Magic though I never installed MM on my computer... I played it all the way up to superstar... THAT _was_ a pure addiction...lost track of time... To make it worse I discovered you can download 10000's of things on the internet to make more "unique" or different sims from the default, different objects, some with hacks to make the game easier, fix glitches, etc...  Nope, no sims installed on this computer... I think I should donate the CD's for good lol.

Funny each of you use your experiances to relate to me and I use my experiance with gaming addiction to relate to you guys with your substances.  There aren't the physical withdrawals, but there sure are psychological aspects... Every now and then I get the thought, just log in to check or keep my account from being deleted. Then I think to myself what am I gonna do once logged on? I'll probably check my "shop" my inventory... then click the daily links...browse the artwork... basically spend an entire day wasted.. Better to just let the acvcount go...if it gets deleted so what...not like I'm going to return to it...or if I do, that's like an alcoholic going into a bar and relapsing...

I guess that's one thing that helps me make my recovering alcoholic (fermented fruit) addict character believeable.

Yeah I get obsessed with whatever hobby/task I do, so I try to focus on more constructive ones like writing, drawing, helping people on this forum, etc...growing african violets.  You can feel free to check out my "photos" (I uploaded a 1st grade drawing "Say No to Drugs". You guys may think it's cute. Beware of grasshoppers and huge atomic orange/red joints, lol.)

Photography is another obsession.  It works great when I volunteer at our local conservatory as a gardener aide. After that's over, I cruise around the site and take photos. You'll have to nag me to get photos uploaded of the butterflies they have as a temporary show.

Anyways I hope you each have a good day.

[Mikeinthesouth]

I cannot trully relate to a gambling addiction nor eating disorders I have never traveled that road and I dont know the high it gives but I can try to understand by putting my addiction in my comparrison to to yours and I defintely know how powerful my own is so I feel for any other addicts......

[joann1975]

Well, I honestly do tend to get addicted to things other than substances... and when the SIMS first came out.... I played it so much ( i was single then and smoking pot ) that I would dream about it... how the peoples bars would turn red when they had to pee or were hungry... Then I had a 3 day weekend and realized that I spent the entire 3 days playing... I NEVER left the house... so I gave it up immediately! I wish other things I could give up immediately....but I do believe there are addictions to things other than substances and I think it's great you are using the ticker for it! I would encourage people to use it for anything they felt they were addicted to. I may end up needing it for Mt. Dew! LOL..
Take care!

[4afriend]

Hi, I don't know if there are any gamers here or not, but I've seen an Intervention episode on game addiction.  You're so right on the fact of addictions not necessarily being a substance.  I often wondered if my books I read would count?  While I was going down a rough road and trying to keep from escaping to a big evil (alcohol), I started picking up books.  However i  found myself always shoving my nose in it...AT ALL AND ANYTIME I COULD! Even on breaks at work, I would always have a book with me so I wouldn't have to talk to anyone.  At that time in my life, I truly didn't want to ever have time to think, or have a thought of my own. There (in a book)  I could live in someone elses world rather than my own.  No physical withdrawls from that kind of addiction, but man did it take away from being productive in my life, my children, and my household.  

[10356]

Although I'm not a gaming addict those behaviors sure are that of an addict... When Atari came out my Husband and I played it to the exclusion of all else.. We still have it with all the games and play it occasionally :)) Although I have played all the newer boxes (raising boys) I like the super Nintendo the best... I have to be careful as I can get caught up in my games.
I hope you are taking action and making time for other things to happen in your life :)) I wish you well. lesa