I ruined my life with WoW because i was addicted

Community General Discussion
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Cautionary tale: I am 48 and finally quit wow a few weeks ago. I had to because I could not control myself. It’s been a long, fun and crazy ride, but in riding I got so addicted that I didn’t work, wasn’t a good husband, let my career fall apart, and was a terrible father, thanks to all the lost time.

This is not like many other people’s story. I know many of you are reading this don’t even relate. But hear me out: It is because I am an extremely addictive person. And I am compelled to write this to you!

I had a music career, and I struggled with substances. When i finally settled down and got clean, I had a kid, and the pressure was immense. I funneled my worry into gaming with WoW, because I could get away from stress, argument and disappointment so easily. What I should have done was deal with my problems. But I didn’t.

One month became a year, one year became five, I never stopped playing until recently. It’s been 15 years!!! My friends and family tried to help me, but I ignored them: I just wanted to do what I wanted to do.

Part of what made me finally break free was an article I read online about internet addiction. It is a real thing. It goes hand-in-hand with gaming. Even WoW tips on the loading screen kind of hint at the possible troubles. What are they again? Something like “Go in Azeroth with your friends, but don’t forget to go out in real life with them as well” and another like “Moderation is good, even with WoW.” But when you are addicted, you read that and it is meaningless. Or you ignore it completely. But there is a very real danger there.

I am here to say the problem is real. I sincerely WISH I had been stronger and had been able to game responsibly, but I didn’t.

There should seriosly be a new tip with wow loading screens: maybe something like “Game responsibly” with a link to get help if you feel you might need it. Don’t disregard your basic responsibilities as an adult in life, and don’t use wow as an serious addiction or deep escapism that interferes with your life. Take it from me!

I wish there was a section of the forums dedicated to mental health with too much WoW. Like a “game responsibly” section. It would be a healthy thing for adults out there that share my story, or are on the road to sharing my story. Something like that existing might have helped me along time ago.

Wow brought me some good times, but when i think of my life…the last 15 years have been a BLIP. Just vague memories of doing things in wow, and suddenly my kid has gone from being 1 year old to 12. The rest of my life pretty much a collection of many lost opportinities that will never come again. And I am like “What happened!!!”

I don’t want this post to be a downer, and it is not anti-wow. It is just an honest, cautionary tale.

I am sad to leave, I am sad for what I did. But what is done is done.

I once wrote a song with the lyrics

Who said you can’t
pick up the pieces
if you can find them
if you can find them…

That’s what I am doing now, looking for and picking up the pieces…

So: stay good, be responsible, honorable and be careful with gaming: that is my message to all of you. Because all these moments of this one life we have are precious, and you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone.

Well, I am out! I hope this post was even a litttle useful to some of you!

As the great Shakespeare once said:

Farewell! Fare thee well! and if for ever, Still for ever, fare thee well!

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Don’t blame WoW for your failings.

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Addiction is a beast in many forms. I hope you find peace and happiness in your life, but you must already know it is going to be really hard to change a very intrinsic pattern in your life.

Good luck and safe travels in the real world :blue_heart:

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Sorry to hear you needed to quit. WOW is quite an addiction, I have not quit and I am only a couple years younger than you. I was a half-assed musician in my youth, so were many kids from the 80s and 90s. Many of my friends had substance abuse problems, some overcame them a few did not and one or two did not make it to middle age. I personally still have a soft spot for beer and WOW, have not quit either, but at least I quit the more dangerous stuff. I often wonder what my life would be like without the internet, but that life is gone now and WOW is still a low-cost diversion.

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Shh… Quitter… :laughing:

Myself personally, I am ex-military. So having something to focus my time on like WoW helps me cope.

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WOW has helped me cope with many things too, although it is like an ostrich putting it’s head in the sand and ignoring what is around it.

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Very thoughtful post, ignore the emotionally detached people here. Addiction is real and you didnt blame wow you blamed yourself. Well put I wish you well and hope you find some of what you have lost.

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It’s important to not play addictively, certainly. If you have addictive tendencies, you also need to manage what you do with your time more generally, to avoid transferring those tendencies from one thing to another (from substances to gaming to work, etc.). It’s something that needs management, unfortunately. I wish you good luck in doing so.

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Thanks for sharing your story. I can somewhat relate, because I had a gambling addiction (gachas) for a short while. Cutting it off completely one day made me feel better.

A few months ago, I met up with some good friends for their wedding, and we stayed at a casino hotel. I spent a total of $60 across the two days - exactly how much I wanted to spend - and I was able to play responsibility and lose my $60 without feeling an urge to go back.

Maybe it’ll be the same for you and WoW someday.

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Anyone have the tl;dr? Getting ready for work here.

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The only people left are those that are addicted. Why else would anyone play this game that is considered a antique?

Glad you got free. You won’t miss much in its last few years.

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…Can always count on the WoW community in a post like this.

The reputation is well earned.

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I respect that. If it’s any consolation, lots of people think their kids grow up too fast. It’s the nature of time, the stinker. Time is my enemy and it knows what it did/does/will do.

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cool story man

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When in doubt, blame somebody else.

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See someone about that addictive trait you seem to be carrying around, otherwise you may just end up substituting something else.

Good luck. :slight_smile:

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Try Alcohol OP, it mixes well with the extreme social anxiety you will likely have for living your life in Azeroth!

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I think this might be taking it a bit too far.
It makes sense with things like alcohol because theyre literally mind altering drugs and cause severe damage to your organs.
Gaming doesnt do that.

I hope not playing wow brings the change to your life you feel it needs! :slight_smile:

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Being an adult is hard.

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Stay Strong.

Thanks for doing what you can to try to get people to at least think about what they are doing with their life. Good luck to you and to those who are brave enough to give that a go.

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