WhyYouLoveMe
Supreme [H]ardness
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John Gault said:
Ok, that's waaaaaay to mature for this forum...
Seriously, though, good stuff.
Now where's my BF2 CD...
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Gaming Strategies to prevent addiction...
- Thread starter Blakestr
- Start date
Ok, that's waaaaaay to mature for this forum...
Seriously, though, good stuff.
Now where's my BF2 CD...
Torgo
2[H]4U
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Why hasn't anyone mentioned the obvious? Strattera, Cylert, Concerta, Adderall, etc.
Strangely enough, I'm not joking about this.
Strangely enough, I'm not joking about this.
Ice Czar
Inscrutable
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Better living through chemistry
codegoblin
n00b
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Torgo said:
Kind of ironic that you mention this because I don't have ADD but will take Adderall to stay awake for three days straight and play Lineage.
If you really want to quit gaming switch to linux or macintosh. While you can play some games on both it generally is a pain in the butt to do so and with a limited library to choose from.
WhyYouLoveMe said:
Sometimes you just CAN'T limit your time playing, especially when your doing an instance that takes a few hours or are on a time based quest, or can't hearth home cause your timer isn't up and you want to get back so you can get rest rewards so you have to go back the hard way, etc. One of the reasons I quit wow and am back to plain FPS's, you can play a nice 20min DM or half hour CTF game and be done with it, and if you really had to you could disconnect mid-game and not feel as guilty
WhyYouLoveMe
Supreme [H]ardness
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Techx said:Sometimes you just CAN'T limit your time playing, especially when your doing an instance that takes a few hours or are on a time based quest, or can't hearth home cause your timer isn't up and you want to get back so you can get rest rewards so you have to go back the hard way, etc. One of the reasons I quit wow and am back to plain FPS's, you can play a nice 20min DM or half hour CTF game and be done with it, and if you really had to you could disconnect mid-game and not feel as guilty
Then you're addicted and you don't want to change. Point is: THEY'RE GAMES. YOU are in control of the game, not the other way around. So if you feel you "can't" stop a game after a certain time limit (regardless of save/progress issues) then you're just not ready to get "un-addicted".
Techx said:Sometimes you just CAN'T limit your time playing, especially when your doing an instance that takes a few hours or are on a time based quest, or can't hearth home cause your timer isn't up and you want to get back so you can get rest rewards so you have to go back the hard way, etc. One of the reasons I quit wow and am back to plain FPS's, you can play a nice 20min DM or half hour CTF game and be done with it, and if you really had to you could disconnect mid-game and not feel as guilty
I remember the day I quit EQ, permanently too. I was working on Golden Effreti boots quest and I was planning my weekend for the best possible time to get it. I was camping first site I think for a few hours and somehow a train or something, long story short, I died. Two things happened: I literally said, "Shit, I just lost all that work." Work?? WtF!WORK!? I HATE WORK, why am I working in a GAME!. Then I thought about...shit, I'm planning my weekend not just to play a game, but to get some stupid item that doesnt' even really exist....
I then calmly canceled my account, found my cds, put them back in the box, and smashed them with a hammer. Sometimes drastic measures are the only way to break an addiction...
Blakestr said:
They make a pill for it. Adderall.
EDIT:
Haha, you beat me to it.
I bet you the vast majority of people in this thread meet the DSM-IV criteria for ADHD without hyperactivity. Just not enough dopamine in the prefrontal cortex!
Your excessive game playing is likely a symptom of a deeper issue, not a cause.
talley said:
You should see a psychiatrist, if indeed you have ADD, medication will give you a normal amount of dopamine in your prefrontal cortex, and give you the focus, planning, attention to detail etc that you've always lacked. They've found D2 dopamine receptor alleles that may be implicated in this, so it's not always a "OMG UR JUST LAZY" thing.
Note: Don't see a psychologist, they can't prescribe medication. Also, call bullshit if they give you the CPT (computer test where you hit spacebar upon seeing a letter), it has very poor efficacy in not only adults but in ADHD without hyperactivity.
And just to further ward off the "ADD isn't a real problem" types, here's some SPECT images of brain activity in ADD: http://amenclinics.com/bp/atlas/ch12.php ... you can clearly see the medication is effective at restoring a normal level of activity.
Frangible...I do take adderall, but for me it isn't so much as focus on activities but rather, to help remedy my otherwise total unawareness of time...definately something that playing addictions would not mix well with.
Maijn - All it took for me was one regular doctors appointment. Depending on the type of doctor, whether he is a pill popper or an oldschool type, you have a good chance of walking out of there with a prescription.
But if you seem to eager then they probably will give you the run around...you seem pretty eager to get your "fucking pills" keep in mind this is a gaming addiction thread, not a drug one ....hehe
Maijn - All it took for me was one regular doctors appointment. Depending on the type of doctor, whether he is a pill popper or an oldschool type, you have a good chance of walking out of there with a prescription.
But if you seem to eager then they probably will give you the run around...you seem pretty eager to get your "fucking pills"
keep in mind this is a gaming addiction thread, not a drug one ....heheMajin said:Franigble,
I don't have time for all that.... JUST GIVE ME THE FUCKING PILLS!
Most ADD medication are schedule II drugs, good luck on that one
Both amphetamine (Adderall) and methylphenidate (Ritalin) greatly increase dopamine levels throughout your brain, by about 300%. The difference is how they work, and amphetamine also releases norepinephrine. Ritalin is certainly a stimulant whose effects could be confused with "speed" (amphetamine) though.
