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One of the things that disturbs me the most about low-fat, no-fat, low-carb, no-carb diets is that they focus on what you shouldn’t eat. There are some “high protein” diets out there, but they also focus a great deal of energy on what you shouldn’t eat.

I’d like to discuss fiber, something you SHOULD eat, in high quantity. The low-carb community often glosses over how vitally important fiber is, because fiber is - you guessed it - a carbohydrate. And that was one of my biggest issues with the low-carb craze (which has, thankfully, fallen out of favor), is that it focused on cutting out the very foods you need the most, such as fruits and vegetables!

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This article comes to you not from a doctor or expert, but from a parent who has seen it first-hand, and lives with it every day. I have spent several years learning every tip and trick I can, and it pleases me to share those with you here. If you have any tips, please comment below with them.

Let me begin by saying that nothing can replace the care of a doctor when it comes to asthma. You have too much to lose to start trying to go alone here. There are, however, things you can do to help alongside your doctor’s care.

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Whether you want to look younger or just want to make sure you don’t age prematurely, below is a list of some common as well as lesser known ways to shed the years.

• Apply a Retin-A or EGF-based product.
• Always apply a moisturizer to your face (but does not contain mineral oil)
• Use sunscreen (SPF 15+) 365 days a year AND wear a wide-brimmed hat
• Try to keep yourself from squinting, puckering, or making other faces that can cause wrinkling over the years.
• Stay out of the sun
• When you get out off the shower, pat your face to dry it - don’t rub or scrub it!
• Wear sunglasses when outside to prevent squinting which leads to wrinkles
• Avoid smoking and cigarette smoke
• Try not to sleep face-down
• Exfoliate your face at least twice a month
• Run a humidifier when you sleep
• Lose extra pounds and keep them off (This could be one of the biggest factors!)
• Get plenty of sleep every night, even on the weekends
• Keep allergies under control
• Be sure to get plenty of vitamins A, E, and C, preferably through vegetable and fruit juicing for best absorption
• Eat fish several times a week
• Avoid alcohol
• Massage your face thoroughly every week to increase circulation to the area
• Eat lots of fruits and vegetables
• Don’t chew on your lips
• Don’t forget to apply SPF-factor lip balm
• Drink lots of water. Not other drinks. Water.
• Avoid stress
• Use very mild soaps
• Consider taking acetyl-L-carnitine and alpha-lipoic together

There are various forms of impotence, which is now usually referred to as erectile dysfunction, or just “E.D.”. This article will examine one variant of E.D., which is sometimes known as psychological impotence. And within this variant are even more splinters of causes, and “performance anxiety” is the focus here. This article does not cover any other physical or physiological forms of E.D.
A layman’s (nice pun!) definition of performance anxiety is basically… a guy worries about how well he’ll do in the sack to the point that he ends up unable to perform at all.

The earliest moments a man knows that sex is a possibility is when the anxiety can begin. It could be kissing on the couch, or even a suggestive hint by his date during dinner. It could even be days in advance. But at some point the man knows that sex is a possibility, and that’s when the slow torment begins.

Somewhere in the back of his mind, questions and fears begin to swirl.

Will I be able to get it up? If I do, will I be able to maintain and finish?
What will she think if it happens?
Will I be as good as other guys she’s been with?
Did I satisfy myself too recently and my sex drive isn’t as strong as it could be?
Has it been too long since my last orgasm, and I’ll finish too fast?

By the time the moment has arrived, the man with performance anxiety may have actually worried himself out of the ability to perform. If he does manage to focus on the moment and achieve an erection at the right time, he now has a new set of worries.

Once sex has begun, he begins to focus on how he is performing, and whether or not his partner is pleased. As sex goes on, the anxiety continues to shift…

Am I about to come? Almost there? Nope.
Uh oh, I hope I don’t lose my erection before I finish.
Could this be the moment? Not that time either.
Am I gonna run out of steam before we’re done?
I really hope I don’t lose this erection.
What if she comes before I do, and then I have to wait for her to say I can start up again?

