My gaming addiction has gotten out of control, a few months back I uninstalled everything, then after a seriously discouraging event I ended up reinstalling everything and watching twitch a lot. I haven't really been productive in any other way, but I've made some sort of friends in the twitch community.
I realize that gaming is a part of who I am so uninstalling everything doesn't seem like the correct answer - that would basically be quitting cold turkey and while I'd learn self-control to an extreme I wouldn't be working my finer muscles of being exposed to the addicting stimuli and resisting going overboard.
I really wish steam had a feature that allowed me to set a maximum amount of time to play individual games or something, like parental controls with a timer.
Anyway, I'm wondering if there's any free software that would basically only allow me to run games for a certain amount of time or run it at specific times during the day.
That or an alarm system that flashes my screen with text.
This all wouldn't be a problem if I was actually making rapid progress in the games enough to be a streamer or pro.
Hearing some stories of people who pulled out of similar predicaments, some techniques you all have, or actual recommendations for apps would be great.
I wish you all the best. Tomorrow is a new day.
Oh, something I said to myself that helped me get up to write this post: "I am the one in control, I'm the one who makes decisions, so why am I making decisions that consistently harm me?"
Well, aside from the double spacing that reveals your point of origin from which you arrived on Jow Forums, (and your initial board you frequented before coming here), I would say that you're too socially awkward to make it as a streamer unless you stream with no cam as a programmer. This would require that you give up games almost altogether. Try to limit yourself to games you can put down easily. Learn a programming language, but first learn html just as a foot wetter. Honestly you shouldn't be gaming as an adult and watching twitch is only going to lead you to doing more of that unless you get into the science category. I understand what it's like to have an addiction to technology but you're right, a gaming addiction only harms you. Do something besides playing games with your computer, leave all your gamer discords, unfollow all your gaming twitch channels; turn your life around, kid. I know that you can do it.
Dominic Stewart
learn to code, spend your time writing shitty programs, read a book, go swimming or hiking. that's how I quitted smoking.
Hunter Hill
Maybe you can slowly wean off the computer games and to fill the void in your soul you could slowly work in heroin and crack cocaine. Once you're truly addicted with no way out and no money left you will literally sell your computer for dope just so you won't get sick. Boom! Problem solved! If you find yourself on a fast track to suicide because of your new fancy drug addictions, all you have to do is go to a methadone clinic once per day for 30 days, then five times a week for 90 days, then four times a week for another 90 days, then thrice, twice, and once a week at the one year mark! At the two year mark you will receive another 'promotion' and you will only need to report to the clinic once every other week! Now you're getting somewhere! (This schedule assumes 100% compliance and absolutely zero positive random drug screens). Okay what you want to do next is wean off the methadone 5mg every 28 days. Eventually after another 2 years (so 4 years total) you will be completely clean! Think of all the money you will save not having to pay for the clinic! You could save this money up and buy a new computer if you want!! Then you'd be set for life buddy! Instead of driving to the clinic and going to meetings and shit you could just play games on your new computer. Keep your eyes on the prize. You can do it user, I believe in you.
