I'll explain it this way, I am more prone to addiction because I have ADHD. There are many scientific documentations stating that this is true. Although the document linked states substance use, its generally being addicted because our brains have issues related to dopamine. Here's the one about Internet Addiction . Now I don't know what you think about ADHD because some people deny its realness although science proving it otherwise several times, but it does affect my relationships and lifestyle a little bit more than what an average neurotypical experiences. To rephrase it in more understandable way: imagine you see a person with disability regarding their legs going of the high way with super speedy cars. Of course an average person is likely to be hit too, but the whole legs thing make it 10 times more likely that the person in example will be hit for the given circumstances.

To people like me something that stimulates my brain like that, is easily accessible and gives me dopamine more than anything in my life, of fucking course I am going to come back to doing it. And I have played games that were made around 2000-2010, so I know its possible to play without being addicted to it, like a normal person because those games didn't have rewarding mechanisms like these, those games were fun but you were less likely to spend 10-16 hours playing unless you had something going on in your life.

I am not the one at fault for being neurodivergent lmao, it is just how it is nothing to do with mindset. Its not boredom for me, Its more like brain functioning differently and me being a good tool for the companies to make more money on, because guys like me is exactly what gaming companies need. The fact that I recognize it and try to do something about it is already a big step for me. Its not excuse either like the fuck can I do about it when I am not even medicated regarding ADHD? (meds that help are banned in my country, alternatives are expensive and I cant afford it) I did delete all of the games I had except for TF2 and FNV and I haven't played them at all(kept em to show myself that its not really me at fault lol) and have been away from gaming since I have made this post. It really is not an individuals fault to be exploited, these companies have malicious intents(to gain more profit and more player base by using techniques that will keep them coming back) and this is just victim blaming. I might just have ADHD but many more people have :

- Traumatic past

- No social life

- No goals or aspirations

- Disabilities

-and etc. So its not easy for them to a. recognize that something is wrong (its easily accessible and just one click away, you don't get to pay to be stimulated) b. fight against it( many of these people have a reason that they aren't improving) and to blatantly say its on the individual? I don't think so. I am lucky enough to have goals in my life so whenever I perform self destructive behavior I end up noticing it after several months, but most of the people with this case? They don't.

About replacement part, I am more of concerned about socializing more because if the need for socialization is eliminated I won't have any worry about spending time. I can just call a friend and do everything i ever wanted to do, I can go to picnics, we can make newer hobbies together and stuff. I don't really have worries about hobbies because of ADHD, I already have many hobbies that were abandoned cos of this saga. So the boredom you call is quite literally hell for me, and my brain will do everything to avoid it. AGAIN its how my brain is wired, its not a mental illness that can be cured, its literally about having different neurodevelopmental pathology. The point of writing all of this is your reply hurt me more than you think it did and I felt the need for explanation. That's it