Hi. My name is DocRed and I'm a Hearthstone Addict.
I have been playing Hearthstone for about 6 months now, and it has reached a point where things have spun totally out of control. I play the game constantly. I mean constantly. I have fallen asleep while playing. I play while eating. I play on my phone in bed. I take taxis to work instead of using the subway, to maintain a viable internet connection in order to play during the commute -- $20 one-way in a taxi vs. $2.50 to ride the subway. I play at work at every feasible moment. Any other hobby which I may have once had has completely evaporated from my life. I have dreams (usually nightmares) about Hearthstone. I've canceled social engagements for Hearthstone. I've missed deadlines because I'm playing Hearthstone. I could go on and on.
The thing is -- I'm not even having that much fun anymore. It doesn't even feel like a game to me at this point. I'm almost always upset or frustrated with it -- I'd say I'm playing on tilt about 75% of the time. I've become completely consumed by this obsession to reach legend, but it's quite clear at this point that's not going to happen. I would pretty much describe myself as a good, but not great, player. I mean, I have 4 golden heroes and I'm able to reach rank 5 each season without too much difficulty. Above that, I'm just not consistent enough to keep climbing. Don't misunderstand me -- I am not blaming RNG or anything like that. I understand that there are things I could do to improve my game. I could spend time watching streamers or utilize other internet resources etc. And if I could just get there once and get my damn legend card back, I probably would never play ranked again. But instead I've turned into this extremely impatient, frustrated player... I don't want to sit here and watch some pro play on a stream -- that's time that could be spent playing myself!! Meanwhile, the frustration and impatience is starting to bleed over into every other aspect of my life.
The bottom line is this. My relationship with the game has become similar to an addict's relationship with his/her drug of choice. Playing stimulates some sort of reward center -- some dopaminergic pathway in my brain gets triggered -- and that keeps me coming back for more, even though I'm not really getting anything out of it, and in fact it is starting to have a very negative impact on me. The whole thing is such a baffling phenomenon, how quickly I have spiraled into this decay, seeing as a mere 6 months ago I didn't even know that Hearthstone was a thing that existed in the world.
I think the correct thing to do (the thing that any sane person would do) is to quit cold turkey. Maybe at some point down the road I can come back to it. But for now I should just quit.
Hang on though, let me just play one more game first....
That's pretty rough dude, you should take a break. Legend isn't even that big of a deal, I mean shit look at Kripp he only recently got it. When I'm on tilt and performing badly I take breaks, watch movies, listen to music, experiment with different decks and have discussions with other hearthstone players over Skype to figure out possibly strong decks for our current metas. I've been in a similar boat, it feels as if some days I'm doing really good, then other days I'm performing terribly and making missplays from seemingly obvious plays. It happens to the best of us, even Legend players perform badly quite frequently, nobody is perfect, you just gotta learn from your mistakes and most of all just have fun.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"In this world where time is your enemy, it is my greatest ally. This grand game of life that you think you play in fact plays you. To that I say... Let the games begin!" - Nefarian
Cold turkey is one of the best ways to treat this, but do not forget to get something else on your hand when ur hands get real itchy. I highly recommend you to get a flip phone and stop using your smart phone by either locking it up or letting someone else hold it for you until u can feel comfortable without Hearthstone.
Another method is by setting up a progressive goal each day until you can "live" without it. Lets say, the first week, u try to limit your game play only at home, wait until you're comfortable with that play time then u limit your game play only at night, then 3 hours, then 2, then 1. When you gain full control of your body from Hearthstone, u should be able to enjoy the game again.
I am not asking you to quit, I'm simply asking you to try to enjoy the game by reducing your play time thus reduce the the dopamine reward pathway continuously signaling you to play it. Your brain cell can naturally adapt what you give them. Give it less Hearthstone, a little bit more other things, I'm sure u will be back.
Not only do you need to step away from the game, but also need something else to preoccupy your time with. Maybe drawing, or a book, or the gym. Something.
