This happened to me. I had adhd and anxiety. Going back to simple. Keeping my food simple and making it myself, and looking forward to runescape or wow when coming back home has helped me immensely. I get a bonus here soon for the year and will be happy to not have credit card bills. I got back into wow 2 years ago. But would lose interest because i was focused on so many others. Helps that I don’t drink anymore or take the kratom extracts. Gaming is just more appropriate, or else. I will spend too much, go outside too much during work week. I still make sure to get sun on sat and sun on a nice Florida trail that no one is ever on. And ill do some exercises and make some tapas waiting for friends to play with. My husband is gone alot also in military. It would be great to actually hsve money saved up when he gets back. When I was younger. I had addiction to Tolkien books, LotR, Silmarillion, Children of the Hurin etc. I couldn’t even read a pamphlet these past 5 years. Nor play wow longer than an hour. Alcohol, kratom extract and adult content addiction didn’t help. Everything he says is exactly how I felt. Also, my family shared same interests but we got spread out. Like magic the gathering. I miss playing with my sis and brothers. Husband too but he is gone.
Your analogy is why I fantasize about going to one of the Japanese restaurants where the old dude’s been making his one thing for 40 years. Only one choice and almost guaranteed to be excellent.
That part when you said finishing the game you are playing somehow becomes more appealing than actually playing it really hit home with me. I need to take a step back and remember why we play games in the first place.
Basically explained my life to a T. To include baking. Mtg, LotRs. Use to think being a home body and going out with set of friends every night was what I should do. But honestly wasn’t. Especially if its just peers you share zero interest with. I’ve enjoyed being home body lately. Cooking my own food, playing the heck out of wow hardcore. While play mtg online while waiting for friends on wow. Reading LotRs for 5th time with a nicotine pouch in my cheek before falling asleep in bed. I think in our 20s, many of us have adhd and focus on so much, but eventually narrow down. For me, i think relationships made me depressed until finding my husband. He is bit younger. Im older 34. You eventually find a straighter path and focus more. And learn to do what doesn’t give you anxiety.
The bit about having a tbr (to be read) list hit me pretty hard. I have obsessively kept lists for the past ten years and this made me realize how much it is weighing me down. Whenever I am reading a book, playing a game, watching a movie, or even working on a creative project, I am constantly thinking about the enormous list of other works I "need" to get to, and as a result I always have one foot out of the door of the present moment and it truly ruins the experience. Everything I do, even my hobbies, feels like work instead of pleasure. I think it's time for me to burn/delete all of those lists. Thanks for the video.
I'm literally making another list while reading this. If I didn't make lists I would be compelled to try and do just as much but my efforts would be sloppy and unfocused. Several years of making lists has forced me to be more realistic about what I can accomplish in a given period of time and how to judge whether or not something really belongs on a to-do list or if it's a passing fancy that sounds a lot better than it feels when I actually try to execute the task. If I put a book or a game or a movie on a list and it doesn't actually seem worth engaging with until the end with I take it off the list.
Everything he said, is exactly my interests and prior issues. I actually think wow hardcore is been able to let me focus and be a money saving home body. I also love magic the gathering and have been playing online more while waiting for people. And making food. Or throwing ingredients together like i have. After school, I made few friends. But my life was loosing structure and my money spending was insane just always every day going out in my beach town with different friends. He is basically me in man form. Also, I don’t like saying no, and i get tipsy and pay for everything. When i am drunk or hung over, i get take out alot too.
Man, you are really speaking right from the deepest corner of my soul here. I have big up and downs with hyper fixation on topics and then picking multiple. When I'm into more then around 2-3 I always feel the need to dip into one thing, speedrun what I want to do and then dip into another. The constant feeling of rushing from one thing to another feels like a big load of crippling exhaustion and pure stress. The rush just makes me feel like accomplishing nothing. The times where I focus on one thing I really get good and the thing I do. I take my time and just feel fullfilled in a general sense. So what you are saying makes complete sense for me and I am very thankful for you speaking out about this, because it makes me and others know that they are not alone with this problem and give a wake up call, that people with this issues might just need to step down on going wide and rather go deep. Keep up the good content!
I'm only 8 minutes in and so many of the things you're saying resonate with me completely. I also have ADHD and anxiety, and the way you describe your experience with it is exactly how I try to explain my experience to others. When you said you have a hard time trying to relax when you have too many things going on (WoW, LOTR, Harry Potter) and struggling to compartmentalize them, that stuck with me so much. The chaotic racing thoughts, and hyper fixating being the solution to that is also very real. Thanks for the video.
