Lost Boys | Gaming Addiction Documentary | CTV W5

As the pandemic keeps people indoors, children and youth are turning to video games at an alarming rate. Sometimes with grave consequences. W5 investigates how much is too much?
Disclaimer: This video is posted with permission by CTV W5.
Original: • W5: What happens when ...
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W5 is Canada’s most-watched investigative, current affairs and documentary program. Tackling major stories and investigations W5 is in its 51st season.

[@GameQuitters]

📞 ✅ 👉🏻 Ready to get gaming under control in your family? Apply for a Gameplan call: calendly.com/d/dqg-mxg-gdd

[@joaonunes6747]

I can relate a lot to Jake. I was skipping college classes to play games, I was falling deeper into depression, had almost no social life whatsoever, and eventually I started making plans to commit suicide. I can relate to Jake because I also had the support of my mother, she gave me all the help I needed, and when she couldn't help, she found those that could. Right now, I'm almost three months clean, in a process that started July of last year. If it wasn't for my mother, I would be dead.

[@benkeim7294]

Bro that’s called depression not video games. You got some underlying issues my guy, you can play video games but go get some help rather than listening to this bullshit.

[@ellemcfadyen3500]

@@benkeim7294 ben you don't get it, video games is literally a drug. It takes control of ones life because of the dopamine hits and because of the time invested creates friends and this over-reliance to escape or get a sense of achievement. Please dont talk about things you dont understand. Depression can come from anywhere. Its not something that usually just happens like that. Video games are good until they take control and after that they are hard to put back into a healthy relationship with

[@CircumcisionIsChildAbuse]

So why was your mother allowing you to do nothing but play video games for your entire life if she was so supportive? Sounds like your mother was whats known in psychology as, complacent aka permissive. Which is tantamount to neglect. It's amazing how many of these males were raised by SINGLE mothers. Shocker.

[@CassiusClam]

I'm just glad you're still with us bro. Congratulations on beating the addiction. God bless. ❤

[@JoyJoyJ0yJoyJ0y]

Divorcing my husband because he plays video games for 10 to 12 hours per day, longer on the weekends. I've asked him to get therapy and even referred him to GameStoppers. But he refuses to stop. So I'm done with our marriage. I've tried for 3 years to get him to stop. If someone doesn't want to help themselves then what can you do. It's very sad. He's 33 and has no life and now has lost his wife because he would rather play video games for the majority of his day.

[@GameQuitters]

hi Joy so sorry to hear that, it doesn't get nearly enough attention. I have an article about husband's struggling and option to book a call if you want to explore how to get him more help: gamequitters.com/husband-addicted-to-video-games/

[@AsherindollLand]

Idk u but i hope you've found a man that deserves u

[@MSDGAMEZ]

Maybe you should have played video games with him

[@vidyamanthravadi6679]

@@MSDGAMEZ that is the most idiotic thing to say , so the couple will collectively fry their brains 😢

[@ImmortalArch7]

That’s why I’m single. Left my gf bc I knew I couldn’t give her all my attention. For some of us it’s best to stay single. I know it can be hard to understand, but video games are so much more than JUST a game.

[@tabbykat8564]

i don't know how i came across this video considering i never touched a video game in my life. however, i was a heroin addict for years and it's alarming how many parallels there are between my story and someone like jake's. i remember calling my mom in tears while withdrawing on the floor of my then-boyfriends apartment. it was such a difficult moment for the both of us. i feel like a lot of people will be quick to criticize the concept of "gaming addiction," either because they want to deflect from their own problem or because they personally do not share the same experience. addiction is about the symptoms, not the substance or behavior itself. my heart goes out to these addicts. please seek whatever support you need, there is a better life available to you.

[@supinthiam5741]

This gonna be a epidemic once VR fully rolls out and is integrated in society

[@benawdawd6591]

It already is an epidemic

[@GameQuitters]

Ready Player One 👀 the only thing I think holding us back from living in a metaverse is being able to see our character "on the internet" in 3rd person.

[@sillyfella2009]

@@benawdawd6591 how though?

[@benkeim7294]

@@benawdawd6591 how? These are rare cases. I like most people play games, have excellent grades, play sports and play instruments. It’s called play in the weekends. This is just bs pushed by the media that for whatever reason decided it doesn’t like video games. I get that these people exist but it is very rare. They are talking about gaming like it’s fucking opioids. Very big difference I think. The people like this have underlying issues like depression or mental disorders the problem isn’t gaming open your eyes. Address the real issue, mental health.

[@Shinobi33]

Yep. Just like Ready Player One. But a lot darker

[@patrickdallaire5972]

The gamequitters community, the forum and discord server, has been helpful. A lot of the people in my life, be they ignorant or in denial, don't understand how difficult it is for me to abstain from gaming. The gamequitters community does, no doubt about it. I have recieved nothing but compassion and encouragement, and even had the chance to provide some myself from time to time. It's not the 1 thing that replaces all the time I spent gaming (and it shouldn't be) but it is part of it. Take care folks. Thanks for reading.

