Addicted to the game, need help

    Dear fellow players,

    I have to admit, I am addicted to the game, and I need help.

    I have owned GW for 15+ years, and it has always been my favorite.

    I have a very stressful and demanding day job. I have a family (wife, no children yet). I have no other hobbies besides GW. I have always been playing in my free time, and have short-sightedness. I often go to sleep late due to being hooked up in the game and forgetting about time. Then I had to get up early to go to work. I often regret not sleeping well, and need more and more coffee to get by. After work, I am so stressed out that all I can do is play GW. I spend almost no time interacting with my wife, who has became frustrated just because of this. I have not exercised for ages and have become frail physically. I know something is wrong.

    I looked up the definition of addiction, and here's the DSM-5 Criteria for Substance Use Disorders: (the criteria doctors use)

    1. Taking the substance in larger amounts or for longer than you're meant to.
    2. Wanting to cut down or stop using the substance but not managing to.
    3. Spending a lot of time getting, using, or recovering from use of the substance.
    4. Cravings and urges to use the substance.
    5. Not managing to do what you should at work, home, or school because of substance use.
    6. Continuing to use, even when it causes problems in relationships.
    7. Giving up important social, occupational, or recreational activities because of substance use.
    8. Using substances again and again, even when it puts you in danger.
    9. Continuing to use, even when you know you have a physical or psychological problem that could have been caused or made worse by the substance.
    10. Needing more of the substance to get the effect you want (tolerance).
    11. Development of withdrawal symptoms, which can be relieved by taking more of the substance.

    I am not too surprised to find that I met most of the descriptions above. Gaming is a psychological addiction, so there may seem to be less withdrawal symptoms. However, if I didn't play GW, I become easily agitated and short-tempered. Then I spend time thinking about GW; about builds, farms, stuff I got in-game. When I'm free to play again, I jump right back in. Playing GW takes my worries away for the time being, but I find it difficult to live without it. And now that I found this awesome forum (GW legacy), even during work I can't control the urge to check it out once every few minutes. It's like I can physically stop playing and leave the computer, but my mind still goes on an on with the game.

    Though the years, I progressed very far in the game, grinding titles I wanted one after another, getting cool miniatures and weapons. But my real life has stopped its progression. I can't do well on work assignments because I can't focus. I can't get along with my wife because I don't have spare time for her, not to mention other family members. I haven't talked to my parents for months. I don't want kids or other things to happen in my life because I think it means less time to play. I am a grown-up but I don't think I am a responsible person.

    Oh, I've tried to quit before. I've tried pretty hard. There were a few times when I really regretted missing out on important things in real life, and out of rage, I deleted all my precious stuff and toons (made the account as clean as new). And I did that twice. I have even changed my password to gibberish so that I can't login forever. But it didn't work. I contacted support and got a new password, then slowly regained some fortune in-game until I was twice as rich as before.

    I love GW, but to a degree, GW has destroyed my life, again and again.

    I know those ectos and arms are just virtual riches, and the items are just 3d models.

    I know nothing lasts forever. (certainly not the everlasting tonics, haha)

    I know I need to stop.

    I need help.

    ;(

    Hello, sharing Issue might be good step. Try speaking about it with relatives too. Did you talk about this problem with your wife ? Shes probably affected by that too so maybe together you could solve it easier. Small tip I could give you is lowering Time spent on forum/yt/Discord (gw topics I mean ) to not make you stuck in game even while not playing it. The last think I Could add as you have searched on ur own gaming can be addiction so consider reaching to professional.

    Ok so alt account please with all respect no one try to figure out who I am I'd just rather you not.

    I appologize as this is kinda hard for me to put down and I hate typing on my phone.

    Anyways, my addiction was a fair bit different then yours and was suprisingly easy for me due to my coke dealer having a stroke around the same time I quit making things easier but I did have a few points that might transfer over well.

