My best friend: Gaming addictions and more. Help?

Question

My best friend is a guy. He's addicted to online computer games. Specifically MMORPGS. He plays for more than half a day, only stopping to to eat and use the bathroom. It is really really unhealthy. He used to be a very fit guy, very smart, down to earth, very mature person. He's always liked playing, but it's gotten worse now. I can't get him to leave his room and he picks his games over everything, even me, is best friend. 

I couldn't care less about me. I'm worried about him. Every time I approach him with it, it just ends up with him being offended and he brushes me aside. He knows he shouldn't be crazying into the online game so much, but he continues anyways. He pays money per month to continue playing the game. He's in college...he dant have money, lol. He wonders why he's failing a class.

I don't know how to describe it. But someone please help me come up with a better constructive way to help inspire him to ween away from the gaming and come back to the real life. Without making him upset or ignorant.

 ....Anyone about to tell me to leave him alone, do not answer this question. I do not leave my friends hanging like that. We're Christians. We help each other. 
.....Anyone about to tell me he isn't doing anything wrong, then obviously this question doesn't apply to you because you're in the same situation as him even if it doesn't have to do with games.

Everyone else....help??? I love my best friend, I can't watch him waste away.

untamed_soul · Accepted Answer

I know totally what you mean and I have been on both sides of the story.  I found when I was being sucked into the online world of games that my satisfaction came from the easy rewards that the games gave.  After I discovered more enjoyable activities in the real world though, I quickly chose those over my online recreation.  

It's a touchy subject to offer advice to someone who doesn't view their fun as a handicap so I wouldn't even try to go that route.  Instead, start offering more of a cold shoulder approach as you're moving forward with your life doing the things that you enjoy.  While this seems harsh, it'll show him you can't be there forever through his denial.  He'll either figure out he'll need to put the game down long enough to hang with you, or he'll need much more help than what you can provide which is often only accomplished by him hitting rock bottom as a result of his addiction.  

Realize that you are doing what you can as a friend, and that is above average than what most do so don't blame your current success on helping him to be a rating of how good you are as a friend.  Some paths must be walked and some mistakes must be learned only by those that are committing them.  

Hope this helps, best of luck to you and your friend.

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My best friend: Gaming addictions and more. Help?

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