[@GameQuitters]

So happy to hear that 🙌🏼🙌🏼

[@Triplethreetwo]

👍💪

[@CircumcisionIsChildAbuse]

Can you explain why it is that you were immersed into video games to begin with? Blaming the form of escape, and not the reason for escaping, is like blaming the tiger, not the guy dancing around with raw meat for the attack. There is a much higher majority of gamers, who don't have these issues, than do, so what is it about certain TYPES of people and certain TYPES of families that seem to make video game addiction more common? I found this video utterly dishonest. It failed to actually highlight the quality of life of these individuals and how utterly unprepared they were for life as a result of complascent parenting and/or neglectful/abusive upbringing that shoved them into the hands of video games. So of course, when you're thrust into a world unprepared, this is the consequences. It's utterly reprehensable this constant narrative of blaming video games for being "addictive" when the same can be said about literally EVERYTHING. The ENTIRE point of media, be it movies, video games, cinema, is to get people paying money. So it's hardly like administering cocaine to children, because that dependency doesn't start, unless its unrestricted, unmoderated, as a result of single MOTHERS (clearly from the video) who allowed their children to be raised on video games at the sake of their general wellbeing and the convenience of not having to raise them due to all sorts of reasons be it having to work, or being simply an irresponsible parent. Did anyone NOT notice how none of these mothers took personal responsibility? They blamed the game companies. How utterly pathetic and dishonest. Video games aren't causing males to kill themselves. Video games arent destroying social skills and function, they NEVER HAD IT TO BEGIN WITH! NO ONE TEACHES ANYONE THIS STUFF ANYMORE! So stop blaming anyone but yourselves. Chances are, you were bad parents. Learn from it and stop trying to blame the world for your incompetence.

[@pngproductions8529]

@@CircumcisionIsChildAbuse usually most are neglected, misfits( outcast) on the spectrum, and unable to find suitable emotional support in Rl so they find their fixes online.

[@CircumcisionIsChildAbuse]

@@pngproductions8529 precisely, yet this entire video did nothing but vilify game companies for marketing successful games as if they're drug dealers. Where the personal accountability? None of these parents want to admit their own failure so they blame others.

[@christianamericandominican2470]

Jake's story was so heart warming. Gosh his Mom, what an amazing woman. What a blessing she is to Jake. I don't know anything about Gaming, or the addiction, but I pray everyone who has been affected by this much prayer and blessings in their recovery.

[@TheMadRatKing]

I'm struggling with getting anything done because of how much time I put into all sorts of games- PC, console, whatever. I really need to break away from this because it's been keeping me up consistently until 4 AM, I've been neglecting doing a bunch of necessary tasks, and I've been procrastinating horribly on my schoolwork. College isn't going very well for me because of this. Seems like this is a good place to start.

[@maybemay96]

How are you doing?

[@TheMadRatKing]

@@maybemay96 still struggling to face the music but im making steps with some help

[@VEGANzUmebies]

This needs more views! This channel needs more subscribers as well. I believe video game addiction to most is not taken seriously enough.

[@GameQuitters]

thanks for watching - i agree xd

[@CircumcisionIsChildAbuse]

@@GameQuitters disagree, its shifting the blame of raising children, to corporations. Which is the most pathetic thing I've ever seen.

[@unattendedcandle]

Wow thanks you for this Cam. Quitting is liberating.

[@Fershizzal]

I've been addicted since i was 13, back in 2001 when i discovered Runescape, i spent 10 years of my life playing. My character no longer exist anymore, so what was it all worth in the end? Video game addiction is a drug. You'll continue playing even though you can see how it's ruining your life, but anything to grind for exp and higher levels..

[@muzisensei3493]

Most guys play games all day because nobody cares about what they feel. They also are introverts who don’t want to drink or party, how strange that’s it’s normal to have drunks all over but not gamers. Nobody does these activities for long because it’s great, it’s cause there’s nothing else out there for them.

[@darrenwastestime]

Thankfully my computer is too decrepit to play interesting games anymore

[@supinthiam5741]

😆😆😆. Brokenness can actually save yur life in this case

[@GameQuitters]

lol same

[@sillyfella2009]

Half Life 1 and 2 are interesting,Portal 1 and 2 are interesting and those can run on two dead batteries and a can of AXE

[@m.oshadow2350]

@@sillyfella2009lol those some ancient games

[@saurabhkarki3504]

I am 4 months+ away from playing any type of video games but still waste a lot of time watching esports, especially CSGO tournament and vhess related videos. This is the longest I haven't played video games and I have been learning language, doing relatively better in college, learnt touch typing and have feel better overtime but still, I waste a lot of time watching video games instead of playing and I simply can't quit because If I quit twitch, I somehow search it in YT and watch, update with results via google etc. I haven't subbed to anything but I still search it deliberately because I can't control my urges. I find it harder than quitting playing games and I would like a video on how to quit watching as well because I think there are someone out there struggling like me as well once they quit gaming. I want to take gaming/watching gaming content entirely out of my life. And yes, many thanks to you that I am away from gaming since April 20th and counting. :))

[@victhom19]

I’m a gamer but I know when to stop. I might play for a couple of hours a day and I know when to say that’s it, take a break. Luckily I don’t play any MMO’s and online games much so I can just focus on a single player experience and go at my own pace.