Hearthstone is sometimes called CasinoStone for a reason. You could easily compare it to pseudo-gambling, you spend money or grind continuously to obtain strong cards while constantly feeling the need to improve. So, you spend even more time and money and emotional investment into the game with a desire to be one of the best. You feel terrible when you lose games and wins make you feel amazing. You spend more and more time trying to play this game like the professionals. You end up losing meaningful relationships with friends and family and none of that seems important because all you can think about is winning in this card game.
Hearthstone is supposed to be a casual game but realistically it can become more than just that pretty fast lol.
"In this world where time is your enemy, it is my greatest ally. This grand game of life that you think you play in fact plays you. To that I say... Let the games begin!" - Nefarian
Hi. My name is DocRed and I'm a Hearthstone Addict.
I have been playing Hearthstone for about 6 months now, and it has reached a point where things have spun totally out of control. I play the game constantly. I mean constantly. I have fallen asleep while playing. I play while eating. I play on my phone in bed. I take taxis to work instead of using the subway, to maintain a viable internet connection in order to play during the commute -- $20 one-way in a taxi vs. $2.50 to ride the subway. I play at work at every feasible moment. Any other hobby which I may have once had has completely evaporated from my life. I have dreams (usually nightmares) about Hearthstone. I've canceled social engagements for Hearthstone. I've missed deadlines because I'm playing Hearthstone. I could go on and on.
The thing is -- I'm not even having that much fun anymore. It doesn't even feel like a game to me at this point. I'm almost always upset or frustrated with it -- I'd say I'm playing on tilt about 75% of the time. I've become completely consumed by this obsession to reach legend, but it's quite clear at this point that's not going to happen. I would pretty much describe myself as a good, but not great, player. I mean, I have 4 golden heroes and I'm able to reach rank 5 each season without too much difficulty. Above that, I'm just not consistent enough to keep climbing. Don't misunderstand me -- I am not blaming RNG or anything like that. I understand that there are things I could do to improve my game. I could spend time watching streamers or utilize other internet resources etc. And if I could just get there once and get my damn legend card back, I probably would never play ranked again. But instead I've turned into this extremely impatient, frustrated player... I don't want to sit here and watch some pro play on a stream -- that's time that could be spent playing myself!! Meanwhile, the frustration and impatience is starting to bleed over into every other aspect of my life.
The bottom line is this. My relationship with the game has become similar to an addict's relationship with his/her drug of choice. Playing stimulates some sort of reward center -- some dopaminergic pathway in my brain gets triggered -- and that keeps me coming back for more, even though I'm not really getting anything out of it, and in fact it is starting to have a very negative impact on me. The whole thing is such a baffling phenomenon, how quickly I have spiraled into this decay, seeing as a mere 6 months ago I didn't even know that Hearthstone was a thing that existed in the world.
I think the correct thing to do (the thing that any sane person would do) is to quit cold turkey. Maybe at some point down the road I can come back to it. But for now I should just quit.
Hang on though, let me just play one more game first....
You need to go cold turkey.
Uninstall the game on mobile devices, your PC, whatever and wherever.
Focus on getting really good at something else, or do something absorbing - read a book, do some crafts, get lost in your work (if you can) - dedicate yourself to something else (hopefully something productive).
Remove all Blizzard related/Hearthstone related references from every aspect of your life. Uninstall Battle.net, try to stay off your computer unless you absolutely need to use it.
Go outside more! If the weather's nice, go for a stroll when you have time.
Logout of HearthPwn and all Hearthstone community websites - make sure you stop getting emails, notifications, etc. from anything like that.
Think back to what your life was like 6 months ago, or even think back to the last thing you were really absorbed in as a hobby and felt was fun to do. Try and get back to that - it should be something you do IRL ideally.
