How I Finally Gave Up Gaming After 10 Years of Addiction

I'm 28 now, and I can say I'm truly free from gaming addiction since more than 5 years.

If you're trying to give up gaming and feeling stuck, this story is for you. From ages 13 to 23, gaming wasn't just a hobby, it was everything.

My entire existence revolved around Aion, an MMORPG where I climbed to a top-ranked position. I'd wake up and immediately log in, playing until my eyes burned and I physically couldn't stay awake anymore.

Every single day was the same: farming, PvP battles, grinding skills, chasing ranks. Meanwhile, everything else in my life quietly fell apart.

My family relationships deteriorated. My world shrank to the size of my screen. Anything outside the game felt hollow and meaningless.

When I wasn't logged in, I felt empty. Like I was just waiting to get back to my "real" life, the one inside the game.

The First Time I Tried to Give Up Gaming (And Failed)

I wish I could tell you I decided to give up gaming one day and never looked back. But that's not how it happened.

My first attempts to quit were half-hearted. I'd uninstall games but keep Discord open.

I'd stay connected to my guild, lurking in voice chats, telling myself I was "just staying social." I had one foot out the door, but the other was still firmly planted in that virtual world.

I relapsed. Multiple times.

Then lockdown hit, and it was the perfect storm. With nowhere to go and nothing to do, I fell straight back into old patterns. Maybe even harder than before.

What Actually Helped Me Give Up Gaming for Good

What finally got me out wasn't one dramatic moment. It was a slow, uncomfortable realization that I'd been running from real life for over a decade.

I'm not going to romanticize it—the first few weeks were brutal. I didn't know what to do with myself. Time moved differently.

I felt restless, anxious, like something was missing.

Here's what actually worked for me:

• Deleted everything: Uninstalled all games, deleted Discord, blocked gaming sites on my router
• Told someone: I confessed to my sister that I truly had a problem with gaming. With honesty (spoiler: she knew it already). That accountability saved me.
• Filled the time gap: Started running (terrible at first), picked up reading, learn to meditate to calm the urges.
• Accepted discomfort: I stopped fighting the restless feelings and just sat with them

But here's what nobody tells you about giving up gaming: once you push through that initial period, you start to feel alive in a way you forgot was possible.

Nothing, and I mean nothing, compares to the feeling of being free from something that once controlled every hour of your day.

Practical Steps to Give Up Gaming Today

If you're ready to break free, here are concrete steps you can take right now:

1. Admit you have a problem (even just to yourself). You can't fix what you won't acknowledge.
2. Delete your accounts or give credentials to someone you trust. Make it hard to go back.
3. Uninstall all games and gaming platforms (Steam, Epic, Battle.net). Remove Discord if it's a trigger.
4. Tell at least one person what you're doing. Isolation feeds addiction—connection fights it.
5. Find 3 non-gaming activities to try this week. Doesn't matter what (exercise, cooking, reading, art). Just fill the time gap.
6. Expect it to suck at first. The first 1-2 weeks are the hardest. It gets easier.

Why I'm Sharing This Story

I've watched too many people stay trapped in the same cycle I was in. People who deny they're addicted, who say they can stop anytime (but never do), who are wasting years they could be reclaiming.

If you're reading this and something resonates, that's probably not a coincidence.

Maybe you're where I was at 15, telling yourself it's just a phase. Or at 20, realizing it's been longer than you thought. Or at 25, wondering how you let it get this far.

It doesn't matter how long you've been stuck. What matters is that you can give up gaming and build something real.

You Don't Have to Do This Alone

I'm sharing this because I want others to know: recovery is possible, relapses are normal, and you're not broken for struggling with this.

If you're trying to give up gaming and need support, or if you're still on the fence about whether you even have a problem—reach out. Talk to someone who understands.

Find a community of people who've been where you are.

I've been there. I know what it's like to feel like the game is the only place you belong.

And I also know what it's like on the other side.

Even if you don't feel it now, there's a life after gaming, and I swear it's worth living—even if you don't see it clearly now or don't have any hope. All the people I've helped were in similar situations, and now they don't regret this decision.

I want to write more about this and create actionable, easy-to-read guides because I know how hard it is to focus. I've been there, and I truly want to create something relevant for you.