We gaming addicts who have abstained completely suffered some withdrawal symptoms. These are different for different people. Nevertheless, many of us have found that we had many symptoms in common. For some people there seems to be a kind of “detox” period of three to four days where the symptoms are most severe. Some withdrawal symptoms may last several weeks or months. With abstinence from gaming and working a program of recovery, they fade over time.

Here are some that are common:

Many people can think and function better after being off games for some months. The bottom line here is that it takes time for the brain to recover from what excessive game play, chronic sleep deprivation, and social isolation do to it.

Many modern computer games require large amounts of time for their players to excel, creating a situation where almost any player can become what we call a “problem gamer.” Such people may suffer problems at work and in relationships. They may let their health and finances deteriorate. But the majority of problem gamers, when properly motivated, will moderate their gaming. They will quit problematic games and limit play time, as necessary to take care of their real life needs.

Among problem gamers are a minority whose gaming intensifies and increases over time, creating mounting problems month by month, year by year, at work, home, or school, in physical health, mental health, relationships and self-esteem. Those of us who found ourselves in that situation were obsessed with gaming, using it to cope with stress and pain, using it as a substitute for a social life and relationship, forming our identities around our in-game identities. When problems motivated us to moderate our gaming, we found that we usually continued to play just as much, if not more. We lied to ourselves and to our friends and family about our gaming. We uninstalled problematic games, only to find ourselves soon reinstalling them. We grew angry with our behavior and frustrated with the grind of compulsive game play, yet continued hour after hour, day after day. We suffered a compulsion and an obsession, and for the periods of game-free time we did manage, we suffered withdrawal symptoms that often drove us back to the games.

Most of us who have escaped the vicious cycle through support of the GAA program and fellowship have come to call ourselves “gaming addicts.”

The program, fellowship and service organization exist to support gaming addicts in recovery from their compulsive gaming. Our sole purpose is to carry the message of recovery and support fellow gaming addicts.

GAA is for people who have had problems with excessive, compulsive video gaming. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop gaming. If you want to not game or if you think you might have a gaming problem, you are welcome to participate in our meetings regardless of anything else.

Some people have a larger persistent problem with excessive, compulsive use of the internet and technology in general, of which gaming is only one part. If you want to stop compulsive internet/tech use and therefore want to stop gaming, you are welcome at GAA meetings and as a GAA member. Please be aware that the primary purpose of a GAA meeting is to stop video gaming and help others do the same. While our members might mention struggles with internet or technology, it is not the purpose of meetings to help with abstinence from or moderation of internet/tech use. Extensive talk about other compulsions or addictions can detract from the meeting’s goal of helping people with gaming addiction.

We want to be careful not to imply that everyone who uses the internet too much has a second addiction that requires another recovery fellowship. The majority of GAA members have noticed that, once they stopped gaming, they used other forms of screens, technology, and internet too much. The obsessive energy and thinking of active addiction do not disappear overnight. At first, they find other outlets. With time, recovery work, and healing, our obsessive energy settles down and we begin making healthier choices. Most of us find that our excessive use of screens was a temporary crutch.

But some of us find that it is a consistent problem that grows out of control and debilitates us. If you are in this latter group, you might find help in the meetings of Internet and Technology Addicts Anonymous. GAA is not affiliated with ITAA and does not endorse it, but some people find it helpful to participate in both fellowships. The website of ITAA is at InternetAddictsAnonymous.org. Be aware that similar websites exist that are inactive or are misleading advertisements for rehabs.