[@trevorfranks69]

I'm steadily learning to be a gamedev, trying to create something myself instead of just consuming, and I began to appreciate more hidden single player games out there. I enjoy games as the highest form of art if it has both the substance and style in it. It's like watching a good movie every once in a while. Online multiplayer games, on the other hand, are mind numbing and will always makes you addicted with the endless grind. Thank God I have quit playing online games since 2019. 2020 has been a great eye opener.

[@GameQuitters]

glad you are doing better!

[@sillyfella2009]

Great!

[@sillyfella2009]

@Sergi SzT so stop reading 90% of books. They aren't real. And you can kiss goodbye to movies and tv shows. Now you can watch people kick a ball for an hour and a half and old people yelling at each other because of differing opinions

[@sillyfella2009]

@Sergi SzT whats your definition of useless? Something that wont help you in life? Not everything needs to be intelligent or thought provoking

[@sillyfella2009]

@Sergi SzT not everything needs to help you in the moment. Thats why comedies exist. Thats why games exist

[@EverythingGeek]

I see so many parents that say they wish their kids would go outside and play instead of gaming but then why do most parents stay inside themselves? If outside is so much fun then why when they have days off they sit and watch tv all day?

[@GameQuitters]

Think we all need to get outside more 🤝

[@Gerwulf97]

Yeah, they started it with TV, but we have to end it.

[@Titan-5858]

I totally say the same thing! My parents always would say go outside but they were the worst example of what a proper parent should be

[@iban48]

I've been spiraling for the last 10 years, at least, but god I just can't stop and don't want to... I feel guilty for that.

[@GameQuitters]

come join us on the forums or discord, the extra support will help a lot: forum.gamequitters.com discord.gg/gamequitters

[@emilymorris8957]

I moved from the city into the country with my 9 year old. He rides his bike around the woods and on the tiny grassy airport most of the time. Read with your kids. Play with them, plant vegetables and take walks. Better not to start gaming. I explain screen addiction to my son all the time whether is movies, cartoons etc.

[@protoolsfanatic7276]

Its like that old saying " turn up the heat slow enough youll never know your being boiled" or something like that. I played my first video game in 1998 called delta force extreme around a hour a day. Slowly as time went on and games got more graghically advanced i would play 2-3-4 + hours a day after work. By 2022 it was work,sleep, spend 5 minutes with wife,video games. I watch these videos when i get the urge to play. It helps thanks.

[@anires1195]

Thank you for this.

[@GameQuitters]

thanks!!

[@marlonbravo9466]

Well done, Cam! Keep up the great work you do for the world. Thanks for posting this documentary! Really helps put things into perspective. 👍

[@GameQuitters]

Thank you! Will do!

[@kenrock2]

Never I have seen someone who is addicted as those who are addicted in gambling. I'm so glad the boy who has support from his mom to recover him along his journey

[@nathanericschwabenland88888]

There needs to be a public service special about gamer addiction one of these days

[@nathanericschwabenland88888]

Remember no to drugs well say no to games

[@nathanericschwabenland88888]

Marketed to children these days like in the 1990s ad some days

[@GameQuitters]

agreed

[@DanTheHideousLoner]

I used to spend lots of time on one multiplayer game in my mid teens to early twenties but I've never been able to tell if it was addiction or me simply avoiding / escaping the real world in the search for similar minded people who couldn't possibly judge me for my appearance, social issues, lack of abilities, struggles etc because I hid all of that for a long while. The anonymity of the games made things easier too. The trouble for me in the online sense was self-doubt and confidence issues which creep into everything so my negative destructive mindset and childish behaviours became more erratic as time went by. I never had the courage to do what most people do though like bouncing around from one multiplayer title to the next, party chatting with comms, inviting people to other co-op / multiplayer experiences, merging alias with real world with that tie-in between game and social media. In more recent times if I'm in the right mood I can start a fresh singleplayer game from time to time but they quickly become a chore for me and only ever serve as a way to pass time. So when I take a look at all the online based or even real world addictions I don't feel I suffer from any of them alcoholism, gambling, games, social media etc. I even include the internet and PC as a whole in that. I spend most of my time on it but that's because it's all I have to divert and distract my mind from all the negative thoughts and boredom. Anxiety, depression, low self-esteem and confidence as well as having no interests, passions, purpose, skills etc have always been my major problems in life. Of course I'm also very lonely and isolated and hate being here. Nothing could possibly make me happy or begin to enjoy life at this point. I'm just a zombie at a screen with no value and a waste of space.