I have the same issues + a 1½ year old it's so difficult when the only moment you can relax your mind is after everyone else is sleeping and then you're gonna be super tired again next day
Everything you said speaks to me. I get into frenzies of not "doing enough", and end up buying things to try to hobbies, and then eventually get overwhelmed with everything I've accumulated and then sell things to start the cycle all over again. I've made it my goal for 2025 to just be ok with being interesting in what I'm interested in and not chasing things I'm only doing for the sake of being seen as more productive. I used to paint a lot, that's one thing I want to try to maintain this year, but this time instead of painting things that don't really interest me, I've decided to paint stylized scenes from my favorite MMO.
Can’t relate more. I think this video came into my life at just the right moment. After having started playing Final Fantasy VII Remake, without finishing Persona 3 and 5, which I started at the same time. Meanwhile, I'm leveling a warrior in Classic Fresh and the other tank classes in retail for M+, to play together with my Pally main. And dropping Final Fantasy XIV halfway through ARR but still wanting to continue it. Thank you for your content, I think you are the best creator y discovered this year
Same here-I’ve been jumping between different jobs, schools, and 'main games' ever since I finished high school. That’s why I’m so glad I came across this video; it really resonates with me, and I can totally relate. Thank you!
Wow. When you said having an obsessive thought is like having peace and quiet in my brain that made so much sense to me. I’m listening to this while I play WoW and feeling so immersed in this beautiful world! Thank you for your insight💙
Earned a sub and a like with this video. I've also sent it to several of my friends who struggle with the same things that I do. Its crazy how accurately you just described my life. Everyone who plays games should see this video.
A nice change to WoW content, it really showcases the diverse community of people that this game attracts. Started playing WoW classic a few months ago for the first time ever [I'm 29] and i can tell that this game is able to touchbase a lot of what i enjoy in gaming: community, complexity, diversity and the ability to go at your own pace. I listened to this video while fishing in UC and came to realize that those in-game activities really give us time to pause and connect [if you are willing to and have that mindset]. Undead Warlock here but can't wait for blood elfs in anniversary servers to try paladin! I'll keep an eye on your content, keep up 🫡
What you said about "being in the same chair for everything" is so huge and I think a big part of why, despite PC gaminghaving so much at our fingertips, we play fewer games and enjoy them less than couch console gaming. We don't compartmentalize our spaces, so we work, browse, game, listen to music, watch videos etc. all in the same space. No wonder our concentration ends up so shot - we're always comparing every experience in that space against every other experience. When I was younger I used to be able to be quite creative at my desktop, now I really struggle after university where I did all my work and living basically at my desk. I discovered just getting up and going somewhere else to write actually let me 'work' and enjoy gaming better as well. Hopefully in future I'll build this balance better like getting my desktop out of my room.
Man, I relate so deeply with what you're saying. I've suffered with anxiety my entire life, and only in the past few years have I discovered I have what my doctor described as 'severe adult ADHD and codependent anxiety.' My lifelong passion is D&D, but I just recently rediscovered my love for WoW, and this video perfectly describes how therapeutic it's been for me. Also, shout out to a fellow Paladin!
100% can relate! After years of variety gaming I finally returned to my "first love" in video games... MMORPG's! Just recently joined the Classic WoW community and I've been LOVING my time in the game so far. it's great to find another creator that is just starting out there YT journey as well! Thanks for taking the time to create and share this video. I know a lot of people that feel the same way.
I really believe that everything that is truly meant for you, will be put in front of you despite all the odds. I've felt a sense of organised chaos in my life due to my unmedicated ADHD since as young as I can remember. What you have verbalised in this video summed my teenage and now mid-20's life up in a nutshell. I can ever so slowly feel myself starting to make a change, and I have been unknowingly trying this over the last year or two and it is helping me immensely. Warhammer 40k is another great example of this and has started to help me dramatically (I am also an ex WoW player myself). Thank you for expressing your thoughts, because I really needed this video to put the nail in the coffin to my chaotic life, that I love, but want more control of!
This is a very fascinating take As someone with ADHD I feel the opposite but I very much empathize with the decision paralysis. I love to play a variety of games and keep exploring and trying new things, like you said, getting locked into 1 game being hyperfixated and then moving on from it It's really interesting to hear how adhd has manifested behaviourally for you, as I absolutely hate going deeper and love going wider, I find great joy and passion in dipping my toes into something for a few months then moving on. Something that is worth thinking about though is the idea that playing many different games doesn't necessarily represent a lack of focus or having "too many hobbies" but to me it's a singular hobby - trying out new games. Great to hear your perspective and I'm glad you also mention having hobbies outside of games, I would really recommend anyone who's into games to have at least 1 or 2 things you are interested in outside of screens, it'll also help you enjoy games more
Thank you for this video - omg, I identified with 99% of what you said. Love "when my brain hooked into it, it really kept my attention for a long time". I had been obsessed with random PvP (no joke) - it is hard because PvP has been central for a few years now - but I really want to play the game differently and to play less so I can start to fold in other irl interests (art work & reading - things that are not tech driven). Loved your suggestions - Happy 2025!