The parade of thoughts can be more than a distraction, and guess what? He often eventually loses his erection, and it’s no wonder why. He spent so much time and energy focusing on if he would perform properly and if - or when - he might achieve orgasm that he was unable to simply enjoy the moment and let it happen.

Viagra, Cialis, etc. do work for many different types of ED. In the case of performance anxiety it often takes some of the pressure off and allows the man to enjoy it.

Will I lose my erection? Nah - you popped a Cialis earlier. We’re good.

Knowing that you have enhanced sexual function can go a long way to setting your mind at ease. Remember that these drugs improve function and not libido. They’ll allow you to keep your erection longer, but won’t get you one in the first place. Actually that’s only technically true… Knowing that you have enhanced function behind you can actually help you relax and get aroused easier. So while it doesn’t technically enhance libido, the peace of mind can help improve it.

There are also endless herbal supplements that have various unproven libido enhancing effects. Let met tell you about one bad story with one of those…

I was going out on a date with a lady I had been seeing, and I knew sex was likely to happen. So earlier that day I went to the store and picked up a bottle of libido enhancer, hoping for at least the placebo effect to kick in. On the back of the bottle it listed what seemed like about two dozen different supposed libido-enhancing herbs, many of which I had read about online. So I bought it and went home and popped a couple, then got ready for my date.

Later that night, the mood was right and I had a good feeling about where things were going. But… I started feeling very intense gas pains. Yup - those damn pills gave me gas! I was sure the pains could be relived if I could let the gas out… but there was no way I was about to unload right in front of this girl! So I held the gas in, and the pains got worse.

So in the end, the libido enhancer did remove all chances of me suffering from performance anxiety… because I couldn’t even get close to performing with those gas pains. I had to tell her I wasn’t feeling well in order to avoid having sex at all.

My luck.

Aside from drugs, there are other methods.

A simple solution is to have your partner agree that if you are unable to continue performing via intercourse, that she will stimulate and “finish” you some other way to help you achieve an orgasm. This at least removes to the pressure of “what if I don’t finish” from the equation. That alone can be huge.
It’s hard (another pun) for a woman to grasp why a man can’t maintain an erection for intercourse, yet he can easily get it up for a hand job.

The answer my dear ladies is that there is no pressure.

A man is typically the one doing the performing during intercourse, but it is a woman who is performing during a hand or blow job. A man can lay back and simply enjoy it with no pressure. And more important: Even if he gets soft for a moment, she can continue. That’s not the case with intercourse.

You could also take a couple of shots of Jager (my preference), or other alcohol. A few drinks will relax you enough to get all of those rogue thoughts of performance out of your head. But a few too many could also destroy your ability to function at all sexually. I seemed to have my best luck with about two shots of Jager and two beers.

Most guys don’t admit they have performance issues until they have to. You’re better off telling it to your prospective partner upfront. The honesty is a big plus, and at least you won’t have to start explaining why “it’s not you” after your boner mysteriously vanishes one minute before her orgasm. That’s never good.
If your partner knows you have this problem, most likely she will totally understand. In fact she might even benefit. If things don’t work out on your end, go down on her like never before! She will seriously not care about your anxiety if you know what you’re doing in that department. If she doesn’t understand, then your problem may have actually done you a huge favor and weeded out someone who is unable to understand or cope.

It’s important for your partner to know a few things about performance anxiety, particularly how to respond to it.

No matter how badly you perform, it should never matter to her. Relax and see if she can get you back up with her hand. If she is able to, try again. If it keeps going away but you feel a need for a release, she should help you achieve this. At least you’ll still feel a sexual connection, completion, and you’ll finish the encounter satisfied. The worst things a woman can do are to pressure the man or assume his inability to perform is related to her somehow. This will only make him feel worse.