    First, say good bye when I quit coke I had to cut out most of my friend group as they all did it as well. Its going to be easier to cut people out like friends in game if you get a chance to say goodbye. Otherwise you'll feel like you want to talk to so and so again because you never got to say bye and you'll reinstall to talk to them.

    Second, this ones not related to my experience but get you're account banned I know thats hard these days but sit in kama spamming a fake gold selling site and get a handful of reports and some support guy whos not paying any attention as they dont care about gw1 anymore will kust hit the ban button. Then, have your wife log into your router and fuck with any connection to the log in servers dont remember how to do that these days but I dont recall it being hard. Neither of these will make it impossible to play but will make it a bit more difficult giving you time to realize what the fuck you're doing.

    Third, fill up the time. I stopped partying and had to come up with something else to do when I felt like doing that. Ironically for me that was coming back to guild wars. For you take up another hobby my one friend picked up running to fill some time. But basically replace it with a positive activity.

    Fourth, give me your armbraces.

    Fifth, get some accountability maybe ask your wife to stop you and ask if shed be willing to talk about some of the stress you're feeling when you want to play. But make sure she has a reasonably open mind because to someone who hasn't had a similar issue it can seem crazy. Its not but their brains just havent experienced it yet.

    Sixth, if things are still going rough get some professional help. Therepists can be suprisingly helpful when you find the right one.

    Sadly, its going to suck for awhile and you will have to deal with the withdraw but its only going to get worse the longer you put it off.

    Lastly, I'm gonna look real stupid if you meant this as a joke so now you gotta quit.

    Quote from addictionalt

    Fourth, give me your armbraces.

    Hahaha, I really laughed :D

    Quote from addictionalt

    I'm gonna look real stupid if you meant this as a joke so now you gotta quit

    Rest assured It's totally not a joke! Thanks for the encouragement! And filling the spare time is a good idea!

    Quote from Seven

    lowering Time spent on forum/yt/Discord (gw topics I mean ) to not make you stuck in game even while not playing it

    I'll definitely try to "not play" while I not play, and lower the total time spent on GW as a first step. Thank you! :)

    Hey man. Just wanted to ask how it's going for you and if all is working out for you regarding your plans :)

    IGN: Mr Clean Value

    :!: Important: Please if i win an auction/or u want to sell me an item write me an PM so we can organize the Trade :!:

    ...................................................................( Thanks for understanding and appreciate the help <3 )......................................................................................................

    "Keep it clean!" 🧽💦

    WTB: x00g - Clean Value items - 360g Roundshield - 256g RAM-hammer - Waterwand with 20/20 Fire

    Thanks, been playing less... (busy working, filling up the spare time, that did work somehow)

    but... but! but! but!

    I just picked up another old game: Diablo 2 (anyone else?)

    oh the addiction again ||

    What I learned:

    I can't fight an addiction with another addiction

    If I try to do that, I'll just get... TWO addictions :!:

    Back to Guild Wars... and immediately spent hours farming a particular green: Saevio's Maul (what? but why? lol)

    Conclusion: The Time is Nigh for another plan-to-quit...

    and there's big work assignments coming up so I have to play less in order to finish my work.

    need all the strength I can get.

    lastly, my dear friends, if you see me online, tell me to LOG OFF

    much appreciated!

    I got bad news. Diablo II remastered is on its way... =O

    IGN: Mr Clean Value

    :!: Important: Please if i win an auction/or u want to sell me an item write me an PM so we can organize the Trade :!:

    ...................................................................( Thanks for understanding and appreciate the help <3 )......................................................................................................

    "Keep it clean!" 🧽💦

    WTB: x00g - Clean Value items - 360g Roundshield - 256g RAM-hammer - Waterwand with 20/20 Fire

    • New

    Need help! again!

    Oh how I wish this was just a funny meme.

