ON BEING ADDICTED TO COMPUTER GAMES

So, here I am at work, suddenly bored after a very hectic day, and what do I do. You guessed it, I digress to playing Mah Jong Solitaire – my serious internet addiction (especially one lay out that drives me utterly crazy). [My boss doesn’t see and I am fast with the mouse so I can change the screen instantly.]

But, I am thinking, what a complete waste of time, energy and human potential is my addiction to this game. Afterall, one area of expertise that I have is ‘addictions.’ Yes, I counsel addicts as part of my practice and here I am addicted to this game. So, why am I doing this? Isn’t there something more productive I should, could, oughta be doing right now to improve my brain functioning. I could be exercising in my cubicle (if I had the leg room). I could be cleaning my cubbie- now that would be an improvement. But, no…..

“Just one more game and then I’m through,” I say to myself. Then, some 50 games later, I hear myself saying, “just one more game and then I’m off to bed.” At least I don’t have a laptop that I can take to bed with me – a small consolation.

How do I stop this, I ask. NEVER START comes the rip roaring answer. Oh, yes I do stop - eventually. I am able to pull myself away from the computer by the time 5 p.m. roles by, only to find myself going home and being magnetically drawn to the game on my home computer. And at night, as I fall asleep, the images of colorful tiles keep flashing onto my retina making me feel I’m having a strange flashback to the ‘80s (or is that the ‘60s).

I awake renewed, refreshed and swearing not to touch this Solitaire Mah Jong game again – only to tell myself “just one, and I’ll stop.”

And, how is your computer game addiction going????? Comment and let me know.