For those of us who prefer to have fewer partners and longer relationships, performance anxiety tends to disappear over time. Often it’s the newness of a relationship that brings out the most anxiety. After some time has been spent with the same person, the anxiety often gets much better and a somewhat-normal sex life can often be achieved.

Related Posts:
When You Feel Overwhelmed

Can’t see the forest for the trees? Spent countless hours looking for a simple and free weight loss plan? Here is a brief summary of a sensible plan that will ensure weight loss if you follow it, and still provide enough nutrition and calories to keep you satisfied and energetic.

How much to eat
Find out how many calories you need in a day. Unfortunately this is different for everyone, so it will take some time for you to discover the actual number. Use my chart as a starting guide, but eventually you’ll have to tweak the numbers to fit you. It’s OK to take an educated guess and go with it for a week or two, then re-evaluate. After you’ve determined how many calories you need in a day to maintain your weight, you then need to keep that number higher than the amount of calories you consume minus the calories you burn every day. I suggest a moderate decrease in food and a moderate increase in exercise to make up the difference. Let’s say you need 2000 calories a day to maintain your weight. If you want to lose a pound a week (which is optimal and healthy), you need to burn off 500 calories a day. This 500 deficiency would be best achieved by exercising off 250 calories via exercise and also eating 250 calories less than you need.

You can certainly set loftier goals than that, but remember that the more you exercise, the more you will need to eat.

How often to eat
Once you have determined how many calories you will be taking in every day, you will then divide that number by how many meals you plan to eat per day, between 4 and 6 meals a day. The answer you get will be the amount of calories you will try to consume per meal. Eating more meals throughout the day keeps your body burning fuel on a regular basis. This helps increase your metabolism as well. I’ve known people to lose weight merely by making this change in habit.

What to eat
Try to eat a well-balanced meal when possible. No matter what you eat, be sure to eat lots of fruits and vegetables (especially raw, uncooked ones), and if possible try replacing or supplementing occasional meals with juice fresh from a juicer. Adding more fruits and vegetables to your diet will make you feel better, help you lose weight, have more energy, and even help you look better. Avoid “hidden” calories such as soft drinks, mayonnaise, breaded foods, etc. Stay away from greasy foods, breaded foods, and non-lean meats.

Exercise
Exercise as many days as you can, and as many ways as you can. Lift weights, walk, play sports, jump rope, go bowling, play with your kids or grandkids, take a stroll through the mall - do whatever it takes to keep yourself moving. A little bit every day can add up to huge gains over time. Fitness and weight loss aren’t sprints, they’re marathons. Just stick to it and over time you’ll see results. Don’t forget to eat a high-protein meal immediately after exercising.

Additional Tips

• Choose a larger quantity of low-calorie foods and you will never be hungry.
• Only cut carbs when it’s refined sugar (not the natural sugar in fruit!) and only cut fat when it’s saturated or transfat.
• Planning is the key. If you can plan out your meals for a week, you will probably succeed!
• Keep your mind focused on weight loss throughout the day.
• Tell others about your weight loss goals, and ask them for their support! You won’t feel alone in your quest.
• Rid your cabinets of almost all junk food, except for one or two small treats as a reward to yourself.
• Remember you are not eliminating anything. You are simply making smarter choices.

Below is a chart to show how many calories the average, low-activity person should need per day to maintain their weight. To reduce your weight, you will need to reduce your calories.

Everyone is different and these numbers should only be used as a guide. If you are a more active or muscular person, you will need to increase your calories.

I originally wrote a similar article detailing my 15-year life with a meth user. I have yet to post it. While I still plan to post that at some point, I found it too difficult to publish at this point. If you’ve lived with a meth user, you know how emotionally, physically, and mentally draining it can be. So for the time being, I will compromise with myself and post a more objective description of meth use.I’ve read other sites, and sometimes I get the idea these “experts” have never lived with a meth user through the worst of it. I don’t write this with the expertise of a doctor who has studied patients and run tests.

