I have this problem. I'm addicted to... Competitive Pokemon... You might be laughing, but for me it's no joke. I guess I should start from the beginning. I've loved Pokemon since I was a little kid. I spent countless hours playing the games. I had the cards, I watched the show, it has been a big part of my life. About 2 years ago, I got into the competitive scene. For those of you who are unfamiliar, you make a team of 6 Pokemon. The Pokemon are split into different tiers based on how powerful they are (e.g. Mewtwo is in the top tier because it's OP, Magikarp can be used in any tier because it sucks, etc.). You can adjust the Pokemon's stats to your liking. You don't have to worry about catching any of the Pokemon or finding Pokemon with ideal stats. So in theory, you can create the perfect team of Pokemon. There are two main battle simulators: Pokemon Showdown and Pokemon Online. I've spent many, many, many hours days and weeks on both. At first I wasn't very good. But as time passed, I got better and better. This is when my problems began. The game stopped being fun, and it quickly became an obsession. I started to become always worried about my rank (both simulators have a ranking system). The top users make what is called the "ladder". There are different ladders for each tier. It was always my goal to make the ladder. And I did a few times, but then I would become obsessed about keeping my spot on the ladder and improving my rank. At first it was good, and I felt a sense of achievement, but it soon became a nightmare. I would rage big time if I lost. I punched/kicked at least five different holes in my apartment walls. It got so bad that my neighbors actually called me a few times to make sure I was okay. I cared more about Competitive Pokemon than I would my college classes. I never missed a class, but I would sometimes show up late because I had to finish a battle. If you forfeit mid-match, then your rank goes down. My rank was more important than arriving to class on time. I began having rage fits on almost a nightly basis. Yelling, screaming, punching, kicking, stomping. It got very ugly. Sometimes I was able to use my frustrations to lift weights, but mostly I just damaged my apartment. But I couldn't stop. I wanted so badly to be a respected member of the Pokemon Community. Everyone seemed to have large amounts of respect towards the best players on the websites. I wanted to be like them so badly. I don't have many friends in real life. I've never had a girlfriend. If I could be respected in the Pokemon Community, then everything would be okay. This was when it was at its worst. The game caused me severe stress, more so than any of my "real life" problems. I was literally shaking during every battle. I had to play the game. There was no way to improve my rank without battling. But if I lost, then my rank went down. For every loss, I had to get 2 wins to make up for it. A losing streak would certainly cause a rage fit and possibly an ugly hole in my apartment wall. It was an absolute nightmare. I really wanted to quit and just be done with it. Sometimes I would spam the chatroom on Pokemon Showdown just so I could get banned so I would be forced to take a break for a few days. At least my ranking would be safe. And it would give me time to cool off. But as soon as my ban would end, I would be right back on the site. But recently, I've decided to try and quit completely. The game was making me unhappy, so I'm trying to go without it. I really don't want to play it anymore. But now here's where my current problem comes in. I just feel so left out. I love Pokemon. I always have. It's very special to me. The fact that there's a giant Pokemon community out there, and I'm not a part of it makes me really sad. I miss it. I don't know how to fill the gap. I already work out, and I'm in pretty good shape for my body, though I'm not very athletic. I go to college, which keeps me a little busy. But now I have nothing to do. Since I recently quit playing Pokemon, when I'm not busy I just sit around watching anime and online videos. It's okay, but I just feel like something is missing. I'm shy, and I'm lousy at making friends. I basically have no life now. Pokemon was my life. Now I don't know what to do. I'm constantly thinking about Competitive Pokemon. I want to go on the website and check to see if I'm still on the ladder that I was on, and if I'm not then I want to earn my place back. But I won't let myself. I won't go on either of the simulators. I know that one battle could get me sucked back into where I was. I've never had an addiction problem before. I used quite a bit of drugs in high school and early college, but it was never really a problem. I was never addicted to them. I recently quit smoking weed and drinking alcohol, which was a piece of cake. Now the only drug I use is DMT, which I extract myself, and I only do that once every several months; it's a very special occasion type of thing, and I have absolutely no issues keeping it that way. Basically I've never experienced any issues with addiction in the past. But quitting Competitive Pokemon has been very problematic. I'm constantly thinking about it. I want to play it so badly, but I know it's for the best that I don't. I'm addicted, and I don't know what to do! Can any of you guys give me any advice or suggestions? It would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! TL;DR: I'm addicted to Competitive Pokemon. It was causing me emotional distress, and I decided it would be best for me to quit. But now I'm having a hard time quitting because I miss the game.
