Do you need video game addiction help? If so, help is available, but it’s not the kind of help you’re thinking of. You can’t go to a local addiction help center for video game enthusiasts. Not yet, anyway. That said, there is a way to help yourself. The key phrase is ‘help yourself.’ While this might sound irritating, that’s only because you know it’s the only answer. I know because I’ve been there. I have mild arthritis in my right hand from playing endless hours of video games for three decades.  Luckily, I eventually got the video game addiction help that I needed to break free.

If you’re reading this, then you’ve already taken the first step. Many people don’t realize they have a problem. It’s not until their social, family and career lives are destroyed before they start to think about quitting. If they’re lucky enough to have a good friend, that friend might drop a hint as well.

Solving your video game addiction is like solving any other addiction problem. If you want your solution to last, you must replace a bad habit with a good one. Why do you think alcoholics go to Alcoholics Anonymous? It’s not really to sit around and talk about their problems. It’s to replace the habit of drinking with the habit of meeting in a group with people that have similar problems. Since this option isn’t available for addicted gamers, it’s highly recommended that you replace your bad habit with some form of exercise. This doesn’t mean you have to go to the gym and lift ridiculous amounts of weight or run a marathon. It could be something as simple as going for a daily walk, hiking, riding a bike, kayaking, joining a volleyball or softball team, etc. There are so many options out there. You can usually find activity groups in your area online. Most people who join are just like you. They’re looking for something new.

The most important thing to remember is that video games are artificial. Life is real. Don’t waste the precious time you have on this Earth locked into an artificial world.