Yes, demanding schedule II drugs, and/or admitting a history of drug abuse is a pretty good way to get nada.
Actually ADHD medication is less available in Canada. Canada is rather anti-stimulant.
John Gault
Limp Gawd
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lol I guess I have ADHD also.
Ok guys, this thread is about gaming addictions and ways to prevent it. It IS NOT about ADD or ADHD. If you want a thread on ADHD I would suggest picking up a subscription to General Mayhem. Now lets get back on topic before we head to lock city.
Rich Tate said:
Allow me to rephrase: gaming addictions are influenced by many factors, one of which is a mutation of the D2 dopamine receptor gene. Combined with other genes, and environmental factors, this can result in gaming addictions, substance abuse, and ADHD symptoms. ADHD and gaming addictions share a ~35% comorbidity in some studies.
Gaming, in people with addictions, causes an activation of the reward circuits in the brain significantly beyond that of a normal person, and releases dopamine, among other things. The frequent reward schedule in gaming will produce an "addiction" in people due to this.
I believe it's not too hard to break an individual gaming addiction, but the root problem will remain in some, and that is my concern. Breaking an addiction is always easy in studies, what is difficult is avoiding the relapse if the reasons for the addiction go unchanged.
Of course, if the gaming "addiction" is not having an adverse effect on your life, it's probably just a hobby and not a true addiction.
Not that I have any personal knowledge of this, had over 700 days of /played in EverQuest, or got put on academic suspension because I was playing video games or anything.
Oh yeah. Speaking of dopamine, exercise produces an increase in dopamine levels for about 56 hours via increased calcium transport, and has even been shown to increase the number of dopamine receptors in animal models. Not to say exercise is a panacea, but it may help. Just repeat every 56 hours
nigerian_businessman
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PopeKevinI said:I found lots of other more rewarding things to do with my time
You mean like hardforum? major improvement there, friend.
PopeKevinI
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Sir-Fragalot said:
I'm a poster child for ADD, but have never taken medication for it. I wasn't diagnosed until my wife (who has a degree in psychology) decided that I fit the description and we had a doctor confirm it. I was 24 when we found out for certain. I don't want to start on drugs now because I've seen adults do that, and they completely changed. I take great pride in not being a workaholic, I'd hate to start now
Of course, there are some people who can't function with AD(H)D. I've learned to cope with the flaws it gives me and to actually make use of some of the unique traits of an ADD mind. Those who can't (or won't, as in the case of a cousin of mine) would benefit from medication.
Torgo
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Far be it to disagree with the new moderator, but ADHD and gaming do have several links. We've talked about it several times here in this forum. There are questions if gaming at a young age causes ADHD, but more than likely video games attract persons with ADD or ADHD because there are qualities that allow the user to focus.Rich Tate said:
Rich, you may know it or not, but videogames affect people with ADD differently than normal folks. Playing videogames brings out a little known trait (although those of us afflicted with the condition know all too well about it) call hyperfocus. A person with ADD will hyperfocus on the game and will lose all sense of time and other stimuli around them. If I play a videogame, my wife has to physically tap me on the shoulder to get my attention. She could be talking to me, but I won't hear her until I look at her face.
It's not uncommon for those that hyperfocus to play six or eight hours at a sitting and lose all track of time. They don't eat or sleep. It's all about the game. To some people, this would be a sign of addiction and people with ADD do use videogames as an escape because often it's one of the few things they can focus on for a long period and enjoy.
To say that ADD and videogames have nothing in common is a mistaken notion.
I think it is amazing to see the addiction to WOW. It sucks you in so hardcore. The guild I am in.....some of them seem to be on 24/7, it is crazy. I just play when i have some free time. I dont miss anything for it, and dont feel I have to play...it is just fun to do when I have a little free time.
Torgo said:
Yep. You either need to increase the dopamine levels such that focus is possible with "normal" tasks (this is where the scary pharmaceuticals are used), or find some other activity that will make you hyperfocus (ie, increase dopamine levels significantly).
The problem being hyperfocusing really can't be controlled, but can produce amazing results if you can hyperfocus on something like a career or scientific research. But if you spend your time using videogames' reward schedules to get your dopamine levels up, that is seen as pretty unhealthy.
Anyway, gaming addictions are a sign of a much larger underlying issue that will affect all aspects of a person's life imo.
MemoryInAGarden
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2Fresh said:
I left my WoW CDs at my girlfriend's house over the weekend, and being the dumbass that I am, formatted the computer yesterday. I was scrambling to find the CDs this afternoon to reinstall when I realized I didn't have them. I'm now going to have to wait till late tonight when she gets off work to go over there and get them. I'm already going through withdrawals
MemoryInAGarden said:I left my WoW CDs at my girlfriend's house over the weekend, and being the dumbass that I am, formatted the computer yesterday. I was scrambling to find the CDs this afternoon to reinstall when I realized I didn't have them. I'm now going to have to wait till late tonight when she gets off work to go over there and get them. I'm already going through withdrawals
If its any consolation, they extended maint. to at least 4pm eastern. So right now, you aren't missing a thing.
MemoryInAGarden said:I left my WoW CDs at my girlfriend's house over the weekend, and being the dumbass that I am, formatted the computer yesterday. I was scrambling to find the CDs this afternoon to reinstall when I realized I didn't have them. I'm now going to have to wait till late tonight when she gets off work to go over there and get them. I'm already going through withdrawals
Do a few laps around the block, that'll get your dopamine levels up the meantime?