An Interview with Recovered Gaming Addict James Good

Impact’s Christina Giallombardo interviews James Good, recovered gaming addict, to delve into the dark realities of the illness, as well as the help on offer.

We all have our favourite games. We rack up hours of gameplay on the likes of Skyrim and, even if they have terrible graphics, they bring us a sense of nostalgia. But what happens when casual gaming descends into something all-consuming?

James Good speaks with Impact, bravely recalling his own experiences with gaming addiction. “It became more important than anything else: family, work and health,” he says.

There is a prominent issue with gaming addicts being clumped together, James remarks. “For an addicted university student, it could be a way to avoid studying. For another addict, it could mean neglecting their newborn.”

As with all mental health illnesses, there are “different levels of severity”. Many who suffer also have underlying ADHD or depression and “use gaming as their coping mechanism” to escape reality, since “you can’t fail in a video game.”

When James moved to university, his addiction became worse. Without his parents acting as a safety net, he “stopped doing coursework and eating well. Things went rough in my relationship, and everything deteriorated.” “I played [for] 32 hours straight in my first year.” To him, “it was not an addiction, just a hobby.”

Quitting is not as simple as uninstalling games and hiding consoles, however. Relapses occur. James comments that he thought he could play video games in moderation, but “the more things piled up, the more I wanted to escape, and [it became] a never-ending cycle.” It was not until his second year of university that he realised he had an addiction and committed himself to recovery via self-help programs and entrepreneurship. “It started [as] a way to look at how I could improve my physical and mental health.” But as his mental and physical health improved, a 90-day gaming detox turned into 10 months.

James notes: “with alcohol, it is easy to see when someone is addicted”, whereas the difficulty with gaming addiction lies in the fact that it is easier to mask. This problem is exacerbated by university environments, where “you can go to the kitchen at 3 am and people don’t question it” and completing work on the deadline day is normalised.

“The withdrawal symptoms [for gaming] are the same as drugs and alcohol. You shake and can’t sleep.” With approximately 50 million people affected, there is a severe lack of support.

James is now a committed advocate for helping gaming addicts. He discussed how the gaming industry facilitates toxic environments: “Kids are exposed to gambling and mature topics. The gaming industry exploits vulnerable people to make money.”

If James could give his younger self advice, what would he say? “Think about what kind of life you want in the future”, he muses, “then, think: is the person you currently are, with the habits you currently have, capable of achieving those dreams?”.

If the answer is no, James insists that those suffering can recover, with the support they deserve.

You can find James’ website at https://gamefree.gg/ and his Youtube channel at https://www.youtube. com/channel/UCOxwCYEL29Qv6B9cgIXZr-g

If you or someone you know is struggling with a gaming addiction, please see the following resources and helplines for support:

NHS support National Centre for Gaming Disorders Helpline: 0207 381 7722 Email: ncba.cnwl@nhs.net

Private Care facilities UK Addiction Treatment Centres Helpline: 0808 250 2893

Priory Hospital gaming addiction treatment enquiries Helpline: 0800 144 8969

General mental health support Samaritans Helpline: 116 123

By Christina Giallombardo

Illustrations by Christina Giallombardo Page Design by Chiara Crompton