Video Games Aren’t Harmless — Overcoming Gaming Addiction

kurtis786
Oct 7
3 min read

Man speaking into microphone about gaming addiction with text overlay ‘Games Aren’t Harmless’ and gaming controller graphic.

Breaking Free From Gaming Addiction

Think gaming’s just a harmless hobby? It’s not. It’s stealing your drive — and I know, because I lost years to it and battled what was really gaming addiction.

Escaping Into Other Worlds

I spent most of my life escaping into games. Long single-player stories that swallowed entire nights. Worlds that felt alive — adventure, chemistry between characters, the thrill of being the hero. And then online shooters like Battlefield and Call of Duty chasing wins, kill streaks, leaderboards. It felt safe. It felt like accomplishment.

But none of it built me.

On the outside it looked normal — just a guy gaming after work. But inside, it was years of potential quietly bleeding out. Time I could’ve been using to grow, to create, to connect, to build a future. Gone.

Why Gaming Feels So Safe

I get it — you work a nine-to-five. You’re exhausted. Games feel like a way to decompress, to let your brain go somewhere else for a bit. But here’s the truth I had to face: they can’t be your main hobby if you want a life with meaning.

Because the same mental energy you give to leveling up an avatar could be building something real — a skill, a body, a business, a creative outlet, a healthy marriage.

The Hidden Trap for Highly Sensitive Men

And if you’re wired like me — highly sensitive, easily overstimulated — games are an Achilles heel. They hijack the same reward system you need for real life.

The dopamine hits you get from loot drops, wins, progression — it’s the same system that’s supposed to make you feel good about tackling hard goals, creating, connecting. But when it’s hijacked by games, real life feels flat.

Work, relationships, growth — nothing feels rewarding enough compared to the constant stimulation and instant wins you can get in a digital world.

What Really Happens When You Game to Escape

You log off and suddenly feel aimless and numb.
You avoid real challenges because they’re slow and hard.
And without realizing it, you’re training your brain to need fake wins just to feel alive.

That’s why guys get stuck for years. They don’t think they’re addicted, but they’ve quietly rewired themselves away from reality.

Breaking Free

This isn’t about shaming you — I’ve been there. It’s about honesty. If you want to break free, you have to recognize what’s really happening.

Here’s what helped me:

Name what gaming is doing for you. Escape? Stimulation? A fake sense of progress? Be brutally honest.
Replace with real-building outlets. I started creating — writing, filming, training. At first it felt boring compared to gaming, but it built momentum and confidence.
Shrink your access. I sold consoles, deleted accounts. Not because games are evil, but because my wiring couldn’t handle moderation.

And now, after years of wasting time, I finally feel alive building a life that matters.

You’re Not Weak — You’re Wired

If this hits you, know this: you’re not weak, you’re just wired like me — highly sensitive, easily hijacked by high stimulation. But that wiring can become your strength when you put it into things that actually grow you.

It’s time to step back from the virtual and step into the real fight — your purpose, your growth, your relationships, your faith.