This video came to me at the prefect time. I've had such a large backlog of games games that its been stressing me out, i cant decide what to play at any given instance and end up just browsing youtube or netflix for something to watch. I had been tossing up to re-start my sub to FFXIV and finally pulled the pin in doing so but the anxiety just caused me to stress that i had just wasted money, it is just another game i wont play. But your reasonings as to why wow hooked you so much really resonated with me and only playing things to finish them not to play for fun and unwind. Im not being as articulate as you but thankyou for this, its really helped me realize what was causing my anxiety (at least a part of it)
I really appreciate this video - its exactly what I've been needing to hear. I'm a very indecisive person, and adding the anxiety and ADHD spices to the mix has me stressing about which interest/hobby I want to pursue in a given moment. I get in my head that the thing I spend my time on needs to be "perfect," but like you said, it doesnt have to be. Keep it up with these vids, your insight is wonderful :)
if you tryhard so mutch when trying to relax, its obvious you just gonna struggle and get stressed. Its happening especially when you do something you dont like. Many people dont like to read books, they just like idea of reading a book, so its now like a second job. Its not about do one thing or do many things. Just do what you truly enjoy. Pro tip, if you feel that you need to focus on something more, you most likely dont like it, its dont go naturally without forsing yourself. If you truly like something, its will come and bring joy naturally.
This might be the best video I have seen on UA-cam in quite some time! I had most, if not all of these thoughts going into 2025. I told myself that I am going to revamp my life and focus solely on the things that are most important to me and shed the rest of the things that are weighing me down, not only mentally, but physically. The biggest thing that gave me that kick in the butt is watching my dad die in the hospital back in October. It really woke me up and emphasized that my physical and mental healthy absolutely need to be at the top of my priority list. So, I created a Focus List. This isn't a “To-Do List”, its simply what I am focusing on this year. There is no failing it because its not a new years resolution. Every time I hear people make those, I just think of what the gym looks like on January 2nd and then a month later its a ghost time lol. Anyways, gaming has always been the biggest culprit with what you talked about in the video. Its just too much, too many things are are so easily accessible 24/7, the latest “hottest game” is coming to market. So I said you know what, if I want to get back into WoW that is completely fine, but my priority for 2025 will be learning and getting better at fighting games. Its always been in the back of my mind, its time to dive in and make it a slow grind. Thank you so much for making this video, it really resonated with me and the new season of life I am in! Have a wonderful 2025 and I look forward to your future content!
My ADHD brain resonates so hard with this video, especially with the idea about having people around me that are enjoying the game with me. Also 110% with the Brandon Sanderson thing. Burned myself out without realizing what I was doing.
I love the idea of "isolating" myself NOT ONLY with the specific game itself but also with anything it can be related to (lore, books, art, music, guides, communities etc.) I've never tried this specific approach and I want to give it a shot! I believe this may work for me.
I felt your passion as soon as you said you've been baking recently. I love that for you! I've been thinking about starting to learn how to make pizza dough from scratch!
Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. I hope this helps and know that you aren't alone. I didn't get diagnosed or treated for my ADHD and Anxiety until I was 31 and once I started working with a therapist and doctor it completely changed my life. I hope you are able to find what works for you.
Yeah, I've struggled with this all my life. I've also found that limiting our options is the best "solution". There is no other way with me, I can't let my brain do whatever it wants.
great convo! ive personally had alot of success variety gaming after only playing ow for a long time and its awesome to see people enjoying their one game.
Speedrunning a popular game is a great target for obsession. If you choose the right game you'll have variety (categories), new stuff (new strats/fixes/patches) and the best part - community
I am so glad I found you. Your experiences are so close to me and its comforting that there are people who can fully understand how my mind works :) this video is wonderful thank you.
Really needed this video! I havent been diagnosed with ADHD or anything but I do switch hobbies and games often. I play wow religiously then get burnt out, and then I always make my way back to competitive games I love like valorant, fortnite, rainbow 6, etc. Recently I have been doing sim racing/driving stuff and its been fun but I dont want that to be all my youtube channel is about. My main hobby outside of games is cars and motorcycles. Modding, driving, etc. But its extremely expensive to do which means I cant do it often. Been thinking about getting back into photography again and taking that more deeply. Thanks for such a great video!
