Painful decision for me

[BrettS119]

I feel like it's now the time for me to quit playing video games. I've been feeling excessively angry when I play now because of the games not working the way they should or other people ruining my experience. I believe it's really adding more weight to my depression and I need to cut it out of my life.

The only problem with that is I'd lose the friends that I had already made on there. Those relationships are very real and they're the only ones I've got for the most part. Although lately, it's been difficult to enjoy the time I have with them. I'm not having any fun with them like I used to but it would hurt to tell them that. I don't know if I'd be able to say goodbye.

I'm marking my account to be permanently shut down as a result. If I change my mind, I have 60 days to get it back.

Am I doing the right thing?

[NoMoreHealthAnxiety]

It sounds like you’ve made a thoughtful decision already.

[deborah27]

It's all virtual isn't it. Nothing real. A virtual world with virtual friends. There is a lot to be said about experiencing reality, physical work and leisure, the interaction with others face to face etc...

I hope now that you have made this decision, that you do pursue other activities that get you moving and out there with your other friends. Good luck.

[NeuronerdDoaty]

My only experience is my sons gaming. He had people he liked a lot and learned a lot from who were from different parts of the world. It helped his isolation and depression quite a bit. However, he strongly had a reaction to my taking it away from him at age 20 when his anxiety became worse and he had a panic attack. I caught him screaming obscenities into his mic and although he’s a grown man he respected my knowledge of mental health.

I told him balance is important. When you don’t have balance people can irritate you. I would kindly suggest you watch your time spent online and equal it out with real time interactions so your brain balances out. I’d love to show you scans of the brain from unbalanced brains.

I’m not saying these ppl aren’t annoying. I’m saying you’ll handle annoying ppl better when you’re in balance. Can you give that a try if you haven’t already?

I’d hate to see you give up something you really enjoy completely.

Best of luck to you.

Doaty

[kenster1]

hope you stay away and keep it deleted gaming seems to be taking over my son and he is only 7.in the uk its now seen as an addiction and treatable with therapy or it will be soon.time to take up a new hobby I think channel that focus and energy into something different.

[NeuronerdDoaty in reply to kenster1]

It is an addiction to a child’s brain. Studies repeatedly show dopamine overload. It’s like the rats that hit the button for cocaine instead of food until it kills them. Children do not need more than an hour. They need to be outside where frontal lobes can develop.

[kenster1 in reply to NeuronerdDoaty]

yeah I strongly try to make it an hour but my mrs is more relaxed on it but I want him to enjoy life outside rather than inside playing games.

[Hidden]

Wow. You are so mature and so well thought out. Isolation is brutal. But you’re right if it’s not as fun and getting you angry. It’s lustre wore out you need to walk away for a good few months. It’s very mature. That’s not abnormal it’s just like someone joining a spin class then not liking it anymore when they loved it that’s why there is so many different exercise classes you need to change things up!!

Maybe you should try to join things in your community to do be it a sport or gym or group for doing stuff. I’m not sure your age adults have meet up groups strangers doing stuff. You could be an adult I don’t know so don’t be offended. You need to get out and try new things. What people think or say belongs to them not to you remember that. People even virtual people have opinions that that are theirs. You can just say you got busy or needed break life stuff leave it at that should you return. But you’re obviously doing the right thing walking away for a good while. It’s your mind telling you that it wants different stimulation it served it’s purpose now you’re on the hunt fir a new one.

With any big change or behaviour you have to trade one activity for another. Or you’ll go nuts. So now you can research her what do I want to do try new things. And outside internet and on it’s ok to do both. Just internet isn’t enough. It can cause depression it’s all over the tv about loneliness you’re not alone. It’s society getting used to this life & people need real interaction

[optimuscoolbeans]

I game. I gave it up for awhile for about the same reasons. But I think it was just another way for me to isolate from people. I did choose different games to play. Some can be so frustrating. Anyway that’s my 2 cents worth of info.

[Lulu02]

I don’t know what the right thing is, if you’re really close with them maybe try and find another way to communicate with them (be safe though). I’ve made some really good friends through games, they come and go, and all I will never talk to again but they taught me a lot and I’ll always remember them.