Rose-tint my world, keep me safe from the trouble and pain

[zen_kitten]

I had a disturbing realization today: lately, it often seems that the only time I can feel alive and free of all the stress, pain, and bullshite of everyday life is when I'm online playing World of Warcraft

Comments

[unmaker]

My advice: stop playing. I had the same problem, both with EQ and with WoW. I haven't played WoW for about two months now. You're being drawn to the game because you're not happy with your life. WoW is like carbon monoxide masquerading as oxygen in your bloodstream. Don't suffocate. Leave the game and don't come back until playing it is an alternative to something else. You need to deal with your life issues first.

[vengeant]

...Clearly, you need to figure out some way to make WoW into a research project and a thesis. ;-)

Perhaps a paper about the ways a brain deals with rewards, even when the rewards are intangible and only representations of a reward?

But on a more serious note, it does sound like you might be suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder. (Not too surprising, since you grew up in Sunny Southern California, and your body is used to a much higher level of sunlight.) Which means that it'll go away, when spring and summer (and more sunlight) come back. But you still might want to talk to your doctor about it, since I'm guessing you don't want to wait that long.

[ankie]

Wow. You know, this whole post of yours hit home - and then this comment. I just today came to the conclusion my state of.. numbness might also be blamed on the 4-months long winter we had here in the Netherlands. :)

[vengeant]

Could be. Better move to the Mediterranean, just to be safe.