I'm Addicted to World of Warcraft... what should i do?

[Deleted]

Hey guys,

i've just found out that i've failed my Degree and it is because i keep playing wow, even when i have work due and assignments to give in..

any advice?

i know i should quit the game.. but i just feel as if i can't cause i enjoy it and im addicted to it wayyy too much.

Any constructive feedback would be great, please don't flame.. no one is perfect.

[saberon]

Uninstall it and throw away your CD's. Then get a new hobby. You'll never be able to quit if you have all that spare time on your hand.

[Trix]

How long have you played the game for?

Not being rude, but I'm surprised anyone can get addicted to the game now, it's such a shadow of its former self.

[AdriWar]

Ouch...well you should definitely lay off WoW/play less often and focus on your studies. I wouldn't give up WoW completely because it's something you enjoy and without it it would probably drive you crazy, but yeah definitely prioritize school over WoW, it's not impossible to fit in both. Hopefully my cruddy advice helps and GL!

[Deleted]

Make a schedule, no more than few hours playing a day. Stick to it no matter what.

[Deleted]

Parental control, have someone who you do not speak regularly set it up for you.
For example, your uncle, neighbor or boyfriends' little sister.

Also, make sure to have them set up a schedule that never allows for more than 2 hours straight game-time and decrease the available time in small pieces. If you were "given" 20 hours this week, you would get 18 hours next week, 16 the week after, etc.

[themaelstorm]

Addictive focuses are not reasons, they're outcomes. You must face and understand yourself.

Maybe you get a sense of accomplishment that you can't in your "real life". Maybe accomplishments come easier. You are the only one who can define the problem. Once you know the issue, you can work it out.

WoW doesn't addict itself to people, people who are vulnerable to addiction get into it.

[Zazajin]

I am a lil confused how someone could get addicted to it nowadays. To me it seems more of a chore. Back on topic, uninstall it and spend more time with friends etc.

[Deleted]

As a person who is trying to stop smoking, it actually annoys me when people say they are addicted. Did you fail your degree because of wow, or did you sit in playing wow because you werent really interested in your degree?

[Tatami]

You can get a friend, or family member to put a Parental controle. I had to did this to one of my friend because we were working as team and he was playing too much:P

So parental controle work great for that.

[Deleted]

You should probably consider this a problem with controlling your behavior, rather than 'being addicted to wow'. Obviously the problem isn't wow, but your inability to set down limits for your time consumption. If you quit wow cold turkey, chances are you'll just find something else to do with your time, which isn't necessarily better for you.

You should look into that before just assuming it's wow's fault.

[Dravan]

As a person who is trying to stop smoking, it actually annoys me when people say they are addicted. Did you fail your degree because of wow, or did you sit in playing wow because you werent really interested in your degree?

As someone who has quit smoking it annoys me you say you are only 'trying'. Why don't you just not buy anymore ciggerettes and say no when offered one, stop being weak.

As for the OP, take a break from WoW but don't quit it and throw away the CD's. You have identified you have a problem, so either alone or with help re organise your time so you can put your studies first and play WoW (or another game) in your spare time.

WoW as a game is designed to be addictive, it is packed with 'need to do everyday' events and has a constantly moving content curve that will leave you behind if you stop. Of course it is possible to become addicted to it.

Also remember failing your degree is not the end of the world, you can redo it. Don't dwell on the past but focus on the future. Good luck!

[flaggel]

Honestly sometimes I feel like im addicted to it. I would say put real life before the game, like if you go on one day and do nothing, go outside and do something. If that doesnt work, just end your subscription, get that degree, and then play again if you feel you can handle it.

[Deleted]

Just keep reminding yourself that everything you do in the game is worthless - grinding gear, realm firsts, raiding etc etc means absolutely nothing. Just picture yourself in 10 years time, would you rather be having a decent life or crying over the servers being shut down? Really puts things in perspective. The game is there to waste time not to take up your time.

[Niku]

As a person who is trying to stop smoking, it actually annoys me when people say they are addicted. Did you fail your degree because of wow, or did you sit in playing wow because you werent really interested in your degree?

If you think that a drug addiction and a gaming addiction are two different things then you are completely correct, however... there is no need to undermine what he is going through as it is very inconsiderate. Calling it an addiction, even though it's more like a compulsion, is not that far off.

Cozens, it is possible that you have an addictive personality (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Addictive_personality) but it's not as if I can tell from the little you have presented. What you need to do is figure out the cause of why you are spending all your time infront of WoW and forsaking important stuff in your life just to be able to play this game, and a psychologist can probobly help you with that if you are having trouble yourself.

[YoggZaron]

Assuming you're in a college, get more friends and reduce the time you spend sitting home alone or get an instrument and stop playing games

[Solitare-sp]

Best way I would think is to just go cold turkey. Wow is more a habit forming complusion than a real addiction I think. Once you break the habit of logging on, then it will quickly fade.

Problem with any MMO is the more you put into it the more you get 'out' of it. Unlike other games which you just consume and use quicker. In addition if you're in a guild you feel you're important and 'needed', whereas you actually, really aren't.

But you have to take that first step and break the mindset.

[RadmaKanow]

If you feel that you are addicted to WoW and that affects your IRL life then take a break. Long one. I don't say uninstall, throw away. WoW gives you much joy but it consumes you in the same time.

had similar for the first 6 months when I started playing. Days and nights all I could think was WoW, my toon, quests... Each day i couldn't log in was a torture. I saw that "lost" xp, dailies not done. But then I went for 2 week holiday. I missed WoW for first 3 days. Then I simply said: enough, you're on vacation. Enjoy. And i did. Stopped thinking about WoW, lost xp/tokens/gold/whatever. When I came back I was complete different person.

Since that day I didn't care that much if I can play or not. I enjoy the time when I play but it's not a big deal when I can't. And it happened like 4 years ago.

So my advice: distance yourself ffrom WoW. I know that it's super cool, awesome and you want more and more. But make a break. And after that break limit yourself if needed. 2 weeks break + 2 weeks of limited playtime and you will see that you can control yourself. And that you play because you like it and enjoy, not because you HAVE TO.

Strong mental attitude. YOU control the game, not otherwise.

[Deleted]

Hello m8,

I'm also a player that enjoys play wow and maybe i did overdo it in the past.
The best way to deal with it is put priorities and schedule.
Setup a schedule for your degree let's say for example that you should put your alarm clock at around 09:00am wake up eat breakfast and study until 15:00. After that you are free to do what ever it please you, play wow, go outside etc.
Basicly the only hour you NEED to be online is for raids. You can do your farming and dailies 2-3 days a week in the afternoon when you don't have anything else to do and just slack watching TV.
Give some time to your friends and go out with them.

When in my guild we finished Ragnaros HC progress and raiding was 1day bussiness i enjoyed very much going out with friends, meet girls and get drunk :P After that i changed guild for a 3days raiding guild which is top100 atm. Now i have really good progress and i NEED to be online for raids only 1 day per week. The rest week i go out with my friends or slack in wow with my in-game friends. Both are fun and nice to have not only one.

Now that you are addicted to WoW you don't consider going out much i know that i've been there i've done that, BUT once you start go out again you'll see that you won't feel the need to play so much WoW.

I wish you all the best with your Degree and your RL!

[Snow White]

Quit obviously. The game sucks now anyway. Just throw all your CDs out and uninstall.