[@eml3077]

Seems like you're determined to stop gaming *hugs* I hope you find the help you need

[@modifyremusic]

wow I appreciate this being shared....I think the worst games are the shooters because they really mess with your mind....especially when you are staying up all night destroying your life in the process. It is really worrying that the gen z kids are growing up receiving their dopamine from killing in video games. In a lot of shooters, it says "suicide" on the screen when you accidently take yourself out....and people are so disconnected, they tell other people to kill themselves when they make one mistake in the game, because it messes with their dopamine release

[@cynically_insane]

U have to be a freak to do such shit.

[@sebastianradlmeier8922]

Video game addiction definitely is a real problem. Shooter games themselves though aren't. I have never heard of video game violence itself leading to violence in real life.

[@modifyremusic]

@@sebastianradlmeier8922 because you’ve never heard about it means it must not be true right? No

[@modifyremusic]

@@sebastianradlmeier8922 also please explain how reliving killing over and over in a game is good for a person to experience. I'm not talking about cartoons. I'm talking about GTA and Call of Duty...realism...just think when this gets to VR haptic suit level

[@sebastianradlmeier8922]

@@modifyremusic I've played lots of video games including GTA and CoD, my friends, my relatives, etc too. It still are only video games, it's not real life. Never have I experienced the urge to go out and hurt people because of video games, neither have people I know. There's nothing for me to disprove. How should I prove that it doesn't lead to violence if you haven't proven your thinking first. I was somewhat if an addict myself. It is extremely difficult to get away from video games. So yes, video games can be very harmful, but not in the ways you described.

[@Typh00nLOL]

Honestly I’m definetly around the addict status but I don’t want to quit gaming entirely because it is fun and something I do genuinely enjoy beyond doing it out of compulsions/“nothing better to do”

[@masterbaiter7891]

Good luck, it's hard to balance it but it will work.

[@MissAmazanda]

There is sure a lot of addictions out there, gambling addiction, internet addiction, drug addiction, alcohol addiction, porn addiction, gaming addiction....be careful!

[@kaizersouza1562]

Thank you W5 for raising this addiction awareness. Please consider doing a porn addiction awareness documentary as well.

[@bl7971]

My brother is like jake and we feel so lost. His depression without the games is so bad

[@degeneratemii9032]

I been trying to quit gaming on and off for years.. I sell my consoles for a couple of months then buy a new console 6 or 12 months later been like this for years.. I need a rehab center

[@masterbaiter7891]

Recently I found that there's an Anime adiction. Most gamers watch anime and I don't know if this is better than gaming.

[@GameQuitters]

thanks for sharing got an article on that here: gamequitters.com/addicted-to-anime-manga/

[@Shinobi33]

My apartment looks like a GameStop storage room. But the funny thing is when I'm around people I don't wanna play games. I wanna socialize, joke, and do sports and other activities. Odd

[@andrew1532]

Just destroyed age of mythology. That was huge step.

[@terkelalgevind529]

I am 38. I started gaming at 17 and in average since then I have played around 6 hours average each day, every day of the week. Long story short. Recently I saw my 3 nephews, 5 to 11 year old's, gaming mouth breathing NOT looking happy, looking lethargic and annoyed.. and all the knowledge about Dissociative mental disorders that can easily be caused by gaming clicked like a bolt of lightning! :( I have cried so many times thinking about all of those 100 of thousands hours I have wasted in my addiction to MMO´s and RTS! I have cried so many times thinking about what damage the availability of gaming and tiktok will do to my nephews. My family is not aware. In Denmark we are slowly catching up to USA with the gaming mental disorder thing. But very slowly. I have not gamed a single minute since Sunday 1 am where I went to bed after an 9 hours age of empires 2 defenite edition spree... (I won all games but one, 14 games total). Woop ti doo... So far I have no craving as I am at the same time working with my mental issue because I was fired October 2021 for to large sick leave %. I am forced kind of to meet at a government activity. Quickcare. Here I meet 3 times a week to work out for up to 2 hours each time, then there is a class or two after where we are taught about self awareness, mindfulness, and everyday mastery. We also walk 2 times a week and talk about whatever... I feel a happynes I have not felt for 20 years or so often now and I also cry alot as said... It is so massively important we change how society works. We cannot find happiness in consuming products. We cannot. But the money is the power; maybe the collapse that is coming is GOOD. Good on the long run. But how do we stop it from reemerging after a period of easy times.

[@c_n_b]

Why is it a waste? Non-gamers spend their free time watching TV or reading books. At least gaming is interactive, and you actually have some effect on what happens on the screen!

[@terkelalgevind529]

@@c_n_b Reading books is much better then the temporary learning curve in 99% of games, which is very easy to learn, in books you train your attention span; in gaming you do the opposite. In average, based on the top 20 most popular games.

[@terkelalgevind529]

Also gaming subvert a mans drive big time... You play(WORK) 4 to 8 hours in WoW or Fortnite, for example, to archieve greatness! At the same time your prefrontal cortex is battling your reptile amygdala and you become sick, depressed and so on.... Because what is the average Joe Gamer archieving in real life? EArning a poor mans wage working 40 hours, making another group of men stinking rich, to get home and game to show some kind of solidary initiative? Man... It is so sad.