One of the biggest problems is the lack of difficulty in doing things. The easier something is to switch, the less one stays invested. Think about flipping on the power switch of a Ps2, picking a game off the shelf, opening the disk tray, open the game case and put in the disk, close the tray, grab the controller and sit and wait for the game to boot up and now you can start. For people today that's "a long time investment". VS "XBOX ON", grab controller, pick game and click. Get bored, click twice new game starts. There is really no commitment when playing digital games. This is something I realized when I picked up a Miyoo Mini+. Being able to quick swap games without any work is fucking with my ability to stick to one because it's so easy to switch between games, especially when you don't have to search for them as they are in your favorites folder.
I feel so good when I get into a flow state with a game or activity. It's like nothing else in the world. I also get deeply unhappy when I'm forced to spread my attention too thin.
Something else worth noting about live service games as a thing to center your time around is that while the progression systems often DO encourage FOMO and are intentionally paced unbearingly slow at times, that downside becomes less "bad" the more concentrated the time you spend on it is. If I spend all my time playing say Black Desert Online, which is of course infamous for fairly tedious late game content but having immense depth, It's not gonna feel as bad that the progression is so slow and the artificial slowness helps add to longevity and makes it easier to structure long term goals with the game. Comparatively if you are playing 10 games in a 2 week timeframe you are spending time on, trying to play BDO will be insufferable and boring because you never get anywhere.
This looks like one of those videos where the message in it is so more important than any other content related to it. The message even is in the title, it helps me feel like he is worried in showing the discovery, seems more genuine, i think.
I love your ability to explain stuff and your knowledge. This channel is so good. If i had to draw a venn disgram about the topics it wouls be where video games overlap with anxiety and adhd. I even think dropping gaming as a hard requirement for a video would be ok sometimes. I really benefit from the adhd and anx thoughts. Gaming is just a relatable context.
Damn bro what you said at 15:20 is so me. I don’t want to be at loud parties anymore but I like being around other people who are having a good time enjoying similar interests. But then I have the freedom to go and enjoy solitude and logout when I want.
Thank you for this Video. It very much resonates with me and just watching it makes me feel a bit more at ease. It also gave me some Inspiration and motivation to lean more into my tendencies.
Fantastic video. Came here for the WoW content, stayed for the ADHD life hacks. I so easily get so overwhelmed from all my options and shut down and hyper focus and crash. Appreciate the ideas on how to help.
Hard to explain to others about the ADHD about how when I take medicine for it, my brain is quiet and calm and how it's almost tear-provoking at calm it is instead of the constant symphony of thoughts. Gaming was basically therapy where it could drive away the thoughts and keep a focus...but bang on with the hobbies. MMOs were the best since there was so much content and so many things. UO was a big one where it just needed lots of work.
I play WoW - the game I found peace in when I lost my father at 13 years old but I now have 25 maxed characters with 10 of them in current max gear plus 30 more above level 20 and I also play tons of other games, I finished 30 stories this year and built my own GTA5 server for a good amount of people all learning how to code from scratch in 6 months. I built a business in 2023 that has since pulled over 7 figures in profit, travel at least once a month and do so much more things in between. I am only 30 and have some of the WORST ADHD I've seen on anyone and it got worse when I got older - so bad my feet shake basically 24/7 without stopping and I only sleep 3-4 hours per night, sometimes I'll be up 48+ hours on 4 hours of sleep, go down the list of the extreme ADHD cases and I probably had all of it and guess what, I love it because it benefits me so much. Having so many interesting has made me progress in life and make me more interactive in society because I used them to my advantage and would never limit myself. I'm going to be blunt here, stop using ADHD as some excuse and coping mechanism. You have multiple interest? Good, most people don't. Drop this whole introverted/extroverted mindset as well, just do what you enjoy and stop what you don't, but also actually take the time to do different things instead of limiting yourself to 1-2 for months at a time, THAT is draining and much worse on your mind, especially for the ADHD brain. No one says you have to live a certain way.
It's like looking into a mirror. I find myself over reaching interests as well. I love reading, writing, gaming, and Magic the Gathering. I've spent so much time playing WoW and The Elder Scrolls, partly for mental health. I've spent so many years wondering aimlessly due to hyper fixation then apathy, as you describe. I even started making UA-cam videos 7 months ago. Because I feel like I want to get my thoughts out there. But when it comes time to record and edit, I can not be bothered. It's sad really. But, these feelings in this video encapsulate what I've tried explaining to friend and family. Thanks
I'm a huge jack of all trades, and I honestly enjoy swapping between hobbies and still do it. I find however that things are best when I think of things in terms of outlets. I try to have a competitive outlet, a creative outlet, and an entirely relaxing outlet. Then I just do what I am most in the mood for. For example, right now my competitive outlet is Street Fighter, creative is guitar, and relaxing is WoW. If I want a different hobby, something needs to get swapped (swap guitar for piano, SF for Tekken, WoW for Elden Ring, etc.) I also try to not let myself "cheat" by having the hobby be too general. I.E. Music is so expansive that saying "music" generally is my hobby will get me overwhelmed quickly. Instead I focus on one aspect of it at a time, but allow myself to swap fairly fluidly (i.e. week to week, but not day to day or hour to hour)
Holy shit you just described exactly what I've been experiencing for the past 5 years. I'm going to try some of the stuff you've suggested. I thought it was just depression but sounds like its the ADHD. I started taking Adderall and my hyper focusing ability is insane right now and I've been glued to wow. I main a pally so this video reaaaaaaaly speaks to me.
