*Hooked on Pixels: Seth’s Journey from Gaming Addiction to Real-Life Balance*

Natalie Rivers
4 min readJun 23, 2024
Picture by Natalie Rivers

Meet Seth, a bright and imaginative young boy diagnosed with ADHD at four. His story is a cautionary tale, a journey that started innocently with video gaming as a coping mechanism. However, it soon spiraled into a dependency that shaped his journey into young adulthood, a journey that we can all learn from.

*The Beginnings of Seth’s Digital Dependency*

Seth’s parents initially saw gaming as a way to help him focus and engage in something he enjoyed. However, as time went on, the lines between leisure and dependency began to blur. Seth spent hours immersed in his games, often at the expense of his homework, physical activities, and even family time. His grades started to slip, and his social interactions became limited to online friends he met in the gaming world.

*The Struggles in Seth’s Young Adulthood*

Now in his early twenties, Seth faces significant challenges due to his early digital dependency. Socialization is one of his biggest hurdles. Seth finds it challenging to initiate and maintain conversations in real-life settings, feeling more comfortable behind a screen than in front of people. This struggle affects his ability to form meaningful relationships, leaving him feeling isolated and misunderstood.
Holding down a job is also a…

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Natalie Rivers

Aspiring writer passionate about memoirs and short stories. Exploring storytelling and honing my craft. Inspired by personal experiences. Lover of storytelling!