[@goblininablackdress]

I am glad you have found a way to live a real life, instead of a virtual one. Of course you grieve the years lost, but try to focus on the years still ahead. Find something that gives you joy, whatever that may be. Sports, reading, cooking, running a doggy day care, painting, gardening... there’s something for everyone.

[@emmajane646]

Terkel .. start reading the Bible. It will change your life. Start with the Book Ecclesiastes. It is absolutely life changing

[@tinkachu8743]

I'm so jealous of Jake. I wish I had a loving supportive family like that.

[@rokljhui864]

Synopsis: Mother lets Kid play computer games all the time, then blames the game.

[@romasliv]

Single moms need to work all days, don't have anyone to help her raise children, absent father, so there's a lot of shared fault here

[@samuelevander9823]

This is especially painful to me & goes beyond a simple addiction. I'm a millenial turning my life around & it's especially tough because my life purpose & identity was tied to becoming an artist, then a game developer. I grew up with video games, VHS tapes, computers, you name it. Wasted my youth playing them. My passions giving me purpose along the way. I had an absent father & basically raised by my mom. My parents used games to sorta shirk their duties in parenting. I was hooked at such a young age. I was also diagnosed with ADD & mild aspergers (I'm high-functioning). Taking concerta to focus my dopamine deprived brain. Now that therapy, meds & healthy dose of podcasts & just finally maturing at a ripe age of 30, all these things have done a number on me. I've reflected & having to confront the fact that my passions are largely based on vicarious living = vanity. Art, games, literature.... All that feels so hollow now. Entertainment, merely breads & circuses. I have no identity outside of these things. I feel empty. All those sacrifices & ending up alone. All for nothing.

[@sandiebeach0926]

This has destroyed my marriage. We are on the brink of divorce we have lived separately for over a year now. He still plays. He had an emotional affair on call of duty.

[@monkey-bananas2890]

Sorry to hear that, I fear my brother is doing the same with his wife. I am fighting and have made great strides to get rid of gaming in my life. For me and my girlfriend. Though my issues is that my gaming "friends" keep sucking me in to play a bit. It sounds like y'all separated, I hope you find someone new who has never picked up a controller 🙏

[@sarahkercheval8964]

I’m so sorry 😢it’s a true addiction like heroin and it’s just so sad to watch most of society’s young men fall prey to these companies drive for profits

[@nftgamer5895]

how much is too much honestly as you mentioned depends on the person and the person has to figure it out...

[@SaR0135]

Thank you 👍❤️😊

[@GameQuitters]

Welcome 😊

[@cleverhype]

That's such a cool mom for Jake!

[@GameQuitters]

Right!?

[@NigelJackson]

I've never felt the slightest draw toward gaming but have seen family members literally wasting years sat in a basement gaming. We are all vulnerable to addictive behaviours and compulsions that can consume our souls...

[@CeeWorld69]

19:34 “He’s living on his own as a software engineer…but when the pandemic hit, he was isolated….” As IF he wasn’t already isolated living alone as a software engineer 😂🤣. The pandemic literally changed nothing for someone already isolated 😂😂🤣

[@pdkpropertyexperts]

Nah without the pandemic we could go to a store. Go to a reastauraunt, go to the gym. Gp to the office. All dostractions. Then we are forced to stay home. I started drinking again and thank god i quit jan 11th 2021 again. It is amazing how damaging the lockdown was.

[@ninavanstaden8899]

So preventing kids from starting in the first place makes sense to me

[@CircumcisionIsChildAbuse]

Two Types of Parenting I keep seeing here: Permissive Parenting and Neglectful Parenting Permissive Parenting involves not setting limits for your children, allowing them to do whatever they want. Did anyone notice the lack of fathers in these childrens lives? I did. So when loving, compassionate mom doesn't set limits and helps guide their MALE offspring into the world, guess what happens? They collapse, unprepared, and turn to the ONLY source of guidance they ever had growing up, video games. Some of the negative consequences of permissive parenting: children raised by parents with this style tend to grow up without a strong sense of self-discipline. They may be more unruly in school due to the lack of boundaries in the home and may be less academically motivated than many of their peers. Neglectful Parenting: Aka uninvolved Parenting: Signs of neglect poor appearance and hygiene. being smelly or dirty. being hungry or not given money for food. ... health and development problems. housing and family issues. living in an unsuitable home environment, such as having no heating, no food, etc. change in behaviour. becoming clingy, depressed, suicidal. NOTICE ANY SIMILARITIES between THIS and the boys in the video? The most cowardly thing I've seen, are parents who raised dysfunctional children, trying to shift blame for their own failure, onto corporations as if its their responsibility to raise healthy, competent, functional children with their products. GROW UP, cause clearly your children didn't. I WAS raised on video games since I was 7, my single mother worked non-stop, permissive and neglectful, and guess what THIS IS WHAT happens. So stop trying to blame the cause of mental illness on the form of escape being exploited and blame the only person there is to blame, the person whos ONLY JOB was to raise their children.

