#1
He was failing college classes, skipping out on parties and hanging out with friends and it completely took over his life.
That is, until my friends and I sat him down and literally had an intervention with him about how we never see him anymore and he broke down and admitted he was completely addicted.
We came up with a system where he would turn his controllers over to us and we would let him have them only when he proved he turned his assignments in. Pretty soon, he was gaming less and less and ended up going to med school.
He’s now a doctor with a happy family and he still will bring up how thankful he is that he had friends that had his back instead of just letting him “do his hobby”
Video game addiction is real guys.
#2
#3
We might think that since these are not illegal substances, they can't be that harmful. However, that's not the whole truth, as some can actually be damaging without people even realizing it. That's how tricky the human psyche is, isn't it? To get a deeper understanding of what motivates such a dependency, Bored Panda interviewed a counselor and psychology professor, Eden Lobo.
She believes that sometimes, there's a fine line between a hobby and dependency, as the former can quickly turn into the latter. She stated that a hobby is something folks do for fun, for instance, shopping. "But when the fun starts running the show, you can’t stop thinking about it. You do it even when it’s messing up your life, and you get cranky or restless if you can’t," she added.
#4
Edit - wow, I never expected my little post there about my aunt to have so many up votes. I feel I need to add to the story about her.
Truly, everyone loved my auntie very much, she was a kind woman who made people laugh with her joy and happiness, she had a unique way of talking to you and making you feel warm inside. She had coloured blue/pink/red short, spiky hair, always had the coolest prints on like leopard blouses and her nails intricately painted. I always loved seeing her and sadly she died too young, only in her late 50s.
She very much was into QVC and she would also go into thrift stores in our local town coming home with bags of things. Good things, good quality things, but too much. No one needs 200+ handbags for instance.
I miss her everyday.
#5
I work with people who have severe mental health conditions, including addictions of every kind. I had one client who was bright and had a quick, biting sense of humor. I know we aren't supposed to have "favorites", but she absolutely was one of mine.
She also had zero ability to regulate her reactions to negative emotions/ feelings.
If something upset her, she would light herself on fire. She never wanted to. And it was the only thing that would alleviate her emotional agony.
Whenever she is hospitalized for this (which is often, and for months at a time) and therefore unable to have a lighter or matches, she will bash her head on a wall.
Not on a random spot on a wall, mind you. On a corner. Every time. To the point where she has a permanent deep scar on her forehead which breaks open every week. Plus brain damage from the constant concussions she is giving herself.
Rational her does not want to do this. She knows it's destroying her brain and devastating her family. Emotionally dysregulated her absolutely cannot stop herself.
#6
Our expert also stressed that a lot of dependencies are basically our brains looking for a quick emotional snack. She further elaborated that they give us that “I belong” feeling from chatting or sharing, a little ego boost from likes and comments, and a nice escape hatch when life feels stressful or boring.
Games, online shopping, endless scrolling, they can all make us feel like we’re achieving something or connecting with others, even if we haven’t left the couch, she added.
"The tricky part is, these digital hits can feel just as satisfying (or more!) than real-life interactions, so our brains keep coming back for more. It’s comfort, connection, and confidence all rolled into one, just in a pixelated package that’s a little too easy to overuse," Prof. Lobo added.
#7
These people's dysmorphia is so bad that they can never be happy with their own appearance, and what's mad to me is how normalised it is among teenagers and twentysomethings. My mother gets her nails done from a 25-year-old guy who said he'd had 'preventative botox' to pre-empt wrinkles. And supposedly Jenna Ortega has had about seven procedures done and she's only 22.
#8
Only bring cash.
Leave a $50 bill underneath a rock at the outskirts of Vegas for gas money to get her home.
#9
"When we lean too hard on such 'habits', whether it’s gaming, shopping, gambling, binge-watching, or something else, it can slowly start messing with our heads in ways we don’t notice right away. You might feel more anxious for no clear reason, find it harder to focus, and suddenly, everyday stuff just doesn’t feel as rewarding."
"That little 'buzz' you used to get from hanging out with friends or finishing a project starts getting replaced by the quick hit from your go-to habit," Prof. Lobo narrated. She believes that on the emotional side, these patterns can make people a bit more moody or irritable, and before they know it, they’re relying on the behavior just to feel okay.
She further stressed that time spent on the habit starts eating away at time spent with real-life people or activities. "You might skip gatherings, drift away from close friends, or find yourself clashing with family over it. Over time, the thing that once felt like a fun escape can end up leaving you more isolated, stressed, and disconnected from the people and experiences that actually bring lasting joy," she added.
#10
#12
We also conversed with Prof. Lobo about the early warning signs of such unhealthy obsessions. She stated that the signs are less about how much time you spend on something and more about how it’s starting to shape your life. As per her, one big red flag is loss of control: you tell yourself you’ll stop after 'just one more' episode, game, or purchase, but somehow hours disappear.
Another one that she spoke about is neglecting responsibilities: work, school, chores, or self-care start slipping because the habit keeps taking priority.
"There's also emotional dependency: you turn to the habit every time you’re stressed, bored, or upset. You might feel restless or irritable when you can’t do it, or find yourself hiding the amount of time or money you’ve spent from others. And then there’s loss of interest in other activities: when the things you used to enjoy feel dull compared to the rush of your chosen habit," she concluded.
#15
Lastly, Prof. Lobo cautioned, "When it starts crowding out the rest of your life, that’s when it’s time to pay attention." I think those are some pretty wise words because it's so easy to slip into the chaos of unhealthy obsession, right?
Well, folks, that's it from our end for today. Now, you can lazily scroll through the remaining list. Also, if you know any other such dependencies, feel free to share them in the comments!
#18
#20