@Tsubalachi: thanks for your very thoughtful response. I considered trying to do a slow wean/taper, but I'm not likely to have much success with that approach. Will probably try cold turkey first and see what happens. Hopefully not DTs. :-)
Takes a lot to post something like this on here and acknowledging the fact that the game is having a negative impact on your life. You have a few choices ahead of you honestly.
1. You try to lower your amount of time you play the game. Whenever you feel the need to play some games, screw around in casual with fun decks or go out with some friends.
2. Quit cold turkey if all else fails, you'll probably have to restrict yourself which will be hard, so I'd tell a few people you find close to you and ask if you can have them basically 'lash the whip' whenever you start talking about or playing the game.
3. Continue trying to improve, focus on yourself though and getting yourself in a better state of mind. Right now, you'll probably perform poorly because you're feeling pretty poorly. We tend to recognize our faults and loses over our wins and good plays. You can always ask for help/guidance/coaching from people on here, most of the people here are extremely helpful.
The choice is up to you, choose wisely :^)
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"In this world where time is your enemy, it is my greatest ally. This grand game of life that you think you play in fact plays you. To that I say... Let the games begin!" - Nefarian
@LunacyHS -- that's funny, I hadn't heard the term "CasinoStone" before... but man oh man, I can certainly see that... it is addictive as hell and "casual" is the last word I would use to describe it!
@Dashyyy -- at first the reason why I played was because I thought it was fun.
Currently, the reason why I play is to win as many games as possible and to reach the highest rank I possibly can. There is no other reason. This is the only one.
I am heading down this path and it is a cycle of game addiction in my life. In the weeks since TGT i have set alarms to wake up early to play Hearthstone. I have also recently become obsessed with legend (and my stubbornness to use anything but control priest isn't making it easier)
I still think of World of Warcraft. The only way i quit that was cold turkey. It is the nature of games today that everyone is rewarded, continually and modestly and it gives you that sense of achievement that we all crave but sometimes lack from other aspects of our lives.
My advice is to switch to a story oriented game. Something with a beginning, middle and end will give you time away from your current addiction and clear closure when you complete said game.
Im already looking at Fallout 4 as a possibility. Destiny looks like something designed to make you grind - and that path leads to madness.
I have to force myself to go to do dailies. After many 12 win arenas and reaching legend few times I see nothing interesting for me in HS. I'm more into just watching streams and tourneys...
lol you cancelled social engagements? dude, listen. just go out and drink w a friend. yea HS is kinda fun but theres no way its more fun than going out. just put a mirror right next to a computer monitor and ask yourself when you look into it: "do i look like i have downs right now?" after playing HS for an hour. if the answer is yes call up anyone. and drink as much as possible.
Hi. My name is DocRed and I'm a Hearthstone Addict.
I have been playing Hearthstone for about 6 months now, and it has reached a point where things have spun totally out of control. I play the game constantly. I mean constantly. I have fallen asleep while playing. I play while eating. I play on my phone in bed. I take taxis to work instead of using the subway, to maintain a viable internet connection in order to play during the commute -- $20 one-way in a taxi vs. $2.50 to ride the subway. I play at work at every feasible moment. Any other hobby which I may have once had has completely evaporated from my life. I have dreams (usually nightmares) about Hearthstone. I've canceled social engagements for Hearthstone. I've missed deadlines because I'm playing Hearthstone. I could go on and on.
The thing is -- I'm not even having that much fun anymore. It doesn't even feel like a game to me at this point. I'm almost always upset or frustrated with it -- I'd say I'm playing on tilt about 75% of the time. I've become completely consumed by this obsession to reach legend, but it's quite clear at this point that's not going to happen. I would pretty much describe myself as a good, but not great, player. I mean, I have 4 golden heroes and I'm able to reach rank 5 each season without too much difficulty. Above that, I'm just not consistent enough to keep climbing. Don't misunderstand me -- I am not blaming RNG or anything like that. I understand that there are things I could do to improve my game. I could spend time watching streamers or utilize other internet resources etc. And if I could just get there once and get my damn legend card back, I probably would never play ranked again. But instead I've turned into this extremely impatient, frustrated player... I don't want to sit here and watch some pro play on a stream -- that's time that could be spent playing myself!! Meanwhile, the frustration and impatience is starting to bleed over into every other aspect of my life.
