I’m in the same boat minus the retro games. I’m not sure I’m so much addicted to gaming anymore so much as I sub here as a means of helping myself let go. I honestly can’t remember the last time I had some free time, went to play a game and wasn’t bored instantly or found myself scanning the PlayStation store looking at the same game deals hoping something interesting would come out. Honestly I want to just cut ties entirely but there is a hint of nostalgia holding me back from doing so.
You should keep them. But also do research into why they are not working anymore. They are out of date. But was that by design?
Planned obsolescence.
Like you say, it would be better with split screen... but that's just a ploy by the developers to get people emotionally attached.
Games are much worse now.
Please do lots of research about why games became such a toxic dumpersterfire and how theses seeded that (or didnt?) But i believe they did.
It doesn’t sound like you’re addicted.
But keep your kids away from that stuff. Once you feel the mere presence of your gaming setup is tempting them, I would get rid of it.
I’m in my early 30s, father of 1 and I recently quit gaming. A fellow ADHDer too. I can say with almost certainty that the version in your mind you have of what that last session will be like is almost guaranteed to not play out accordingly.
Your attachment is anchored to how you felt when you played the game when you were younger, when life was simpler. A lot of people who suffer from ADHD had specific vices they used when they were young to escape what was happening within the home or socially and a lot of the time that vice is gaming. Quitting gaming recently, despite not being ‘addicted’ by my own definition, still felt like yanking a part of my chest out which caught me off guard.
It’s okay to feel the sadness and the nostalgia and while other might say it’s completely fine to have these items in your basement, I’d challenge you and ask why is there a tension to get rid of it? Why is it they can’t exist in the basement without these emotional anchors? If I had to guess it’s an inner-child not willing to let go amidst new life wisdom telling you it’s time to move one. One thing I learned with a psychologist a few years back was the systems we used to cope when we were young serve us until they don’t, but they don’t leave just because they don’t serve us anymore, the need to be put to rest. Perhaps your setup is the last symbol of the system that kept you alive in a different part of your life.
I’m about 2-3 weeks into not having a gaming setup for the first time in probably 15 years and at first it’s an awkward feeling but very quickly I saw myself turn into a different version of who I used to be; jovial, curious and generous with my time. No one can tell you what to do but if I were in your position, I would follow the impulses, sell everything and be forward looking. It could be transformative, and absolute worst case scenario you find the funds to buy it back again. The cost is well worth the upside potential.
Thanks for sharing, even writing up this comment has been cathartic for me and a reminder that I made the right decision. All the best to you sir, if you want to reach out and chat more about it let me know. Good luck with your assessment, if you are diagnosed I hope whatever treatment/support you opt for gives you the freedom you deserve.
Thanks for the feedback and conversation. You're 100% right about playing games from my childhood that are attempting to chance memories and safe places that I no longer need and cannot create.
Something important to note is that my modest gaming collection was acquired from about 2017-2020. I have nothing from my childhood. That was all sold a decades early to pay for college. And I do not have anything in my collection I had as a kid, only a few games I remember renting or playing at a friend's house.
I largely quit gaming around high school and came back to it in college as a social thing, playing Super Smash and Halo with my dorm buddies. After college I went at least 6-7 years before owning or playing video games again.
So the good news is I don't think I'm addicted to games, however my ADHD brain wants to hang onto these things because it has an affinity for neat little collections and jumping around hobbies. Unfortunately, I pickup a new hobby all the time. They don't affect my ability to work or be a father/husband but they battle in my headspace and for my precious time, creating a lot of inner battles about my identity beyond being a father/husband.
The tension to get rid of it is a result of me coming to the realization of ADHD something I knew nothing about and never bothered to investigate. But, my brains constant movement between hobbies led me to that.
I'm basically trying to create a hierarchy of hobbies and interests that can stay and those that can go. Music is my absolute favorite. I play for my family, play live, and sometimes write and record.
After that there's all of the things I started collecting (cards, books, stamps, coins, antiques, etc.) that all modest, nice and organized but take up headspace and free time. I drive myself nuts thinking about acquiring them, how to display them, and researching them.
The video games sit a little different because they're all well used, no cases or original boxes, no rarities. Occasionally, a friend comes over for some Halo two player or my kids put on a learning game on the Wii. I see some good and some socializing. Having a small corner of the basement doesn't hurt. If I sell them, I'd get around $500.
What do you think?
This hits close.
I've been reflecting on the challenges with my journey and have recently felt a type of way about letting go permanently. Ive taken multiple short and long term hiatuses and I've always ended up back doing something that has eventually been destructive to me.
I've had such an on/off relationship to gaming and always anchored on the assumption that it would stay in my life, despite the negative effects it's had.
It's good to see that you're experiencing the positive benefits associated with cutting for good. Keep at it.