[@romasliv]

I agree with you, itw not the only children fault, we not like animals that can growa and are independent on their own, we need parents to guide us, but we experiencing a grave crisis in families

[@russiantroubleyakutsk1612]

Working in IT has ruined my love for video games :(

[@eyobmelkamu8702]

Thank you

[@GameQuitters]

thanks for watching :)

[@ronniehammersley5164]

I am here trying to help my son. It’s very difficult, nothing motivates him but Xbox.

[@scorelineupdate129]

how old your son 12 real gamers play PC

[@ajlived6034]

My son is addicted. He is 14, and i don’t know what to do. His dad and i live separately, and i wont get support on this issue. Please help me know what to do. My older kids in college didn’t grow up like this and are happy and adjusted.

[@Titan-5858]

Remove the problem. Period. You are the parent.

[@POSthermalPaper]

Watching this and now there is an ad for a video game!

[@suratvita]

I quit gaming and now i only play on the weekends. when i was still addicted to gaming i never thought i could do this, but i did it. (10 year old hnf using my mom's account.

[@rationalistfaith]

Cut porn Cut drugs and alcohol Game addiction won’t be as prevalent. While you’re at it consider spirituality to realize that life itself is the best game.

[@AtTheEnd1000]

After 3 months of not playing, it's back in full swing...

[@GameQuitters]

what happened

[@missfeliss3628]

i just think no adult should play video games....no kid should either lol.. theres just something incredibly deviant or unhealthy seeming about it...

[@portion6893]

" you needed a babysitter essentially" What kind of condeacending question is that.

[@GabrielofAdonai]

I have finally quite internet porn, 187 days clean from that vice. and i finally sold my Xbox Series S. Im 31 now and i was feeling signs from God that it was time to man up. now i can focus on my Woman, dogs, career, and training martial arts and plyometrics at the gym. i pray and study scripture, meditate, and train with blades, traditional and icepick style. why play street fighter when i can become street fighter. We can do this bois, and girls. God bless you all for reading my comment.

[@sarahkercheval8964]

I’m so happy for you. You took a huge step and you’ll be repaid for it ❤

[@BrandyTexas214]

My husband is almost 40. This is ruining my marriage

[@derontanzil6939]

tbh my goal is to game but not game to the point where its just bad i think gaming is good till a certaint point because when its interfering with youre work then its terrible but if its a free time where you can do whatever you want then gaming wgile taking breaks every 2 hours is a nice way to pass the time

[@primtaketv2338]

Many people around the world are engaged in (video) gaming and gambling behaviours ,which are recognized as addictive behaviours, but usually do not result in any significant health consequences. However, a small proportion of people engaged in such behaviours may develop disorders due to addictive behaviours associated with functional impairment or distress. Video gaming is highly prevalent in modern culture, particularly among young people, and a healthy hobby for most users. However, in recent years there has been increasing global recognition among public health professionals and academics that particular patterns of video gaming may lead to marked impairment in personal, family, social, educational, occupational or other important areas of functioning and psychological distress for a significant minority of players. People who partake in gaming should be alert to the amount of time they spend on gaming activities, particularly when it is to the exclusion of other daily activities, as well as to any changes in their physical or psychological health and social functioning that could be attributed to their pattern of gaming behaviour. Gambling in many countries and jurisdictions is considered a form of entertainment, characterized by betting/wagering mechanics and monetization features. Like gaming, repetitive gambling behaviour can potentially lead to gambling disorder associated with distress or impairment. In recent years, there has been an increasing convergence between gaming and gambling on various platforms, significantly aided by the Internet. This convergence may give rise to migration from games to gambling and co- occurrence of the two disorders.

[@ShadeofGaz]

If your comfortable playing all night into the morning hours with your significant other in the bedroom. They will think your crazy. Which you are. Like me. I've lost partners from video games. I broke my foot in October and played 2 days straight yesterday and the day before. I have a problem and I'm trying to stop it. I've watching these videos and they've been enlightening. Games are made to addicting. The time you spend on a game especially live service you're the product.

[@PEAKPOT778]

I am struggling with gaminh addiction thay my performance at school has dropped i usually feel lazy and unmotivated to do anything , i have a terrible sleep cycle.

[@ShortHistory33]

Stop them before it’s too late. Don’t make the same mistakes I did

[@briannamiia]

Me personally I game up to 15 hours a day. I’m 19 yrs old. I should b in college but I’d rather be a streamer. Sometimes it hurts to think about the life I could’ve had….if I wasn’t so adamant about my “gaming career” I read in another comment that copious gaming could also just be trying to escape from reality. And I agree with that. But I doubt I’ll ever change for now. I wanna be a league player, go pro, have everyone know me. Be famous cool and everything else. It’s like this dream I’ve always had that I can’t let go of…..I’m sure a lot of gamers can say the same. And as someone also said when vr becomes mainstream I’m sure gaming addicts will be all over. What a world we live in.