I found it better having fewer interest myself. And also important, trying to have set times and schedules around those interest, although I know that can be difficult. For me, I schedule a single player game before work for an hour. An hour and a half after work for exercise. And the the rest of the evening (aside from dinner, shower, time with wife) on WoW. And weekends on FFXIV because we play that together. This way all of my interests and gaming preferences are explored and nothing is ignored. A well balanced life.
Wow, are you me? I totally feel like this. I have been playing WoW since 2006 and it is my all time favourite and most played game. The social aspect and the depth of the game always allows for new things and experiences. But, I also get bored easily and so in the past I easily end up jumping from one class to another and ultimately getting burned out from the game. I need variety to keep me interested. Back in 2019 re-release of classic, I played my main class since 2006, a warlock. But after a while I found myself getting bored and maybe it was the lack of any other interest at the time that I started a cycle of trying pretty much every class until I burned out. Anyhow, with the release of the anniversary realms, I acknowledged my past experience and so I needed a class that would offer me variety, so I found my love for the shaman class. Allows me a variety of gameplay styles. Wow aside, I like to jump from one hobby to another and my other interest (motorsports), from one car/motorcycle to another. This has caused a great deal of anxiety and stress, the indecisiveness. How is everyone else able to make these decisions with ease? How do I know what the right decision is? I think it is the variety, instead of getting a sports bike for the road, I’ll a motorcycle that can handle the road and off-road. This indecisiveness has extended to my gaming as well, do I play on a desktop pc, or should I get a laptop, what about a console? Or maybe all of them? Currently I have only one system for gaming, a steam deck and you know what, it offers variety as well, it’s portable like a laptop, it can be used like a desktop pc and it’s easy to use like a console. And don’t even get me started on peripherals, I’ve had so many different mice, keyboard, controller, headset, monitors… Maybe it’s boredom or the seek for perfection, or maybe my brain is just that chaotic that nothing pleases it. It sucks. But yes, less options to choose from is always a blessing.
ive kind of been trying to do this too... "minimal"izing my steam list and deleting everything but the core couple of games i wanna play, amongst other things. nice to keep things simple and direct
I agree and I heard kind of the same of putting this concept of doing less done by HealthyGamer (Dr. K) Basically, the more you "want" makes it harder to enjoy what you did Having 1 of 10 done feels devastating as compared to 1 of 3, as example And it is not about having less ambition - it is about your mental pattern of beating yourself up over not doing all of the possible things
Very interesting video which resonates a lot, i'm surprised you didn't touch the subject of choosing your class and character in a game like WoW and sticking with it!
Damn are you me?? I have almost the same symptoms as you. I got a heavy wow burnout, even though that game game always scratched that itch, as you said. For the first time since 2015, I deleted the game. I got a heavy burnout. I am always hyped for new patches, the anniversary realms. But when I started the game, I just closed it immediately. I'm not motivated anymore. It doesn't make me happy at all anymore. Now I want to commit to final fantasy 14 a little bit. I played the game on and off. I truly want to give it a try. Cheers!
oSame here, my friend! For some reason only WoW can give me the peace of mind. Regarding the book "problem", I tend to tell myself constantly, that I have unfnished books already, stop buying new ones! Most of the it works, but man the temptation sometimes wins haha!
Absolutely helped, I share most of those traits and thoughts. I wanna be an absolutist as well and WoW is definitely my priority, but I would really like to experience some final fantasy on the side, and I think it would help me appreciate WoW more and not burn out.
Listening to this I realised I may actually have ADHD My experience with WoW and LoTR and Harry Potter and having RuneScape as a burn out alternative is so similar to what you’ve been taking about in the video
I will say, choosing a main that I all in caused the same style of variety stress. Like always thinkin FOMO of another class. Like a do I main a tauren shaman or orc warlock for the fresh classic. Luckily got over it and chose the orc warlock but I feel you on this
Interestingly enough, that is sort of why I don't enjoy retail wow but I absolutely love classic. Retails is so unbelievably bloated with "things to do" that it feels very messy and overwhelming, whereas in classic nothing is really trying to grab my attention and I can just take my time and be in the game doing whatever.
