Until recently, I'd been using games as an escape from responsibilities and emotions for about three decades, much like my father used alcohol up until his deat

Until recently, I'd been using games as an escape from responsibilities and emotions for about three decades, much like my father used alcohol up until his death. I finally "got clean" from videogames and it feels so good, so empowering, to be sloughing off that old skin. Becoming a parent helped me grow up and get out of my head more, and videogames got in the way of that growth. They were a holding pattern, a coping mechanism, and it feels great to finally be back down to earth. I now make more time to read some of the books I see recommended here, to get better sleep (quitting all caffeine helps with that, too), and to spend more attentive time with my child, spouse, friends, and neighbors. Articles like this are encouraging, too, for the awareness they can raise. Not everyone has a general or specific gambling problem (I'm so turned off by casinos, but I did give Blizzard a significant portion of my income in exchange for chances at dopamine hits before I swore off all their games), but for some it can be a life-consuming challenge, and I want there to be help easily available for anyone who gets mired in that illusion.