playing too much civilization mantal results

Hi, people.

I'm really saddened to say this, but I've had some sort of mental breakdown a few days back from playing civilization -

BACKGROUND
I'm a huge fan of civ games for years, but always wanted more free time to play.
On Wednesday and Thursday, I took a vacation from work, I've played ALL day long trying to beat my own finish date without much success.
I've not eaten much during, but I have eaten enough (I think).

BAD ATTACK
Thursday night, I got "heat waves" all over my body telling me "Get out of that seat!!!"..
I couldn't concentrate or interest myself in anything - including friends and TV.. I was as confused and irritated as one could get.
I was trembling from cold/hot feelings, feeling despared and lonely, and also had nausea ("stomach turning") and a general neurotic feeling I'm gonna go nutz!

CONSEQUENCES
Yes, I've also smoked marijuana during those days (and stopped since) , but that's no unusual for me, as I've been smoking for over 10 years with no such affects (I have an anxiety disorder, but it is stable with a pill I take, and it was originated from pressure and.. from tea! )

I've stopped smoking and playing the computer all together since, fed myself more and slept a lot...
I'm more or less over it now, 2 days + after, but I'm quite afraid to go back playing my most favorite game

QUESTIONS
Have any of you experienced such a thing??
Any suggestions? (except "uninstall civ3" I keep hearing)



Yep, I'm a new born zombie..

You took 2 days off from work to play Civ?

My suggestion would be get professional help.

You my friend have journeyed into a land called...obsession. Seriously, take it slow and only play civ for an hour or two at most. Otherwise just chill with your friends.

Edit: and no, I've never really experienced that.

Hello old friend.

I too have experienced before all that you described. And not just with Civ but with computer gaming in general. Skipping school and work in order to play, minimal food and sleep, body going to pieces...

And I wasn't even into weed or any drugs then. Just an obsessive addiction to games.

Do as the others have said. Play less. Distract yourself with other things. Set a goal for yourself that can only be achieved by you making more money. (Thus forcing you to work harder.) Go out more with your "normal" friends. Get laid. Get a girlfriend. Anything.

Ok...
I want to play, but I won't..

I'll keep myself from gaming until.... tomorrow (that is 3 days gameless..).
I am at work, and it does help a lot, and I'll go to friends more.

Finding a girl seems almost science fiction after 8 years without, but perhaps I should push there too.

One thing for sure - I have to eat MUCH more, or I'm gonna really fall in pieces..

Why is this happening though?
I thought about another interest of mine I could go into - Phisics - but it seems no better than playing computer games, since both offer no human interaction.. is this what I'm really missing??

Why don't you try a more standard civ game like GOTM.

Those tiny conquest games are soooo frustrating. It is almost surprising you are as sane as you are.

I do not have the training to give you advice on something that could be so significant. Let me submit that it is not the playing of Civ or games in general.

I have been playing most of the day for years as I do not work, but even if I play 18 hrs in a given day it does not affect my sleep or eating. I have been breaking off from playing at 9 or 10PM lately to unwind before bed (midnight or so).

The times I play very close to going to bed are the times that it is not so easy to turn off the game while I lay in bed, so I try to avoid that.

Hope you are able to over come this, good luck.

@boogaboo: Sometimes it's EASIER to stop playing cold turkey than it is to play an hour or 2 a day..............ESPECIALLY if you're addicted or obsessed! (With Civ playing that is!)

My fiancee told me I was starting to obsess with Civ (Starting?......Hmmmm, must have fooled her for months, I thought!)....Anyways, it was easier for me to stop cold turkey for a few weeks......AND it kept her happy......AND it re-entered me into the Real World.

Here are 2 Xmas thoughts for you that get things in perspective:
1. The HOF wasn't updated for 5 months.......what if Thunderfall had decided to shut down the HOF!?
2. What if TF closed www.civfanatics.com tomorrow!

In both cases, what would you do?.....Give that some thought, 'cos you never know!!!!!!

Practice Survival Training NOW!!

Good post Boogaboo,
I suffered some very similar problems some years ago.
Let me tell you what is the best solution without contest :
Get more other interests, be it social, with other ppl, a girl, movies sports...
Its much easier to stop or not start playing civ when you have something interesting to do then starin at the wall.