Everyone is jus trying to make sense of the human condition, beautiful thoughts friend. Keep being great.
This happened to me. I had adhd and anxiety. Going back to simple. Keeping my food simple and making it myself, and looking forward to runescape or wow when coming back home has helped me immensely. I get a bonus here soon for the year and will be happy to not have credit card bills. I got back into wow 2 years ago. But would lose interest because i was focused on so many others. Helps that I don’t drink anymore or take the kratom extracts. Gaming is just more appropriate, or else. I will spend too much, go outside too much during work week. I still make sure to get sun on sat and sun on a nice Florida trail that no one is ever on. And ill do some exercises and make some tapas waiting for friends to play with. My husband is gone alot also in military. It would be great to actually hsve money saved up when he gets back. When I was younger. I had addiction to Tolkien books, LotR, Silmarillion, Children of the Hurin etc. I couldn’t even read a pamphlet these past 5 years. Nor play wow longer than an hour. Alcohol, kratom extract and adult content addiction didn’t help. Everything he says is exactly how I felt. Also, my family shared same interests but we got spread out. Like magic the gathering. I miss playing with my sis and brothers. Husband too but he is gone.
Well said!
Your analogy is why I fantasize about going to one of the Japanese restaurants where the old dude’s been making his one thing for 40 years. Only one choice and almost guaranteed to be excellent.
That part when you said finishing the game you are playing somehow becomes more appealing than actually playing it really hit home with me. I need to take a step back and remember why we play games in the first place.
Basically explained my life to a T. To include baking. Mtg, LotRs. Use to think being a home body and going out with set of friends every night was what I should do. But honestly wasn’t. Especially if its just peers you share zero interest with. I’ve enjoyed being home body lately. Cooking my own food, playing the heck out of wow hardcore. While play mtg online while waiting for friends on wow. Reading LotRs for 5th time with a nicotine pouch in my cheek before falling asleep in bed. I think in our 20s, many of us have adhd and focus on so much, but eventually narrow down. For me, i think relationships made me depressed until finding my husband. He is bit younger. Im older 34. You eventually find a straighter path and focus more. And learn to do what doesn’t give you anxiety.
The bit about having a tbr (to be read) list hit me pretty hard. I have obsessively kept lists for the past ten years and this made me realize how much it is weighing me down. Whenever I am reading a book, playing a game, watching a movie, or even working on a creative project, I am constantly thinking about the enormous list of other works I "need" to get to, and as a result I always have one foot out of the door of the present moment and it truly ruins the experience. Everything I do, even my hobbies, feels like work instead of pleasure. I think it's time for me to burn/delete all of those lists. Thanks for the video.
I'm literally making another list while reading this. If I didn't make lists I would be compelled to try and do just as much but my efforts would be sloppy and unfocused. Several years of making lists has forced me to be more realistic about what I can accomplish in a given period of time and how to judge whether or not something really belongs on a to-do list or if it's a passing fancy that sounds a lot better than it feels when I actually try to execute the task. If I put a book or a game or a movie on a list and it doesn't actually seem worth engaging with until the end with I take it off the list.
You put into words what I have never been able to explain to others in my life.
Everything he said, is exactly my interests and prior issues. I actually think wow hardcore is been able to let me focus and be a money saving home body. I also love magic the gathering and have been playing online more while waiting for people. And making food. Or throwing ingredients together like i have. After school, I made few friends. But my life was loosing structure and my money spending was insane just always every day going out in my beach town with different friends. He is basically me in man form. Also, I don’t like saying no, and i get tipsy and pay for everything. When i am drunk or hung over, i get take out alot too.
Man, you are really speaking right from the deepest corner of my soul here.
I have big up and downs with hyper fixation on topics and then picking multiple. When I'm into more then around 2-3 I always feel the need to dip into one thing, speedrun what I want to do and then dip into another.
The constant feeling of rushing from one thing to another feels like a big load of crippling exhaustion and pure stress. The rush just makes me feel like accomplishing nothing.
The times where I focus on one thing I really get good and the thing I do. I take my time and just feel fullfilled in a general sense.
So what you are saying makes complete sense for me and I am very thankful for you speaking out about this, because it makes me and others know that they are not alone with this problem and give a wake up call, that people with this issues might just need to step down on going wide and rather go deep.
Keep up the good content!
This whole vid just felt like he was just reading me like a book, it was wild. He said everything I have wanted to articulate about myself so well.
I'm only 8 minutes in and so many of the things you're saying resonate with me completely. I also have ADHD and anxiety, and the way you describe your experience with it is exactly how I try to explain my experience to others. When you said you have a hard time trying to relax when you have too many things going on (WoW, LOTR, Harry Potter) and struggling to compartmentalize them, that stuck with me so much. The chaotic racing thoughts, and hyper fixating being the solution to that is also very real. Thanks for the video.