[@dwex8596]

im in the same situation but worse, but the worst part is i don't have as caring parents as he do. I have narcisstic parents who simply don't care give a fck that i have no life no social circle no job and suicidal.

[@stimmymcgotems408]

Sorry to heard this. I don’t have much support from my family but I’ve been able to find support in recovery programs. ❤️

[@m.oshadow2350]

im not addcted to gaming , i spend an hour a week , sometimes a month pass by and i don't game at all , but im hoping to quit gaming for good .

[@GameQuitters]

good luck

[@isabellaw.6330]

serous question then: Why do you feel the need to quit then if gaming doesn' impact your life at all?

[@c_n_b]

That doesn't make any sense.

[@mikemayo4812]

Not necessary if gaming isn't a problem for you. Not everyone who drinks a beer becomes an alcoholic.

[@nathanericschwabenland88888]

The same thing happened to me with Pokémon or at least super Mario land

[@nathanericschwabenland88888]

Though not as much as the person in this video

[@nathanericschwabenland88888]

I am an anime addict

[@GameQuitters]

thx for watching

[@soteful9949]

The most I have put into one game was 1770 hours over a 3 year period. To some people that is nothing.

[@But_WhatIf]

I got 4200 in 9 years

[@soteful9949]

@@But_WhatIf what game? mine was Destiny

[@But_WhatIf]

Dota 2 but I played a fair bit of time in games like destiny too

[@masterbaiter7891]

Rookie numbers

[@But_WhatIf]

@@masterbaiter7891 luckily, I am happy I didn't spend anymore than that, wasted enough of my life

[@ninavanstaden8899]

Most people don’t seem to want help unfortunately till it is almost too let’s or is too late ⏰

[@nftgamer5895]

i agree if it's love just continue playing but be honest and if it's addiction then you must do smth about it or u get rekt

[@hmuphilly9129]

Well kids these days dont know how to even say hello anymore.

[@hyberkonawa272]

Look... I don't mind being against videogame addiction but calling someone a loser for playing videogames is a discrimination to gamers.

[@Parabellum-oe3sw]

There’s me on the other hand I have tons of games from my early 20s on steam yet I can’t get myself to play them for more than 1 hr max. But I want it so bad since I paid for them

[@joshsblee]

relatable.

[@GameQuitters]

🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

[@theaveragescienceguy8652]

Bullies are the reason the addiction starts

[@GameQuitters]

that can definitely happen

[@irvingmitchell6986]

Bullying pushed me into being an introvert and withdrawn. As a young Black man, you are told to treat other boys and men outside friends and family as your enemy for dominance. Instead of dominating your fears and insecurities, you are mostly taught to put each other down to "build each other up". I never wanted to do that, but due to peer pressure, I tried to put on a face so people would leave me alone. I felt so counterfeit, so after highschool I decided to pursue what I wanted to be and the mask went right in the garbage. To all young guys out there, you're not some jerk's emotional punching bag. You have worth and purpose and the right to exist.

[@King_chaosx]

Can’t believe you got the second skin lady 😂

[@aalidas8951]

instead of blaming the medium, maybe people should blame the inability of some to control their compulsions. Instead of demonizing video games, we should focus on demonizing the circumstances that lead to addiction. I don't blame alcohol for my desire to drink.

[@HO-bndk]

I agree, but that's a very unpopular opinion.

[@aalidas8951]

@@HO-bndk yea sometimes the truth is hard to swallow eh, but its gotta be done

[@romasliv]

Games today are designed diferent from what it used to be, back then you could play 3h be tired of playing and go do something else like go outside and hang with friends, but today games are designed to be addictive like the casinos.

[@AlbertL32]

'The Zone' lol.

[@chezburger234]

i dont think her son is gaming addicted, something is telling me he isnt

[@jaky411]

Does spending all your day drawing in your home count as addiction?

[@ShortHistory33]

According to the definition of addiction: No

[@digitaluser1255]

I’m thinking about creating a gaming pc to preserve all the games i grew up with. Of course I have to learn about emulators, the truth is I have no idea

[@GameQuitters]

that could be cool

[@sillyfella2009]

Some older console games have been re-released on platforms such as Steam and GOG

[@cynically_insane]

@Sergi SzT bruh, let ppl do what they want, almost any form on enjoyment is useless and brings nth useful

[@Lagger-HD]

