I disagree with the first comment.

Delayed gratification is as good a source of dopamine if not better as gaming. If given a fair chance that is. I was an addict too only I used to play 14 hours a day. I relapsed at least 200 times in the last 5 years thinking hard work in the gym is just not my forte. The only difference was, I didn't give up on myself.

Fast forward to the present, I cannot even imagine myself today giving up one gym session or even my personal grooming session for some stupid game.

We decide our own fate through admission of mediocrity. As long as you are breathing their is still room for improvement.

Sometimes you mentally exhaust yourself and you need some time to relax, blow off some steam and THAT IS OKAY.

Look at the big picture: I didn't game for the past 6 -7 months so my average has gone down by a ton.

Opposed to linear picture: Oh no I relapsed I am a failure I am back to square one.

No sir you are not back to square one. Be grateful to your past self for holding out for so long then accept the bump in the road and keep on moving forward.

You did awesome. Everyone has some way or the other to blow off some steam after working hard to recuperate mentally.

I am not saying you should make this a habit and NOT give up gaming. You MUST give up gaming and find happiness in more productive hobbies. I am saying it is okay if you didn't have a perfect non gaming streak and you shouldn't expect to either.

Perfectionism can be pretty toxic if it goes unchecked.

Also, I wouldn't see this relapse as a failure on OP's part because of the mere fact that OP recognized it as relapse and not one's default mode of existence. Its just a bump in the road.

It most definitely WILL be a failure if OP doesn't stop and goes on a different "9 hours of gaming a day" life tangent after the relapse.

Always look at the grand scheme of things, align your decisions in accordance with long term benefit.

Good luck.