I have the same issues + a 1½ year old it's so difficult when the only moment you can relax your mind is after everyone else is sleeping and then you're gonna be super tired again next day
Everything you said speaks to me. I get into frenzies of not "doing enough", and end up buying things to try to hobbies, and then eventually get overwhelmed with everything I've accumulated and then sell things to start the cycle all over again. I've made it my goal for 2025 to just be ok with being interesting in what I'm interested in and not chasing things I'm only doing for the sake of being seen as more productive. I used to paint a lot, that's one thing I want to try to maintain this year, but this time instead of painting things that don't really interest me, I've decided to paint stylized scenes from my favorite MMO.
Can’t relate more. I think this video came into my life at just the right moment. After having started playing Final Fantasy VII Remake, without finishing Persona 3 and 5, which I started at the same time. Meanwhile, I'm leveling a warrior in Classic Fresh and the other tank classes in retail for M+, to play together with my Pally main. And dropping Final Fantasy XIV halfway through ARR but still wanting to continue it.
Thank you for your content, I think you are the best creator y discovered this year
Same here-I’ve been jumping between different jobs, schools, and 'main games' ever since I finished high school. That’s why I’m so glad I came across this video; it really resonates with me, and I can totally relate. Thank you!
Your channel is much more than just a gaming channel. Keep it up.. excited to see you grow!
Wow. When you said having an obsessive thought is like having peace and quiet in my brain that made so much sense to me. I’m listening to this while I play WoW and feeling so immersed in this beautiful world!
Thank you for your insight💙
Earned a sub and a like with this video. I've also sent it to several of my friends who struggle with the same things that I do. Its crazy how accurately you just described my life. Everyone who plays games should see this video.
Not even 2 minutes into the video and I already fell in love with your channel.
This is exactly what I needed right now!
Much love!
A nice change to WoW content, it really showcases the diverse community of people that this game attracts. Started playing WoW classic a few months ago for the first time ever [I'm 29] and i can tell that this game is able to touchbase a lot of what i enjoy in gaming: community, complexity, diversity and the ability to go at your own pace. I listened to this video while fishing in UC and came to realize that those in-game activities really give us time to pause and connect [if you are willing to and have that mindset]. Undead Warlock here but can't wait for blood elfs in anniversary servers to try paladin! I'll keep an eye on your content, keep up 🫡
What you said about "being in the same chair for everything" is so huge and I think a big part of why, despite PC gaminghaving so much at our fingertips, we play fewer games and enjoy them less than couch console gaming.
We don't compartmentalize our spaces, so we work, browse, game, listen to music, watch videos etc. all in the same space. No wonder our concentration ends up so shot - we're always comparing every experience in that space against every other experience.
When I was younger I used to be able to be quite creative at my desktop, now I really struggle after university where I did all my work and living basically at my desk. I discovered just getting up and going somewhere else to write actually let me 'work' and enjoy gaming better as well. Hopefully in future I'll build this balance better like getting my desktop out of my room.
Man, I relate so deeply with what you're saying. I've suffered with anxiety my entire life, and only in the past few years have I discovered I have what my doctor described as 'severe adult ADHD and codependent anxiety.' My lifelong passion is D&D, but I just recently rediscovered my love for WoW, and this video perfectly describes how therapeutic it's been for me.
Also, shout out to a fellow Paladin!
Also, I totally forgot to ask (lol) but what add ons are you using?
100% can relate! After years of variety gaming I finally returned to my "first love" in video games... MMORPG's!
Just recently joined the Classic WoW community and I've been LOVING my time in the game so far. it's great to find another creator that is just starting out there YT journey as well! Thanks for taking the time to create and share this video. I know a lot of people that feel the same way.
never heard someone articulate it so well thats crazy
I've no idea why you ended up in my recommendations but your content really connects to me.
You earned a new sub
I really believe that everything that is truly meant for you, will be put in front of you despite all the odds. I've felt a sense of organised chaos in my life due to my unmedicated ADHD since as young as I can remember. What you have verbalised in this video summed my teenage and now mid-20's life up in a nutshell. I can ever so slowly feel myself starting to make a change, and I have been unknowingly trying this over the last year or two and it is helping me immensely. Warhammer 40k is another great example of this and has started to help me dramatically (I am also an ex WoW player myself).
Thank you for expressing your thoughts, because I really needed this video to put the nail in the coffin to my chaotic life, that I love, but want more control of!
This is a very fascinating take
As someone with ADHD I feel the opposite but I very much empathize with the decision paralysis. I love to play a variety of games and keep exploring and trying new things, like you said, getting locked into 1 game being hyperfixated and then moving on from it
It's really interesting to hear how adhd has manifested behaviourally for you, as I absolutely hate going deeper and love going wider, I find great joy and passion in dipping my toes into something for a few months then moving on.
