How can I help a mmo addict?

[Khadath]

Hi it's been a while since I've posted on here but recently I have started to lose a really good friend to the dreaded depths of mmorpg addiction and I need some advice to help her, so it's back to the good ol' escapist.

Now this isn't like you would think ie. a guy being too protective of his female friend. No this is pretty bad she hasn't been out of her house for anything but uni in the past 5 weeks and from what I've gotten from mutual friends she hasn't been on msn much either, in fact when I do see her online and try talking she doesn't answer or is really distant even when I really needed her for some moral support the other week. And that's not to mention how she's been neglecting homework as well.

I've tried to get her out of the house and keep trying to get her to talk, I even tried telling her like it is and that she's treating her friends like shit but she just gets angry at that.

I've never given up on a friend but I just don't know what to do she keeps blowing her real friends off for these people in-game, does anyone know how I can get her off of this and get my friend back?

 

[Asehujiko]

Sounds like she suffers from despression, not OCD. Find her a shrink.

 

[Khadath]

Please less stupidity this is a real problem and I'd thank you if you took this seriously.

 

[neuromasser]

I've been in similar situation as her, and I was bothered by people who tried to get me out(like you).
So... from my point of view, you shouldn't do a thing. :/
Edit: You can try playing with her or something like that.

 

[savandicus]

Not really much you can do since its really her choice, she wont stop unless she wants to. Best advice i can give is keep trying what your doing and hoping that something gets through to her.

 

[Ryuuzoji]

Actually the symptoms you describe ARE more as a depression than an MMORPG-addiction. She probably tries to escape her problems via her computer (used to happen alot with TV and food, but now the PC is the prime reality-escape). Try finding out what bothers her, and solve that. If she really just enjoys a MMORPG, then its her own problem.

 

[Psypherus]

Cut her hands off. Can't play an MMO without hands. On a more serious note, leave her alone, if she wants to waste her life playing a game then it's her bussiness

 

[Khadath]

I've never given up on a friend but I just don't know what to do she keeps blowing her real friends off for these people in-game, does anyone know how I can get her off of this and get my friend back?

"We're your real friends, not those people!"
Nice.

As a former MMO addict, once I got away from gaming for a few days, I had no real compulsion to go back, except the people I met.
You know. My friends.

If she prefers them over you, I don't really know what to tell you. She's not dying.

Way to pick up on that one little bit and miss the rest.

She has told me that she like's these people but would never want to meet them in real life and it's not just the social interaction between me and her that's taking a beating because of it, there's also others and her study.

 

[Bendon]

She needs a shrink, not the internet

 

[LINKXIII]

I've been in similar situation as her, and I was bothered by people who tried to get me out(like you).
So... from my point of view, you shouldn't do a thing. :/
Edit: You can try playing with her or something like that.

I agree with joining her in her MMO experience. Mabye if you talk to her in her favorate place she will trust you more

 

[Christemo]

it is easy to resist the addiction. i play a ton of other games than wow (Heroes of Might and Magic, DOW: soulstorm and L4D to name a few). i havent played wow for like 5 weeks. this "addiction" is just people having nothing else to do. its a joke. the people who died from playing it too much just didnt have a life.

 

[Christemo]

Cut her hands off. Can't play an MMO without hands. On a more serious note, leave her alone, if she wants to waste her life playing a game then it's her bussiness

she would just slam her head into the buttons like the keyboard was a gigantic game boy XD

 

[xxnightlawxx]

unplug the internet and just try to get her away i had to do this shit with my cousin

 

[Khadath]

I've been in similar situation as her, and I was bothered by people who tried to get me out(like you).
So... from my point of view, you shouldn't do a thing. :/
Edit: You can try playing with her or something like that.

I agree with joining her in her MMO experience. Mabye if you talk to her in her favorate place she will trust you more

Yeah she even invited me to play with her a while ago so I did, you know it's better if she has someone who can tether her to the real world in game but about 6 weeks ago she asked me to change servers saying "I need this as a bit of an escape from everything."

I took it on good faith so stopped playing but after hearing what a few of you have said I think she may be depressed.

it is easy to resist the addiction. i play a ton of other games than wow (Heroes of Might and Magic, DOW: soulstorm and L4D to name a few). i havent played wow for like 5 weeks. this "addiction" is just people having nothing else to do. its a joke. the people who died from playing it too much just didnt have a life.

Given I'm the same kind of mmo player but it's not like she has nothing to do, she has plenty of work and I try to get her out to do something as often as I can so this is either an addiction or she really is depressed like some others have pointed out.

 

[Nmil-ek]

You cant control people get over it, the way you approached it sounds wrong though in hindsight you look quite selfish "when I needed moral support" are you really that concerned about her or just looking for a shoulder for self reassurance? And your thinking of giving up, seriously if shes truly a priority make her one.

 

[Ghostkai]

I've never given up on a friend but I just don't know what to do she keeps blowing her real friends off for these people in-game, does anyone know how I can get her off of this and get my friend back?

"We're your real friends, not those people!"
Nice.

As a former MMO addict, once I got away from gaming for a few days, I had no real compulsion to go back, except the people I met.
You know. My friends.

If she prefers them over you, I don't really know what to tell you. She's not dying.

Gotta say I agree with you on this, just because she has friends in her online escapism, doesn't make them "fake" or not "proper" friends.

 

[Khadath]

You cant control people get over it, the way you approached it sounds wrong though in hindsight you look quite selfish "when I needed moral support" are you really that concerned about her or just looking for a shoulder for self reassurance? And your thinking of giving up, seriously if shes truly a priority make her one.

Okay.... You just missed the entire point so get off your moral high horse and read it, of coarse I use things like I needed her support because I'm speaking from my perspective, I can list several better ways of gaining self reassurance and I'm not even thinking about giving up on her, the fact that I'm looking to the internet for help should only cement the fact that I'm willing to go to hell and back for her so ram it!

 

[Falconus]

Honestly, what has this world come to that a girl can't be antisocial without people trying to "fix" her. She's found something she's enjoying so just leave her alone with it. She may eventually get bored of it or she may not, and she'll either fail or she won't. But It'll be her choice and her fault. And she'll learn her lesson.

And now it's time for your lesson. She's distant and doesn't want to do anything, that's her call. Don't get all pissy just because she isn't behaving like you expect her to. Sometimes friends need space and you just have to accept it. If you won't accept it, well then you're not being a very good friend.