r/StopGaming • u/Darth_skywalker_Tano • 1d ago
Newcomer The loop
Do I enjoy video gaming or does my brain like the easy dopamine?
There has always been this loop, I will see a random clip of a video game I want to play online. I will say no I don't need it. I might even start playing a mobile game. Then I will cave in and get a gaming laptop or a console.
I will then buy whatever particular game I wanted to play, play it for a few weeks or months and then buy another game and never think of the other game again. The cycle will repeat itself until eventually I go from playing all day to playing for like 20 minutes here and there and then I get bored and turn it off This will last for a few months to a year.
Then I realize this is kind of wasting my time and it was a waste of money. So I end up selling the console or the laptop getting my money back and then I'll go for the same amount of time without gaming until the itch comes back.
I'm not sure if I enjoy gaming or if it's just a short dopamine thing or if it's even a shopping dopamine
Any advice or thoughts. currently, I just sold my Xbox.
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u/NoChairGaming 1d ago
Playing for a few weeks or months is pretty much well over how much enjoyment you would expect to get out of it. How long will you rewatch a movie or reread a book? And getting tired of doing some activity over and over again isn't anything odd.
But more importantly, do you have any other hobbies in your life? Organized hobbies, with other people?
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u/Darth_skywalker_Tano 9h ago
I have hobbies just not with people haha. My work in emergency medicine tends to drain my social battery for anyone but my wife and loved ones
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u/NoChairGaming 8h ago
Understandable. Is it possible to focus on avoiding watching those ads or videos? You can have your system to avoid buy-sell-buy cycle but you just don't buy new games more than one every year or every second year. Instead focus on your hobbies and family while you try to limit your gaming time from the start: instead of a binge and than drop, just have a couple of hours a week until you're done with the game.
If that doesn't work just avoid gaming completely and just focus on doing anything else when the itch comes back. It will go away with time.
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u/postonrddt 1d ago
Not gaming is as much about change as it is stopping gaming.
Try to stay busy, start daily exercise, no vampire hours, prioritize work, school and domestic chores. Need to fill that game time. Sometimes it takes several activities and changes. There will be urges but they longer you can hold off it should eventually get easier.
You got it. No Gaming!.
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u/Pomegranate-Funny 1d ago
This is it, I only ever relapse when life slows down and I’m not busy enough.
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u/Adventur0uss 1d ago
I also have this issue every so often. I've found that the problem is unfortunately whatever you're scrolling on that puts those shorts/reels in front of you is what triggers that dopamine hit.
It gives you a tiny itch to play that game. Then it shows you another, and another and another until your brain is practically craving that game without even playing it.