Getting Serious About Gaming Addiction

Hey all you Goozexers! I know it’s more than just me who is aware they have an addiction to gaming. No, I’m not talking about really really liking gaming, but rather the negative side of spending too much time in the gaming world. When you spend time gaming instead of spending time with your family or friends or when you game when you should be getting sleep whether you know it or not. I mostly game at night which sometimes leads to gaming well into the morning without fully realizing it when I play open-ended RPG games. This usually results in me sleeping in when I could be spending time with my family or friends. Is there any sort of “gaming timer” software out there for the PC that you can download for free? It’d be great if there was a timer that you could set for any amount of time that you want and then it would pop up in your game momentarily (sort of like an Xfire in-game instant message) when the time is up. It could even close your game if you go over by 30 minutes or something. I will be searching the internet for free software like this simply because I do not have the knowledge to make it myself yet. If I find anything, I’ll post it in this thread. If you experience anything like what I’m going through, I encourage you to search and post as well. Thanks! Gaming addiction is a serious condition that can hurt you and others around you. Helping each other out with this problem is where the “community” part of this awesome Goozex system comes into play. - KVin189

I think it's great that you're aware of the issue. Have you considered getting a kitchen timer & setting it next to your computer so it will go off after a certain amount of time? At least until you find the software you're looking for? They're pretty cheap.

animallyson:

I think it's great that you're aware of the issue. Have you considered getting a kitchen timer & setting it next to your computer so it will go off after a certain amount of time? At least until you find the software you're looking for? They're pretty cheap.

Haha, everything is digital these days Good luck with your problem, I remember the nights I wasted playing runescape years ago lol.

animallyson:

Have you considered getting a kitchen timer & setting it next to your computer so it will go off after a certain amount of time?

Yeah, I've had the kitchen timer. I'm looking for some software. Like I said, I'm addicted when I start playing an RPG. No kitchen timer will stop me. LOL. But back to all seriousness, I need something that will get in my face that I cannot get angry at. I'm already about to explode at those around me when they try to "help" so I need something inanimate. Software! I'm searching...

What about professional help?  Maybe talking to a counselor? 

No counselor is going to understand our incessant urge to murder furbolgs.

 

 

A counselor?  I don't think it's that serious.  No counselor is going to call me and say "get off the computer now!"  I have found a couple free timers.  I haven't tried them out yet.  I'll let you guys know when I do.

well with vista i know there is a parental control program built in to where you could setup time slots to be able to play that and some games like wow also have that time control feature of when you can play.

oh yeah sorry about your condition.... personnally i toook plenty of sick days and purposely avoided people when i was addicted to WoW just so i could play, i use to try to take my laptop where ever i went so i could play even in high school i just opened up word and hit alt-tab if the teacher was going to walk by.

Shady:

well with vista i know there is a parental control program built in to where you could setup time slots to be able to play that and some games like wow also have that time control feature of when you can play.

 

I reverted back to XP after I tried Vista.  My laptop's drivers didn't like the new OS that much.  I don't play WoW because I know that would consume my life and I hate subscriptions.  I am currently playing GTA3 and it's pretty immersive.  My summer job is helping though.  Hopefully I'll just be too busy for gaming at college this semester.

i always take time out for family, i play in the early mornings when everyones asleep and at night