Aw man, I’m sorry to hear it’s been a tough go 
I understand a thing or two about winter and disgruntled pooches. At least winter (eventually) ends, and doggos don’t hold grudges come spring. Glad to hear you’ve got the support of a good therapist (me too, it sure helps. Helps me, not doggo, lol).
The lights are always on here too!
And well done on keeping your clean time intact. That says a lot.
Sending you some 
til’ the real thing returns. 
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This is good news. I’m glad you are still out there and still sober. Winter does get rough but with Christmas over it will be spring before you know it. Thanks for checking in and its good to see you.
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You guys are the best and I Love every one of you!
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Good to hear from you, Jan. I’m sorry things are tough for you right now but glad you’re keeping at it and seeking some help. It sounds like you haven’t quit trying to keep on your self improvement quests and that’s all we can do, never give up. Hang in there and keep trying new things.
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Fear not, if someone relapses it’s no one else’s fault but their own. We have a seeking help category for just that purpose. Their recovery is their responsibility. Reading that things are going well (your words) in active addiction would not cause a relapse. Although I’d love to challenge that view. When I was shooting dope behind dumpsters it was easy for me to say the same thing.
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I’d be down for that! Your ability to poke through bs far exceeds mine. I’d be happy with your help trying to find bs in my view. It’d have to be in the seeking help category or pm though.
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PM sounds advisable!
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There’s comfort in misery. Active addiction (to our addict brains) is exactly where we should be. We create this narrative that our current situation is great, because if we accepted the reality of the pain and suffering related to our use (technology included) most of us would not be able to bear it.
You mention online dating. If you are trapped in active addiction what are going to be offering a potential mate? Your active addiction is holding you back from the things you really want.
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Hey Jan, I’ve been actually thinking about this (and you) all day and I’m gonna post this, even if it’s a bit controversial. As far as I can tell, the science is still out on how dopamine actually affects the brain. And people with ADHD simply don’t naturally produce enough of it, which is why we’re prone to hyperfixasion and struggles with executive functioning.
You’ve also mentioned severe abuse growing up, autism, and other mental health issues. So I do question if a more person-centered mental health approach would have been… more appropriate to your over-use of video games and media rather than jumping straight into the full on addiction model?
Dunno… just my thoughts. I don’t know how well you’re coping atm, but if you’re functioning and if you’re happy while still enjoying playing… is that really ‘active addiction’ or is that you better managing your symptoms?
I know many people view things in the black and white ‘addiction is addiction’ and that’s true to an extent… But the way we treat substance abuse vs. something like say food addiction is inherently different as you obviously can’t go fully abstinent with the latter. Maybe the same can go for video games and other forms of entertainment?
Either way, it would be great seeing you on here more.
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It’s so nice to hear from you again. You’re not forgotten my friend. I understand and respect your reasoning why not to post here. It makes me sad tho. I truly would want to see you with supporting friends.
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Back again.
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How its going?
Hi Jan, i fully respect your decision. Everybody is different-i personally believe that one can learn from others that fight ANY addiction, may it be substance, technology, gaming, shopping, porn, work, sport… - you name it. Do whatever is best for you and your journey.
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One day at a time
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I have gone to a psychologist for a total of 4 years now. I’ve stopped treatment around june of this year on advise of my psychologist. This was because I was doing so good and the issues that remained were self esteem issues caused by the struggles I experience with ADHD and autism, and by comparing myself to those who are neuro typical.
And I don’t think I jumped into the full on addiction model, I never left it. There’s always something I’m addicted to. Even in rehab I’d lose myself in table tennis, board games and sports.
This is great food for thought. I think it’s both. I am an addict and will always be an addict. Hence, the second I touch technology, including responding to you, I’m in active addiction. And I am also not acting out my addiction in moderation. I’m letting it run free.
But, I am able to prioritise significantly better and taking better care of myself than ever before. So, arguably, I’m better at managing my symptoms.
My symptoms also have become a lot weaker. Mostly, since I have worked hard on resolving the great amount of underlying issues.
I think one can go fully abstinent from gaming. I was fully abstinent for over 3 years. But gaming addiction is very often part of an overall technology addiction, perhaps you could even consider behavioural addiction to be one addiction. I think specifically saying gaming-addiction is like an alcoholic saying they’re a beer-addict. When I wasn’t gaming, I was watching a ton of TV. When I wasn’t watching TV, I was way too active on here. When I wasn’t way too active on here, I’d lose myself in books. And it goes on and on and on.
So abstinence from games is possible, entertainment, not so much.
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G’day!
I was overseas for Xmas and New Year so not as active, then on the day before flying home I, for the first time in 25 years of various ownership, lost my phone. A new one is coming soon but for now it’s an old old cracked screen just-get-me-through option that ain’t much fun to type on so mostly I’m reading.
I’ve still been around, just quiet.
Y’all probably needed a break from my sparkling wit and sizzling commentary anyway.
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Ayyyyy! Good to see you. Your wit sparkles just as brightly through a cracked screen. Glad to see you.
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You haven’t been around?
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