Well, talking to others about the problem is a great way to go about getting away from it. Best people are the ones you love most and are close to. Interaction with family and significant others and giving them your full attention takes time away from what your starting to feel like is a bad habit. As for the anger outbursts, these are all your ego and your "wanting to win". Moderation is key. People who tell you to throw away the game because it's ruining you are giving you bad advice. Your fooling yourself if you think that completely quitting something that you really really really enjoy is going to help you. There's no reason you should feel bad about getting upset and frustrating about losing a game or not getting what you want out of a game. People may try to tell you "its just a game" but i'd like to see these people put their whole ego on the line and see how it feels. Feel free to get as upset and angry as you like about the game because honestly getting upset and angry doesn't hurt a damn thing. You on the other hand, are damaging property. So I would recommend finding some way else to vent. I play games myself, im also an avid gambler. I play pennies though on video poker which is a real low volitility game so I can play it for a long long time. I got the same ego as any hardcore gambler whose losing hundreds of dollars every evening they go on a trip to the casino, the feelings and the emotions and the sense of winning or losing are the same the only difference is there is virtually no damage done to myself whereas the meat heads who pile their savings and the money they need to buy food for their wives and kids are destroying themselves. On rare occasions(only when friends are around) I will play 10-60 bucks on a table game but if that money doesn't last me long enough to my liking I get extremely pissed off and I leave. I want to punch holes in walls when that happens, im frustrated as fuck. Ill swear, ill say things like "this is fucking bullshit I didn't even have fun losing that money". If my friends tell me im being a baby ill just say "fuck you". They'll laugh because im so pissed about losing 10 dollars, that I shouldn't even come into a casino with that low amount. But sometimes ill have a good time and play a game with 10 to 40 or 60 bucks for a long long time, might make a little or just lose it all. Gaming is very intense... hobbies period are very intense, wether or not your investing real money in it. When you game or have a hobby your investing your real time and ego into it. Just like jobs, family, and all other things you want to succeed at. If you are trying to succeed, at ANYTHING and your putting forth effort into it, your going to be just as pissed off as any little 5 year old is. As adults we just express these feelings differently, we are more aggressive and can potentially cause more damage, unfortunately. My main words advice here is: You have every right to any feelings you experience, dont let anyone try to make you think your not allowed to feel this way or that way about something. Vent however you want, if no one gets hurt then your personal way of venting is OK venting verbally is what I do usually, though im more careful with this now as at one time I lost my job over this form of venting. Just keep verbal venting nuetral and not directed toward anyone in particular. Look at your life and how you want to live it. If you want to play a game non-stop all night long every day after work for your whole life this is 100% fine!! Its your life! It can only be a problem if YOU aren't being responsible and getting the important stuff out of the way first such as:job, family, and etc. I will play games that are like WoW sometimes where you got those raids that are pretty much built in a way that you have to stay in the game for hours to complete them, and if wife or kids need you, your shutting them out to finish the raid. You sound like your having that kind of problem because you are late for class to finish a battle. Heres how I deal with those problems with "games": I just try to recognize that many online games are full of content where you can just play the game, and gain your gold and stuff without having to be "stuck" in the game for hours to gain the reward. In other words, you can be farming for a bit but just click right out of the game and lose little to nothing at all, meaning you can play the game as long as you want and if in the real world you got more important obligations you can click right out of it without worrying about the depressing feelings of losing all the efforts you put into it. Another thing for those who are pretty serious gamers that can help out is to "schedule" gaming sessions. As in, you know that your going to have to play the game for 6 to 8 hours to get the big big big treasure box so you and your gaming buddies just set aside a time and date to do that. If you can't set aside enough time to play a game and get full enjoyment out of it, then the game is not for you! Theres an unlimited supply of games and hobbies out there, explore, and find one that works with your schedule. Hope that helps some... Why punch holes in the wall anyway? Shit, just hang a punching bag in the room, probably cheaper than paying your landlord for repairs. But maybe you just need something to break I dunno.... best find some alternative to that unless your ok with the consequences of vandalism. Oh, and BTW, there could be some serious legal and health consequences to playing with drugs. Dunno how intense of a drug DMT is, I really don't know too much about it, but even if it's a light drug there could be legal consequences. And risking being prosecuted/incarcerated over some recreational drug is definitely a sign of poor self-control in my opinion. Hell I dont give a fuck what drug anyone does, im all for legalizing marijuana but never would I recommend that anyone use it in a state or country where it is illegal. The day its legal where I live ill probably be eating some baked goods made with it. But today is not that day, I like to keep clean urine and a clean record, keeps my stress level low when I need to find a job.
Year long break. Start doing other things and thinking about other things. Go back if you want. You shouldn't like it as much. Shit man I don't know....that's what I do when anything starts to get addictive to me and it helps me but I don't know how that works for other people. And yea, the pokemon thing is kinda funny
>=-O My post is full of valuable knowledge and advice. It will change your life and make you a better person all around. You will learn moderation which is the key to happiness and fullfillment in this one brief forum post, it is free to read and is many many times shorter an length than any book out there that promises you the key to happiness and balance in your life. Anyways, this thread is for the OP, and im sure the OP will find value in the post. As for all of you who lose focus after the first sentence, its your loss! Great things will come to you if you read it. Now... back to the subject.
I laughed my ass off at the part when you said "Competitive Pokémon" Get a real addiction for your real life not a fake addiction for a fake life.
Wow I am amazed a people's lack of empathy on this subject. Pokemon or not, it still an addiction to something. This guy is asking for help. LustfulDarkWriter: 'Get a real addiction for your real life not a fake addiction for a fake life' What on earth kind of advice is that? real life? why do addictions occur? people depend on something that they feel rewards them with self gratification, usually addictions are fueled by social interaction, fitting in. He mentions he is missing out on the whole community thing. But I guess by this advice is, kick the Pokemon addiction because it's fake!, no....go out into the real world and get a real addiction, you know pick up a heroin needle, or chuck a whole bottle of southern comfort down your neck five times a day. That's the way man, none of this digital fake bullshit addictions. With all due respect, ill take the Pokemon addiction any day. MindControlledShepple: You entitled to not read the post or have anything to do with the OP problem. But again, was it necessary to throw in your useless contribution? no, any addiction to anything is serious stuff, as it isolates and distracts people from what matters the most, themselves. Have some damn empathy people, or STFU if you can't comment constructively. Coleco: Kudos to you, good post. poads: As Coleco said, moderation, moderation and moderation. Don't cold turkey it, don't quit playing it, rather fit the game in around your life not fit your life in around the game.
hey, such online games is not so bad, trust me. My friend has another kind of online gaming addiction - he always gambling. Last several weeks all the things I hear from hear is poker and blackjack, roulette blackjack bet! I LOST MONEY I WON MONEY.... and so on and on again... Every time I see him he plays on pokerstars or allhighrollercasinos.com or other site... I'd never thought he is so risky... Do not know what to do with him I bother about him
