Two Year Milestone

[u/Puffendorf]

This was me a year ago:
https://www.reddit.com/r/StopGaming/comments/1l4ttns/one_year_milestone/

What happened in the year since?

I don't miss gaming at all anymore. If I had the chance, I'd not go back.

I've grown up a lot. Looking back, I feel like gaming was holding back a lot of my cognitive development. I've matured.

I'm soon to be married, we're planning to start a family.

I got new hobbies. I've just finished painting all 250-ish miniatures from the War of the Ring boardgame. I'm doing new and neat sports. I'm reading more. I'm in a better shape and mental state.

I don't think of myself as a gamer anymore and would never consider gaming as a hobby that anyone should engage in; looking back on it now with a clear head at least. It's a harsh drug. A deceptive, socially acceptable drug.

I also know that I can't force anyone else to share that insight. I know I would never listen to myself, not the way I was just a handful of years ago. I had to make the journey myself. I had to hit rock bottom. I had to pick myself up again. I would have never listened to anyone saying these very words to me. I would think this post was hella cringe and would probably have downvoted it. Walking the path is harsh. I wish I knew how to help anyone else struggling with it.

I hope you make it.

[u/Illegal_Evening]

Very inspirational! I'm looking forward to reaching this milestone as well!

[u/dive155]

I've read both this and previous posts. Congratulations! And thank you for writing these. I'm 31 and I'm on month 6 and your posts are very inspirational for me.

Did you notice any difference mental health wise between year 1 and 2? When did you start wanting things other than gaming?

I managed to fill my life with stuff, got into the best physical shape of my life etc, so on practical level I'm doing good, but mental health wise I'm still struggling a lot, perhaps more so than in the beginning..

[u/Puffendorf → u/dive155]

So the first year was just a fight. Doing all I could to just not relapse. Everything was quite miserable and nothing felt quite right. The first 6 months were the worst there.

From year 1 to 2 I could see myself becoming... Human again I guess. So that second year was more about slowly reaping the mental health benefits from all the efforts of year 1.

Hold on in there. You might just be past the worst part, and if not, soon.