I lived with a user. For well over a decade. I was married into a family of them. I saw her family and friends all doing it. Through my ordeal I learned to hate the drug, but I also became quite familiar with the signs and the cycle that follows meth use. I may not be an expert at treating it, but I am definitely an expert at spotting it.

If you feel like someone you love may be using meth, I will describe what you might be seeing.

One common denominator of meth use is secrecy. If you’re not a fellow user or supplier, you won’t be privy to the truth of their world. They’ll lie to your face and assume you believe everything they say. Users hide their addictions, deny it, and sometimes even ridicule others for doing it (perhaps to throw us off the scent?).

Just before using, you might sense something is going on. You’ll see unusual behavior, such as disappearing into another room to take a call, going into the bathroom for 20 minutes, running a sudden “errand” that would normally wait (such as running out for milk at 1am when you still have half a gallon in the fridge). You might also see certain “friends” show up for very brief visits, sometimes not even getting out of their car.

If you haven’t been able to translate the above issues - wow you’re slow! No, just kidding. Haha.. They simply mean the meth user is looking for some drugs.

The Deal
A meth user will often go on the hunt for their drug. They’ll disappear to make phone calls, or even drive to their dealer’s house if the can’t contact him. Those are the “errands” they usually run. Or sometimes their dealer might even show up, either having been called or maybe just making a courtesy call to see if the user needs anything.

How thoughtful.

Using
After the deal, the meth user will then go do the deed. It could be in the bathroom or in their car in a nearby field. They might also do it somewhere that is more “meth friendly” than around you, such as at another user’s house. The actual use is very brief - only a few moments.

You might see remnants of the use, such as straws, pieces of tin foil, small bags or pieces of plastic wrap, razor blades, lighters - you get the idea. These things are all standard meth-related items. If the user snorted it, he could be touching his nose often because of the sensation/irritation of sucking it up his nose.

Hey we’re just getting started. This is where you enter the picture and start to see things.

The High
After doing meth, the user will display some very obvious and animated signs. The pupils will be dilated. To me that was always the tip-off. Dilated eyes, even in a bright room, were always immediate and obvious. The skin is warm to the touch and heart is pounding. You will see a mood that is a little bit too happy. And lots of energy. Meth users often get little or no sleep for days after using. They will also display exaggerated or semi-uncontrolled mannerisms, such as constant cleaning, preening, talking, etc., along with uncontrolled twitching or facial tics. During the high, the meth user often lacks an appetite and may go an entire day eating virtually nothing. It’s not uncommon to see them overly productive, such as cleaning or doing repetitive tasks, even in the middle of the night. They might pick at their hair or skin repeatedly. Almost obsessively. When they do sleep, it might be agitated and filled with movement, sweating, talking, laughing, or gibberish. The user may exhibit a heightened sexual arousal. You may even notice that the person has an unusual odor.

So why do meth users want to be this way? They don’t. Those are only the things being externalized. Inside, they are experiencing a sense of euphoria, confidence, and well-being that is far beyond what they feel when sober. They live for the high, and deal with everything else.

Those of us on the outside can’t imagine how it becomes worth it. But it does.

The Plateau
There is a brief period between the high and the crash in which the user begins to shift behavior patters. I call this the Plateau. The high is coming to and end and the user begins to display new symptoms. He begins to slow down. He might still be animated, but in a less energetic state. If he can’t get more meth, he will start to head quickly into the crash.

The Crash (aka “Coming Down”)
When a meth user has exhausted his supply and what he ingested has worked its way through his system, we have the crash. A crashing user might spend several days in bed. He might be asleep the entire time, or is awake but lethargic. He might only getting up to use the restroom or have a quick snack. The worst part of the crash is that it’s typically accompanied by a very agitated and foul demeanor. The user can get violent and display psychotic traits and huge mood swings. Lethargic, irrational, angry, moody, and confused - these are all signs of the crash.