@@cynically_insane but the difference is that this is a channel and video comment section that highlight that this isn't the same as other enjoyable hobbies done in real life, because it is creating an unnatural amount of dopamine in the brain. Which in turn, makes the rest of that persons life more dull and meaningless, which in turn is leading to suicide when the brain of addicted people tries to remove the "form of enjoyment", as you put it, they are left with a brain that is looking for its old enjoyment, and it takes time to reprogram that. Most screen time is used on addictive things, not because they are fun and on a screen, but because of the ways they are engineered to take advantage of our biology and brains, anything with short format videos or interactions that can be gone through quickly is like the ultimate dopamine hit, because it is telling your brain "wow look at all the people I know, the places I am going, and the things im doing". Then your body and emotions are hijacked by the brains belief it has it all. There are things that make people have fun that weren't developed to give the brain too much dopamine without real challenge and results. If you play the guitar for 5 years you can at least do something in person, and the dopamine you got was healthy, because it equates to something that was done in real life, so there is a congruency between your brain and your consciousness. One is a program of the mind, and one is an understanding of the brains output. Addiction changes the brain therefore changing your perception of life. Thats why people who are overloaded on super stimulants like drugs, consumable media(videogames, television, social media), sexual addiction are in misery. There brain says "more more more!" but the human who is in pain underneath the addiction is asking "why is my life not good". Their is an incongruency between the two and that causes a very difficult life for what I would assume is over 50% of the world population to different degrees. Some addictions will kill you and your will to live faster than others. Nobody got addicted to helping children in poverty and exercising and wondered why life sucks. Just that the fact you believe that enjoyment is useless means you enjoy addictive things, and that you are unfulfilled. Making lofty statements about human emotions always says more about you than anyone else. After all your brain in cooperation with your thumbs allowed you to decide to type that to him...

[@YouTube_Enjoyerlol]

Jake's mom is amazing.

[@GameQuitters]

Yes she is

[@RaoSahaabji]

i have left gaming for 3 months now yeah

[@j-5087]

The games today are s***. They are made like a casino. I can see where people would get addicted to them, but fail to see quality put out by these billion dollar companies

[@missfeliss3628]

when he says life,i keep thinking he says wife

[@shanejaredberezowski5467]

Interesting seeing the old fuddy duddy making judgements.

[@cezarycezary8037]

There is no content here. Just an awarness rising type of deal.

[@GameQuitters]

200 other videos with content for ya 🤝

[@hmuphilly9129]

Video games and Gun industrys made big profits

[@michealsoto6722]

lol video games. i believe if someone is addicted to social media always checking a persons post or watching non stop netflix or youtube there addicted to the internet. being addicted to internet is exactly the same being addicted to a video game. and so picking from the two, being addicted to video games is proabaly best because youll get locked in on your own virtual reality compared to someone elses reality.

[@shabbytub7378]

He played world of Warcraft if anyway wants to try it

[@weixianlim2244]

Dam, that's 1 great mom there.

[@GameQuitters]

Agreee

[@nftgamer5895]

k but i promise you don't know what alcohol and Drug is. dude, they are far more worse than gaming

[@85ryanr]

Games don’t start messing with your mental health tiil you start playing dark souls. Then it’s all down hill

[@joshc8195]

Me

[@peder5699]

Only real gamer dosen’t touch grass!

[@nestroit5010]

see you mf's soon in Diablo 4

[@TheMindIlluminated]

Man, that game that Sean was playing must have been so shit for him to kill himself. No, but seriously, what was he playing? He must have been struggling with severe depression and used the game as his self medication, rather that committing suicide as a consequence of compulsive gaming.

[@AlbertL32]

You won't hear them say that though. It's ALWAYS THE GAMES. I work construction, make decent money and am happily married and the only problem I have is that there just isn't enough hours in the day. But I still find time to game, to exercise and do all the shit I need to, to be a functioning member of society. It seems like there's still a group of people trying to demonize gaming.

[@hmuphilly9129]

So, what? playing my switch lite after a hard time at work is bad?

[@soteful9949]

I guess you weren't paying attention. You have a job so you aren't an addict. If playing games cause you to lose your job then you may be addicted.

[@hmuphilly9129]

@@soteful9949 Yes but I am entirely sick of reality so I might as well be lost.

[@mikemayo4812]

This channel is for people who have a problem with gaming. Do you walk into an AA meeting and ask them why beer is bad?

[@hmuphilly9129]

Though I actually hate beer, ill say my addiction is pretty bad but not as terrible as my astronomy hobby. @@mikemayo4812

[@ladyscarfaceangel4616]

Anything can potentially become an addiction. TV, our cell phones, social media, etc. We must learn to balance real life & electronics. Make sure you're taking care of yourself. Eat right, get some kind of exercise, & practice proper hygiene. You know you've got a problem when you can't take care of yourself. If it gets to that point, seek help. I've been there with opiates & other substances. You don't have to experience substance withdrawal symptoms to be dependent on something. When you depend on anything in this world other than what's inside you for happiness, those things will eventually let you down. Be it money, fame, games, drugs, TV, another person even (codependency). Doesn't mean you can't do the things you love, but don't depend on them for happiness.

[@missfeliss3628]

my bro is not addicted....its just that he kind of is....he can stop...he has a life, a job, but he wants a family..im just not sure why it seems mostly males are the ones that get truly chemicaly addicted..ive played video games before...but never felt addicted like these males get...

[@thebbgaming456]

This is biggest lot of bullshit I have ever seen I play video games to help with my mental health as if I didn’t have games to fall back on I think would of kill myself a lot of time ago but I guess that don’t matter to people who think all games are bad