Video Game Collecting Addiction

[x_BLUE_MOON_x]

I have a video game collecting addiction.


I spend most of my money on video games, even if i owe money to my parents.


I have spent $1000's on video games, and most the time I don't even play video games.


The worst part of this is that i'm totally obsessed with the condition of my video games that's including the paper inserts, case and the disc.
Recently the paper inserts of my video games, got a little bit ruined by moisture, and now some
of them have wrinkly artwork which very makes me obsessed, anxious and depressed.


A few years ago, I threw out all my video games, because I thought they were contaminated with germs. And then after that I started re-buying them again.


This is a problem I have been having for a few years.
And what makes this problem worse, is that I have no friends, I'm lonely, I have anxiety and depression , OCD, ADHD , very low self esteem, and no life really.


Please any positive feedback would help, thanks.

[geoff]

Hello Blue_Moon, although I'm not a qualified doctor, what you have told us indicates that you display signs of having obsessions/compulsions present in OCD and yes, I've heard this happen to other people who had possessions they had collected, but somehow became damaged and needed to start a new collection that was brand new.

I can understand what you've said as I too have OCD and know that if I had something I was using that I was fixated on, I had to have a brand new one that I wouldn't use.

Can I ask whether or not you've contacted your doctor because professional help is available to help you with this illness.

Geoff.

[x_BLUE_MOON_x]

Hello Geoff,

Thanks for the reply.
I contacted my doctor a few years ago, and got professional help. They gave me medication and that helped,
and I saw a few psychiatrists which didn't help.

[geoff]

Hello _Blue_Moon, are you able to go back and visit your doctor and ask if you could be referred to a psychologist using the 'mental health plan', this allows Medicare to pay for 10 sessions per year and I've been counselled by psychiatrists but much prefer talking with a psychologist, others may differ and that's their choice.

The doctor may want you to start taking medication again and if by any chance it's a new doctor explain what's happened before and the situation now.

Geoff.

[Justin95]

Hi there. I used to have a similar problem except mine was not video games, mine was blu ray discs. I’ve spent like a thousand dollars on them. It took some time for me to stop collecting because collecting blu rays became my hobby. When you say your video games were contaminated, I think that’s an OCD problem. The first step is to find a psychologist that specialises in addiction.

kind thoughts

[FitBoy]

There are those people that buy stuff only because it's a game they don't have, going a little too far. However, since video games CAN be stored on a shelf for a long time and still be playable years later, it's not the worst thing you can hoard.   Some years ago I was also addicted to collecting Pokemon cards.

It all boils down to whether you enjoy what you do and are doing it with a purpose. Even if I don't buy more than 20 games a week, I'm content to acquire what I can for the systems I enjoy collecting for.

[Mark Z.]

Hi Blue Moon,

Welcome to the forum.

I'm sorry for your challenge. I can tell that it's very frustrating.

However as I know, there're people with similar hobby (collecting video games) who really enjoy it, and their lives are not affected much. The key question is how do you balance it. I don't think forcing yourself to complete stop from what you love to do is not a great idea.

Instead, maybe you can set up some rules for yourself, such as budget limit, time limit, purchase frequency limit. Maybe you only reward yourself by buying a game when you feel you have achieved something. 

Mark

[JeffOlsen]

It's important to find a balance between your hobbies and responsibilities. While having an interest in video game collecting can be enjoyable, it's not healthy to prioritize it over other obligations, such as paying back money you owe to your parents. This could lead to financial problems in the long term and potentially harm your relationships.

I would suggest speaking with your parents about the situation and coming up with a plan to pay them back while still allowing you to pursue your interests. Additionally, consider setting a budget for your video game purchases to help you control your spending. You could also look into finding other ways to enjoy your hobby, such as attending local video game events or trading games with others, that don't involve spending as much money.

[AundreaDrew]

Hi, I'm also a huge game addict and I've been addicted to the techloky game mod apk genre for a very long time. It really helps a lot in my entertainment. But it seems that now I don't play as much as before and I have to arrange it in a suitable time so as not to affect my health.

[jeremiahqu]

I totally get where you're coming from. Video game collecting can be a passion, but when it starts affecting your mood, that's tough. I've been there, too, obsessing over every detail. Maybe consider setting a budget for games and taking small steps to break the cycle. Good luck!