From my perspective, this was by far the worst part. Whereas the user is mostly irritating during the high, he is more likely to focus his crashing ire directly at you. You will likely get sucked into absurd arguments or even find yourself dodging violent behavior.

It can last a few days. A few days of hell.

The Recovery
As the crash wears off, the meth user begins to revert back to his pre-high self. He might even exhibit better than normal behavior.

And just when you think life is back to normal, the cycle soon repeats and the roller coaster ride begins again. It is exhausting and frustrating for the loved ones enduring it.

Though I’ve focused on the short-term signs of meth use, I should point out that there are long-term signs of meth use as well. Weight loss, tooth decay, poor hygiene, increased acne, dry skin, hair loss, mental illness, memory loss, paranoia, depression, and psychosis are all possible. Not all of these are necessarily reversible.

If you suspect someone you love is using meth, you need to get help. If you can’t get help, you need to get out.

Though I am no expert, if you would like to contact me directly about this, feel free to comment or email me at waffles@wafflesatnoon.com.

For other articles on addiction, see Overcoming Myspace Addiction and Overcoming Addiction to the World of Warcraft.

Eating a low-fat diet is a no-brainer if you are keeping your calories in check. A filling 300-calorie meal will almost certainly be low in fat. And let’s not forget that fat is not always a bad thing. Diets rich in monounsaturated fats have produced weight loss. My first diet consisted of a peanut butter sandwich almost every day (who says they’re just for kids?). Peanuts are high in monounsaturated fat, which is part of a healthy diet. Saturated fats are the ones to avoid, and if you notice a food is very high in saturated fat, you should probably limit your intake of that particular food. Oh, and if you want one of those peanut butter sandwiches, hold the jelly and be sure to use whole wheat bread.
Dietary fat can be a tightrope walk. Studies have suggested that as much as 90% of bodyfat comes from dietary fat intake. On the other hand, dietary fat is needed to carry certain vitamins to your body, and helps the to absorb into your system. Dietary fat also supplies you with essential fatty acids, which is not manufactured in your body.

I can hear the complaints… “So now what?” Well carbohydrates are your body’s fuel and protein helps build and maintain lean muscle as well as provides amino acids. Fat has its positive uses, too, but most Western diets consist of far too much dietary fat and calories.

Determine how many calories you need in a day to maintain your weight. The only true way to do this is through trial and error. Divide your daily calories by the number of meals you eat per day, which should be 4 to 6 per day. Then choose your foods wisely. Eat lots of fruits and vegetables, along with lean meat, poultry, and pork. These simple foods are the foundation of a successful diet, and it’s almost impossible to fail if you stick with them. They are low in calories and high in nutrients. You’ll feel full without eating more calories than you need. Forget about watching your carbs, as long as you’re not taking in a lot of simple carbs such as sugar.

I’ve always said that if you eat a sensible meal that can fill you without being high in calories, you really don’t have to concern yourself with fat or carbs.  Junk food is usually to high in calories (think fast food burgers that reach 1000 calories) or not filling at all (like candy). If you stick with fruit, vegetables, and lean meat, you really only need to focus on portions rather than fat and carbs.

As obvious as it sounds, there are people who haven’t shaved their heads who might want a few tips before taking the plunge. My bald head has lured quite a few interested guys who needed a little advice before going for it. And not so obviously - there are a few ways to do it.If you don’t mind that “stubble” look, the easiest way by far is to merely grab some shears and simply shave all over your head with no extensions attached (also called shaving it with a “0″ attachment). Again, this will give you a little stubble on top.

If you’re like me and don’t want that receding hairline to show, and prefer that smooth bald look, you’re going to have to get a little closer than those shears will allow.

Time to get out the razor.

