Ask HN: How do you avoid video game addiction? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: How do you avoid video game addiction?

#11

Post by erulabs » Thu, Apr 07, 2022, 4:42 PM UTC

superkuh wrote: post #4

> Gambling disorder is the only behavioral addiction (as opposed to substance use) identified in DSM-5. There is no such thing as video game addition. Video games do not directly hijack the substrates your brain uses for calculating motivation and interest. It's just another stimuli coming in through your normal senses. There is nothing magical, good or bad, about stimuli on screens.

There is nothing magical about other addictive substances either…

I don’t believe anything about the definition of addiction has to do with how it “hijacks your substrate”. As far as I found - OP is describing addiction: an overwhelming desire to do something one knows is harmful, which provides no benefit to one’s life, that one cannot maintain a healthy relationship with.

Re: Ask HN: How do you avoid video game addiction?

#12

Post by tomekw » Thu, Apr 07, 2022, 4:42 PM UTC

superkuh wrote: post #4

> Gambling disorder is the only behavioral addiction (as opposed to substance use) identified in DSM-5. There is no such thing as video game addition. Video games do not directly hijack the substrates your brain uses for calculating motivation and interest. It's just another stimuli coming in through your normal senses. There is nothing magical, good or bad, about stimuli on screens.

Have you tried Escape From Tarkov? :P

Re: Ask HN: How do you avoid video game addiction?

#13

Post by navjack27 » Thu, Apr 07, 2022, 4:42 PM UTC

You can totally have a healthy amount of playing. But it sounds like you're treating the whole endeavor of video gaming as if it is an addiction just from the start which in turn makes it an addicting activity to you. Just the way you phrase the beginning of your story where you would stop when your wife wasn't home but then you didn't care anymore and then you kept doing it when she was home. That's shame or something. It's just an activity it's just a game. Why not just play the game when you want to have fun? Spend time with your wife have fun with your wife make love with your wife if your wife is so important do things with your wife. You have a whole life. Video games are for fun and entertainment.

Re: Ask HN: How do you avoid video game addiction?

#14

Post by lhorie » Thu, Apr 07, 2022, 4:42 PM UTC

AFAIK, video game systems often have parental controls. You could get your wife to set it up. For my kids, we use a combination of parental controls and reminding them to setup and respect their own timers to get them into the habit of being mindful of screen time limits.

My oldest still thinks about and wants to talk about games a lot while not playing, but he's gotten used to video game time limits and can spend his time in other activities without fuss.

Re: Ask HN: How do you avoid video game addiction?

#15

Post by jasfi » Thu, Apr 07, 2022, 4:42 PM UTC

It is possible. Civ 5 had an option to display game-play time. This was all I needed to avoid really long sessions. It would be great if all games had this option, as most games go full-screen obscuring the system clock.

The alternative is to put a physical clock where you can see it by only shifting your eyes.

That said, I don't play games anymore. If I did try them again, I would want a visible clock.

Re: Ask HN: How do you avoid video game addiction?

#16

Post by PawBer » Thu, Apr 07, 2022, 4:43 PM UTC

redsh wrote: post #9

If you really need to stop, use cheats. That will break the dopamine cycle and you’ll be free. Maybe it also works to limit play time to healthy levels. For example, I was once playing quite a bit of WoW, and after I trying it out on an unofficial server where I could teleport anywhere made the game lose all its appeal.

Getting banned from the game because of cheating will also be helpful.

Re: Ask HN: How do you avoid video game addiction?

#17

Post by tenebrisalietum » Thu, Apr 07, 2022, 4:43 PM UTC

I feel like if you put 2000 hours into anything you'll be able to get into flow states with it. Seems like a "right brain" feeling-reaction loop than a "left brain" thinking-evaluating loop.

Find a skill you want to build and track the hours you spend doing it. If you don't think you'll get there after 500, try something else.

Re: Ask HN: How do you avoid video game addiction?

#18

Post by frankbreetz » Thu, Apr 07, 2022, 4:44 PM UTC

I would say you can't play that game anymore. You were obviously getting something out of that game, so you need to find a replacement for that, that is less addicting. You said you like the flow state it gives you so you could focus that energy on something else, a side project, wood working, chess,read a book, or even another video game.

I wouldn't call relaxing a "waste of time", but too much of a good thing can be a bad thing. The amount of physiological warfare waged against our attention span in this age is not something humans are built for, so cut yourself some slack.

Re: Ask HN: How do you avoid video game addiction?

#19

Post by simonebrunozzi » Thu, Apr 07, 2022, 4:44 PM UTC

Which game, by the way?

A friend of mine managed to quit by selling his PC computer. He found that being unable to play was the only way to be sure, and that it's easier to sell a PC than it is to not install the game or not play.

Not sure if this is good advice or not.

Re: Ask HN: How do you avoid video game addiction?

#20

Post by nikolaj » Thu, Apr 07, 2022, 4:44 PM UTC

The cliche responses, but.. Sports offer similar flow states,. but do require some effort to get to that point. Additional bonus is you get fit and meet people as well . Personally I surf, run, bike, but other good ones are rock climbing, martial arts, cross fit .. it's never too late to start (but injuries do start accumulating on some of the more intensive ones after 40)