Since you mention you think social interaction might be lacking, start by calling some old friends or something.



Note : (its really weird for me to be giving this advice, as I was in the same situation about 5 years ago, except for me it was computer games and math (Im a math major), so there you go, but I guess that makes me qualified to give advice )

Playing too much Civ for me has resulted in recurring nightmares where there is no distinction between real life and Civ..I count MP of different people and wonder how much gold stuff costs me

Thnx ppl!

I think the secret does lie in balancing my life (toward the NON-virtual world) and not overdo anything..

@Offa - Tiny (now small) conquests are one of the problems.. the frustration was a big part of it, although I just saw it as a piece of the puzzle I'm in...
I'm almost finishing it, but I WILL do the remains much slower, with absolutely no rush (except pop-rush )


@vmxa : I was once close to play-most-of-the-day, but I always HAD to do some other thing (army/work/study/work), so now when I get a few days off work, I can't do it like I once thought I want..
Hip hip hurray that you can ! ... but watch out for the demons!!

@Eman : In both of your cases, I would get a screenshot of the HoF and run to Sid Meier to try and work on civXYZ - my next goal after the HoF...
And survival? I won't survive nor do I expect humanity to

@LulThyme : Yep, friends and TV mix ok for the mind (as I did today AFTER work..). BTW, I have a first degree in math and computer science..

@allhailIndia : Well, I was bombed by Syrian bombers last night, so it's hard to say I'm out of touch with reality
Noticed you have the wonderful pristess of the moon (POTM!) from Warcraft3 on your avatar.. That is my second choice of gaming...
Do you think I should just relax playing DOTA with my time??!!

@allhailIndia : Well, I was bombed by Syrian bombers last night, so it's hard to say I'm out of touch with reality
Noticed you have the wonderful pristess of the moon (POTM!) from Warcraft3 on your avatar.. That is my second choice of gaming...
Do you think I should just relax playing DOTA with my time??!!

Click to expand...

lol you have to be the first person I've seen online (in non-warcraft 3 circles) who plays DoTA, I LOVE that game, probably more than standard warcraft 3..... though I still moan the fact that the sentinals are SO overpowered when compared with most of the scourge heros, and the scourge seem to get all the n00bs

People just love to find diseases.

Turn off your computer!

This just appears to be self-justification for some negative behaviors you have. "It's not me, it's the drugs!"

No, it's you. Get over it.

rmsharpe said:

People just love to find diseases.

Turn off your computer!

This just appears to be self-justification for some negative behaviors you have. "It's not me, it's the drugs!"

No, it's you. Get over it.

Click to expand...

As much as I hate to say it, rmsharpe is right.

A lot of people make up diseases or conditions that they blame their problems on (ADD, Anorexia, Bolemia, etc.), when in fact no such disease exists. Obviously, Civilization 3 played a part in your breakdown, but it's your fault for not controlling your obsession and addiction. The middle path is almost always the best.

For starters, you can keep playing. I doubt your mental anxiety is due to the game itself. Now skipping work or something to play isn't good, that is a step in the 'obsession' direction. Playing in your spare time for entertainment is not a problem though - just think about how many others watch TV every night instead - at least you're using your mind. I would say, make sure you eat during traditional meal times, don't cancel plans to play Civ, don't push yourself too hard when trying to attain a goal in game, and maybe spend a night out with friends once a week. Beyond that, obviously figure out what caused the illness. Maybe the marijuana was laced with something? Maybe you just stressed yourself out trying to accomplish a task that was too unreasonable? Maybe you have an actual illness that you are just now noticing or being affected by? Bottom line, be smart about things. Don't jump to conclusions - instead, isolate the problem and consider the options for resolving it.

QUESTIONS
Have any of you experienced such a thing??
Any suggestions? (except "uninstall civ3" I keep hearing)

Click to expand...

NO.
Stop taking Drugs

I think that tiny conquest games are a bit like tight rope walking across the Niagra Falls. It can all be going so well and then...

you fall in.

At least in Civ you can start again, but Boogaboo, how many times?
Having played these games a bit I understand how they could get to you. I have given them up for now, or else I believe I too would have physical complaints: a broken 5th metacarpal and glass fragments in my fingers.

Civilization 3 is a drug!!

Yom said:

As much as I hate to say it...

Click to expand...

Why is that?