Some people prefer disposable razors, while others like having a nicer razor with disposable cartridges. I’ve done both. The results aren’t much different if you get a good disposable razor. I prefer disposables only because the replacement cartridges of nicer razors are really expensive these days.

The first year or so of shaving my head, I would shave my head about once a week. First, I’d use the shears and shave down to a 0, then lather up my head with shaving cream and shave my head over the sink, much like shaving my face. I just found it to be really messy. First you have the intitial hair flying everywhere, then you have all that creamy stubble all over the sink. Then you also have little hairs tumbling down the back of your collar when you’re done.

Before I go on, I should mention that because the hair grows outward from your crown, if you prefer to go against the grain, you’re usually going to be shaving up towards the crown from all sides. I’ve shaved with the grain and simply don’t get a close enough shave (except in the very back).

So back to technique… I like to enjoy the shower, to the point that I stand in there just enjoying the warm water. So much for conservation. But I was getting tired of that messy over-the-sink method of shaving my head, so I tried going in the shower. I realized quickly that shaving cream doesn’t work in the shower. It either gets washed away or kind of “melts” from the steam.

But in the shower, you don’t need it.

I put the area of my head that I’m shaving directly under the water and shave it as the water hits it. Not only does that soothe the area being shaved, but it also removes the hair from the razor as you go. So you don’t have to stop every few seconds to clean out the razor. It’s constantly being flushed out by the water.

Don’t worry about not having a mirror either. You can run your hand along your scalp to feel any areas you missed. Another benefit of shaving in the shower is all of that stubble is cleaned away and not sneaking down your shirt the rest of the day.

After you get out of the shower, take a look in the mirror for any spots you may have missed. I often miss the area just above and behind my ears. Just touch those up with another disposable at the sink.

So I believe that shaving in the shower with the water constantly washing down on your head is the best way to shave. I even shave my face that way now, too. I’ve found that by doing this every day, it’s very easy to manage and keep that smooth look all the time, and not just once a week as it was when I shaving every seven days. Letting it grow for a week takes a long time to shave and can be more painful. Shaving every day or two will make it a quick process and keep your shiny bald head in prime form.

If you’ve played one of the various online games such as World of Warcraft of Everquest, you have probably dealt with video game addicts first-hand. Maybe even you are addicted. This article will address video game addiction and some things to consider when trying to break free of it.

I have played, and been addicted to, both Everquest and World of Warcraft (referred to as EQ and WoW, respectively). In the latter case, the addiction lasted longer, and relapsed. In some respects, it’s a salute to the game maker, who has made a game so good that players find themselves practically unable to stop playing.

One immediate problem is that in gamer circles, a game’s addictiveness is considered a positive trait. Read some of the well known gamer forums and you’ll see rave reviews about how addictive games are to the reviewer. They actually use the term in a positive manner.

Hardcore gamers want a game they can’t put down.

In the case of World of Warcraft, there is no real end to the game. Even when your character hits level 70 (the current cap, which will be raised in the next expansion), there are always more things you can do to improve your character. There are trade skills, better armor, better weapons, reputations to increase, and gold to be made. Not to mention helping your other characters (called “alts”) level up as well.

You can’t finish the game because there is no end.

That’s why Everquest was so well named when it arrived in 1999… There is no final battle. There is no ultimate ending. It just goes on and on…

This is how gamers are so drawn in. Not only is there an immeasurable amount of things to do in the game, but also because there are millions of other players online, making it a social environment. Some people have virtually no social lives outside of these games. I know I certainly made a couple friends online, and there were people far more engrossed than I.

So not only does game play itself keep gamers coming back, but their social investments bring them back as well. There are guilds, which are groups of people who have meetings, plan in-game events, etc. Some members of these guilds literally plan their lives around guild events within the game.

Real life simply becomes a series of bridges between World of Warcraft sessions.