The bottom line is this. My relationship with the game has become similar to an addict's relationship with his/her drug of choice. Playing stimulates some sort of reward center -- some dopaminergic pathway in my brain gets triggered -- and that keeps me coming back for more, even though I'm not really getting anything out of it, and in fact it is starting to have a very negative impact on me. The whole thing is such a baffling phenomenon, how quickly I have spiraled into this decay, seeing as a mere 6 months ago I didn't even know that Hearthstone was a thing that existed in the world.
I think the correct thing to do (the thing that any sane person would do) is to quit cold turkey. Maybe at some point down the road I can come back to it. But for now I should just quit.
Hang on though, let me just play one more game first....
That's pretty rough dude, you should take a break. Legend isn't even that big of a deal, I mean shit look at Kripp he only recently got it. When I'm on tilt and performing badly I take breaks, watch movies, listen to music, experiment with different decks and have discussions with other hearthstone players over Skype to figure out possibly strong decks for our current metas. I've been in a similar boat, it feels as if some days I'm doing really good, then other days I'm performing terribly and making missplays from seemingly obvious plays. It happens to the best of us, even Legend players perform badly quite frequently, nobody is perfect, you just gotta learn from your mistakes and most of all just have fun.
"In this world where time is your enemy, it is my greatest ally. This grand game of life that you think you play in fact plays you. To that I say... Let the games begin!" - Nefarian
Cold turkey is one of the best ways to treat this, but do not forget to get something else on your hand when ur hands get real itchy. I highly recommend you to get a flip phone and stop using your smart phone by either locking it up or letting someone else hold it for you until u can feel comfortable without Hearthstone.
Another method is by setting up a progressive goal each day until you can "live" without it. Lets say, the first week, u try to limit your game play only at home, wait until you're comfortable with that play time then u limit your game play only at night, then 3 hours, then 2, then 1. When you gain full control of your body from Hearthstone, u should be able to enjoy the game again.
I am not asking you to quit, I'm simply asking you to try to enjoy the game by reducing your play time thus reduce the the dopamine reward pathway continuously signaling you to play it. Your brain cell can naturally adapt what you give them. Give it less Hearthstone, a little bit more other things, I'm sure u will be back.
Sincerely Yours,
Tsubalachi
P.S. how the fuck did this just happen lol.
Not only do you need to step away from the game, but also need something else to preoccupy your time with. Maybe drawing, or a book, or the gym. Something.
Hearthstone is sometimes called CasinoStone for a reason. You could easily compare it to pseudo-gambling, you spend money or grind continuously to obtain strong cards while constantly feeling the need to improve. So, you spend even more time and money and emotional investment into the game with a desire to be one of the best. You feel terrible when you lose games and wins make you feel amazing. You spend more and more time trying to play this game like the professionals. You end up losing meaningful relationships with friends and family and none of that seems important because all you can think about is winning in this card game.
Hearthstone is supposed to be a casual game but realistically it can become more than just that pretty fast lol.
"In this world where time is your enemy, it is my greatest ally. This grand game of life that you think you play in fact plays you. To that I say... Let the games begin!" - Nefarian
Thanks for your response. You are absolutely 100% correct. I have been saying the exact same things to myself as of late...
http://www.video-game-addiction.org/video-game-addiction-treatment.html
Please seek professional help.
Building Quirky Decks Every Week, Loving Life at Rank 15!
You need to go cold turkey.
Uninstall the game on mobile devices, your PC, whatever and wherever.
Focus on getting really good at something else, or do something absorbing - read a book, do some crafts, get lost in your work (if you can) - dedicate yourself to something else (hopefully something productive).