    Ever since the day before the update, I've had difficulty sleeping, and even more so after it went live. I play until late, LATE night, and my body is on the brink of collapsing. I can't stop playing even if I know that I can still play tomorrow. Things were going rather smoothly and the addiction was under control before the update hit. What happened? Yes I love all the new content, but my mind just can't have enough of it! An irrational part of me wants to self-drop all the new items as soon as possible, no matter what it takes.

    I really, REALLY need to come up with a way to regulate how much I play... before it's too late. Or maybe it's too late already. I don't know. For anyone reading this, including my future self, I do hope that you're doing better than me right now.

    *Edit: My current solution: No farming until end of event! No more raptors or repetitive killing of mobs of any kind! I'm imposing this rule on myself! Starting immediately! Oh, and also no chest runs!

    • New

    Not sure if this is a serious post, but I'm going to respond serious anyway.

    Quite relatable. I play GW for almost 20 years (started when Factions was just released), so that's from when I was around 14 y/o. I play on and off, but when I'm playing, it's all consuming. I got a demanding job and GW is a good way for me to blow of steam. I don't like going out much, so this is my main sink of free time. I'm also married, she loves to game too and she can lose herself too in games, so there is a bit of understanding there.

    Sincere question: Do you by chance have autism? I do, and I can really lose myself in a single activity for a long time. I got diagnosed a few years back and it really helped me in my life.

    Anyway, take care of yourself!

    IGN: Vicennium Soldier :dodgy:

    • New
    Quote from Swiftfolk

    Sincere question: Do you by chance have autism?

    Yes, I have Asperger syndrome (an autism spectrum disorder), and also ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). I get carried away easily in fascinating little things.

    To me this is a serious post too. I'm really trying to find balance in my life.

    Take care!

    • New

    What has helped me manage my time on the game while still feeling like I have enjoyed my time has been setting specific "goals" that are measurable and attainable, like x number of chests of x chest run or x number of raptor runs. If I set a goal as getting a certain drop, I'll be up until I fall asleep at the desk because there is no guarantee the drop will happen or worse, if I get the drop early then I don't feel like I got enough time in on the game. Stay safe and take care of yourself with the new update, remember all the new content is permanent and can be done whenever you want. (Hoping that helps manage any FOMO)

    • New

    As someone who also suffers from psychological disorders (I won't go into detail on this), I think that in a subject like the one addressed here, we need to separate 2 elements:

    - People who play too much, without having a predisposition, a fragility, which can lead them into a difficult situation.

    - People who gamble too much and are prone, with their predisposition(s), to addictions in general. Be it drugs, alcohol, games in general (gambling, video games), etc.


    Sharing or comparing these hours of play with people who are not affected by disorders or predispositions is equivocal. You can't compare ways of coping or changing course. What works for one person won't work for another.

    I advise you to work in a group, with people affected by disorders identical to yours, under professional supervision. For ADHD, this is a recognized and basic approach.

    Unfortunately, in this day and age, mental illness is a sign of ignorance on the part of people who don't suffer from it, and even of social rejection. It's also hard to find the “right” professionals, to get a diagnosis AND a reliable way out. In 7 years, I've seen it all, between bad diagnoses and the unbearable wait for the right verdict.


    Personally, I have 2 ways of looking at things:

    - The addictions I've managed to reduce. I understand that I abuse them anyway, so I've cut them back drastically, without this preventing me from having a balanced life.

    - The addictions that I couldn't cut down and that were destabilizing my life balance. I had to stop them all, without exception. They put me in an unbearable “state”, either at the time or in terms of recovery.


    After a long time, I managed to stop smoking, drinking coffee, cutting down on alcohol (at this stage, can you say I still drink?) and many other things. But it took several years. I couldn't have done it all at once.

    I don't have a miracle solution, I'm just saying that it's possible to get out of it, but sometimes at the price of a heavy sacrifice. Having the strength to change, then, also comes down to the details, the unsuspected habits of life.


    Good luck.