There have been horror stories of extreme addiction, such as the Korean parents who were both Warcraft addicts and whose daughter died due to neglect that stemmed directly from their addiction. Or the young man who died from playing for nearly 50 hours straight. In-game players have often bragged about how WoW ended marriages and relationships. Some players have also stated a preference to the World of Warcraft than the real world. I’ve seen “real life sucks” stated in the game by other players. More than once.

Again, having been an avid player myself, I recognize just how easy it is to get sucked in.

Getting hooked into games such as Warcraft is easy, because it’s very fun early on. The graphics and music are stunning. Building a character up through the early levels is quite easy. It takes only a couple minutes to get from level 1 to level 2. Progress slows considerably later on, and then when you hit level 70, it’s not a matter of leveling up any longer, but of making your level 70 more powerful. Progress gets slower and frustration begins to set in. Instead of looking forward to playing a fun game, it becomes a habit, almost to the point of dreading it. “Oh man I have to win 5 more battlegrounds today,” or “I dread having to go farm materials for tailoring today,”… yet they do it. The game becomes one long, never-ending checklist of things to do.

Things that have absolutely no meaning in the real world.

Sometimes a player will manage to step back enough to take a look at his behavior and realize how far they have gone. A few simple questions helped me see my problem more clearly.

• Who in the real world cares if you played 50 battlegrounds to get your Gladiator’s Helm?
• What could you with all that time you’re playing… to do something to improve your life?
• Has this game affected your life and relationships negatively? Is it worth it?
• Why are you playing this game so much? Am you trying to escape from something?
• Do you get irritable when you try to cut back?
• Do you think about the game while you’re doing other things?
• Do you “sneak” on the game, or conceal your playing in any way?
• Are you playing the game during times you should be doing something else?
• On the usual Tuesday WoW offline times, do you spend your free time reading about Warcraft and basically waiting for it to come back online?

Chances are if you’re reading this article, you’re wondering if you or someone you love is hooked. And if you got this far, you probably already know the answer.

Unlike drug addiction, or even gambling addiction, it does seem that many video game addicts eventually become burnt out and give it up. Not always. And it could take months or years, and oftentimes they simply switch to a new game and continue their addictive behavior. There are dozens of other online games similar to WoW.

From my experience, and from that of my friends who have also played Warcraft, the two best ways to stop are from burnout – and simply realizing that you are wasting valuable time in your life… and also cold turkey. Cold turkey is psychologically tough because you will have the urge to play for a few days. Once you realize how much more you are getting done during your newfound free time, and how many things there are for you to experience in the real world, you start to realize how worthless it is to immerse yourself so intensely into a video game.

Another idea is to give someone you trust your user name and password and have them log into your account. Then have them change the password and the email associated with the account so you can no longer log in. Have them cancel your account and swear not to give you the password in order to re-subscribe. I don’t suggest using the parental control area to limit playing. The only way to break the addiction is to be completely away from the game.

Fortunately, breaking the spell of Warcraft is “only” psychological. You don’t have to physically detox, so going cold turkey will not kill you. It might make you irritable. Like problem gambling, video game addiction is a problem with impulse control. The causes of this impulse control is something you’ll have to address at some point.

After a few days without Warcraft, the real world comes into much sharper focus. You’ll feel an intense sense of relief, and you’ll find many more things to fill your time. Relationships will improve, chores will get done, and you’ll get more sleep. You can start working on a checklist of things to do to improve your real life, instead of the character you played in WoW.

You have to make the decision to do it. Don’t cheat and “hop on for a few minutes.” If you feel you are addicted, you must act immediately and fully. You owe it to yourself and your loved ones. If you feel that breaking the addiction is beyond your control, you may have to seek professional help. And you should never be embarrassed to do so. Do what you can break free of the addiction before the addiction breaks you.

Video game addiction is something you can and will overcome. It will also give you more appreciation of the World of Real Life, which is full of beauty and excitement that no video game can replace.

For further reading, see my post about the reasons people become addicted to the World of Warcraft.