Remove all Blizzard related/Hearthstone related references from every aspect of your life. Uninstall Battle.net, try to stay off your computer unless you absolutely need to use it.
Go outside more! If the weather's nice, go for a stroll when you have time.
Logout of HearthPwn and all Hearthstone community websites - make sure you stop getting emails, notifications, etc. from anything like that.
Think back to what your life was like 6 months ago, or even think back to the last thing you were really absorbed in as a hobby and felt was fun to do. Try and get back to that - it should be something you do IRL ideally.
Good luck to you.
please consider voting for my custom class in the fan creations competition :]
• TRIALS IN AUCHINDOUN - A Custom Hearthstone Adventure (4th Wing!) • New and Interesting Hearthstone Mechanics (by me!) •
@Tsubalachi: thanks for your very thoughtful response. I considered trying to do a slow wean/taper, but I'm not likely to have much success with that approach. Will probably try cold turkey first and see what happens. Hopefully not DTs. :-)
Takes a lot to post something like this on here and acknowledging the fact that the game is having a negative impact on your life. You have a few choices ahead of you honestly.
1. You try to lower your amount of time you play the game. Whenever you feel the need to play some games, screw around in casual with fun decks or go out with some friends.
2. Quit cold turkey if all else fails, you'll probably have to restrict yourself which will be hard, so I'd tell a few people you find close to you and ask if you can have them basically 'lash the whip' whenever you start talking about or playing the game.
3. Continue trying to improve, focus on yourself though and getting yourself in a better state of mind. Right now, you'll probably perform poorly because you're feeling pretty poorly. We tend to recognize our faults and loses over our wins and good plays. You can always ask for help/guidance/coaching from people on here, most of the people here are extremely helpful.
The choice is up to you, choose wisely :^)
"In this world where time is your enemy, it is my greatest ally. This grand game of life that you think you play in fact plays you. To that I say... Let the games begin!" - Nefarian
@LunacyHS -- that's funny, I hadn't heard the term "CasinoStone" before... but man oh man, I can certainly see that... it is addictive as hell and "casual" is the last word I would use to describe it!
If you really really want to quit Hearthstone, the best solution is to give your account to a friend, and tell him to change the password.
Wait, that isn't the best solution, but if it could help you out...
@Dashyyy -- at first the reason why I played was because I thought it was fun.
Currently, the reason why I play is to win as many games as possible and to reach the highest rank I possibly can. There is no other reason. This is the only one.
I am heading down this path and it is a cycle of game addiction in my life. In the weeks since TGT i have set alarms to wake up early to play Hearthstone. I have also recently become obsessed with legend (and my stubbornness to use anything but control priest isn't making it easier)
I still think of World of Warcraft. The only way i quit that was cold turkey. It is the nature of games today that everyone is rewarded, continually and modestly and it gives you that sense of achievement that we all crave but sometimes lack from other aspects of our lives.
My advice is to switch to a story oriented game. Something with a beginning, middle and end will give you time away from your current addiction and clear closure when you complete said game.
Im already looking at Fallout 4 as a possibility. Destiny looks like something designed to make you grind - and that path leads to madness.
I think that you should go and see a Psychiatrist.
Release the Kraken!
Thing is, your admittance is one big step already.
Others may not be getting the same weight of negative impact but they dont even realize they're addicts as well.
I have to force myself to go to do dailies. After many 12 win arenas and reaching legend few times I see nothing interesting for me in HS. I'm more into just watching streams and tourneys...
lol you cancelled social engagements? dude, listen. just go out and drink w a friend. yea HS is kinda fun but theres no way its more fun than going out. just put a mirror right next to a computer monitor and ask yourself when you look into it: "do i look like i have downs right now?" after playing HS for an hour. if the answer is yes call up anyone. and drink as much as possible.
Nah. I'm a physician myself. There's nothing they can tell me that I don't already know.
Crack is wack son.