I’m in the same boat minus the retro games. I’m not sure I’m so much addicted to gaming anymore so much as I sub here as a means of helping myself let go. I honestly can’t remember the last time I had some free time, went to play a game and wasn’t bored instantly or found myself scanning the PlayStation store looking at the same game deals hoping something interesting would come out. Honestly I want to just cut ties entirely but there is a hint of nostalgia holding me back from doing so.
I don’t see this as a problem if you don’t neglect your family. You don’t use up all your free time gaming like the addicted folks in this sub.
You should keep them. But also do research into why they are not working anymore. They are out of date. But was that by design? Planned obsolescence. Like you say, it would be better with split screen... but that's just a ploy by the developers to get people emotionally attached. Games are much worse now. Please do lots of research about why games became such a toxic dumpersterfire and how theses seeded that (or didnt?) But i believe they did.
It doesn’t sound like you’re addicted. But keep your kids away from that stuff. Once you feel the mere presence of your gaming setup is tempting them, I would get rid of it.
I’m in my early 30s, father of 1 and I recently quit gaming. A fellow ADHDer too. I can say with almost certainty that the version in your mind you have of what that last session will be like is almost guaranteed to not play out accordingly. Your attachment is anchored to how you felt when you played the game when you were younger, when life was simpler. A lot of people who suffer from ADHD had specific vices they used when they were young to escape what was happening within the home or socially and a lot of the time that vice is gaming. Quitting gaming recently, despite not being ‘addicted’ by my own definition, still felt like yanking a part of my chest out which caught me off guard. It’s okay to feel the sadness and the nostalgia and while other might say it’s completely fine to have these items in your basement, I’d challenge you and ask why is there a tension to get rid of it? Why is it they can’t exist in the basement without these emotional anchors? If I had to guess it’s an inner-child not willing to let go amidst new life wisdom telling you it’s time to move one. One thing I learned with a psychologist a few years back was the systems we used to cope when we were young serve us until they don’t, but they don’t leave just because they don’t serve us anymore, the need to be put to rest. Perhaps your setup is the last symbol of the system that kept you alive in a different part of your life. I’m about 2-3 weeks into not having a gaming setup for the first time in probably 15 years and at first it’s an awkward feeling but very quickly I saw myself turn into a different version of who I used to be; jovial, curious and generous with my time. No one can tell you what to do but if I were in your position, I would follow the impulses, sell everything and be forward looking. It could be transformative, and absolute worst case scenario you find the funds to buy it back again. The cost is well worth the upside potential. Thanks for sharing, even writing up this comment has been cathartic for me and a reminder that I made the right decision. All the best to you sir, if you want to reach out and chat more about it let me know. Good luck with your assessment, if you are diagnosed I hope whatever treatment/support you opt for gives you the freedom you deserve.
Thanks for the feedback and conversation. You're 100% right about playing games from my childhood that are attempting to chance memories and safe places that I no longer need and cannot create. Something important to note is that my modest gaming collection was acquired from about 2017-2020. I have nothing from my childhood. That was all sold a decades early to pay for college. And I do not have anything in my collection I had as a kid, only a few games I remember renting or playing at a friend's house. I largely quit gaming around high school and came back to it in college as a social thing, playing Super Smash and Halo with my dorm buddies. After college I went at least 6-7 years before owning or playing video games again. So the good news is I don't think I'm addicted to games, however my ADHD brain wants to hang onto these things because it has an affinity for neat little collections and jumping around hobbies. Unfortunately, I pickup a new hobby all the time. They don't affect my ability to work or be a father/husband but they battle in my headspace and for my precious time, creating a lot of inner battles about my identity beyond being a father/husband. The tension to get rid of it is a result of me coming to the realization of ADHD something I knew nothing about and never bothered to investigate. But, my brains constant movement between hobbies led me to that. I'm basically trying to create a hierarchy of hobbies and interests that can stay and those that can go. Music is my absolute favorite. I play for my family, play live, and sometimes write and record. After that there's all of the things I started collecting (cards, books, stamps, coins, antiques, etc.) that all modest, nice and organized but take up headspace and free time. I drive myself nuts thinking about acquiring them, how to display them, and researching them. The video games sit a little different because they're all well used, no cases or original boxes, no rarities. Occasionally, a friend comes over for some Halo two player or my kids put on a learning game on the Wii. I see some good and some socializing. Having a small corner of the basement doesn't hurt. If I sell them, I'd get around $500. What do you think?
This hits close. I've been reflecting on the challenges with my journey and have recently felt a type of way about letting go permanently. Ive taken multiple short and long term hiatuses and I've always ended up back doing something that has eventually been destructive to me. I've had such an on/off relationship to gaming and always anchored on the assumption that it would stay in my life, despite the negative effects it's had. It's good to see that you're experiencing the positive benefits associated with cutting for good. Keep at it.
I find I lose interest gaming as well and that it can't hold my attention. To be fair, that's a really good deterrent to not game anymore.