Something that is worth thinking about though is the idea that playing many different games doesn't necessarily represent a lack of focus or having "too many hobbies" but to me it's a singular hobby - trying out new games.
Great to hear your perspective and I'm glad you also mention having hobbies outside of games, I would really recommend anyone who's into games to have at least 1 or 2 things you are interested in outside of screens, it'll also help you enjoy games more
This was exactly what happened to me. Glad to see someone who shares my point of view on this topic
Thank you for this video - omg, I identified with 99% of what you said. Love "when my brain hooked into it, it really kept my attention for a long time". I had been obsessed with random PvP (no joke) - it is hard because PvP has been central for a few years now - but I really want to play the game differently and to play less so I can start to fold in other irl interests (art work & reading - things that are not tech driven). Loved your suggestions - Happy 2025!
This video came to me at the prefect time. I've had such a large backlog of games games that its been stressing me out, i cant decide what to play at any given instance and end up just browsing youtube or netflix for something to watch. I had been tossing up to re-start my sub to FFXIV and finally pulled the pin in doing so but the anxiety just caused me to stress that i had just wasted money, it is just another game i wont play. But your reasonings as to why wow hooked you so much really resonated with me and only playing things to finish them not to play for fun and unwind. Im not being as articulate as you but thankyou for this, its really helped me realize what was causing my anxiety (at least a part of it)
I really appreciate this video - its exactly what I've been needing to hear. I'm a very indecisive person, and adding the anxiety and ADHD spices to the mix has me stressing about which interest/hobby I want to pursue in a given moment. I get in my head that the thing I spend my time on needs to be "perfect," but like you said, it doesnt have to be. Keep it up with these vids, your insight is wonderful :)
Absolutely loving this channel and the format that you have chosen to go with
if you tryhard so mutch when trying to relax, its obvious you just gonna struggle and get stressed. Its happening especially when you do something you dont like. Many people dont like to read books, they just like idea of reading a book, so its now like a second job. Its not about do one thing or do many things. Just do what you truly enjoy. Pro tip, if you feel that you need to focus on something more, you most likely dont like it, its dont go naturally without forsing yourself. If you truly like something, its will come and bring joy naturally.
This might be the best video I have seen on UA-cam in quite some time! I had most, if not all of these thoughts going into 2025. I told myself that I am going to revamp my life and focus solely on the things that are most important to me and shed the rest of the things that are weighing me down, not only mentally, but physically. The biggest thing that gave me that kick in the butt is watching my dad die in the hospital back in October. It really woke me up and emphasized that my physical and mental healthy absolutely need to be at the top of my priority list. So, I created a Focus List. This isn't a “To-Do List”, its simply what I am focusing on this year. There is no failing it because its not a new years resolution. Every time I hear people make those, I just think of what the gym looks like on January 2nd and then a month later its a ghost time lol.
Anyways, gaming has always been the biggest culprit with what you talked about in the video. Its just too much, too many things are are so easily accessible 24/7, the latest “hottest game” is coming to market. So I said you know what, if I want to get back into WoW that is completely fine, but my priority for 2025 will be learning and getting better at fighting games. Its always been in the back of my mind, its time to dive in and make it a slow grind.
Thank you so much for making this video, it really resonated with me and the new season of life I am in! Have a wonderful 2025 and I look forward to your future content!
My ADHD brain resonates so hard with this video, especially with the idea about having people around me that are enjoying the game with me.
Also 110% with the Brandon Sanderson thing. Burned myself out without realizing what I was doing.
I appreciate how open you are. This is really encouraging to hear!
thanks for watching!
I love the idea of "isolating" myself NOT ONLY with the specific game itself but also with anything it can be related to (lore, books, art, music, guides, communities etc.) I've never tried this specific approach and I want to give it a shot! I believe this may work for me.
I felt your passion as soon as you said you've been baking recently. I love that for you! I've been thinking about starting to learn how to make pizza dough from scratch!
I love this kind of content that revolves around wow. keep it up!
I didn't realize there were people that had the exact same struggles I've had for years. Thank you.
Great video and insights. As a person who's in the mid-20s and with anxiety & ADHD, I appreciated this video :D
Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. I hope this helps and know that you aren't alone. I didn't get diagnosed or treated for my ADHD and Anxiety until I was 31 and once I started working with a therapist and doctor it completely changed my life. I hope you are able to find what works for you.
Yeah, I've struggled with this all my life. I've also found that limiting our options is the best "solution". There is no other way with me, I can't let my brain do whatever it wants.
great convo! ive personally had alot of success variety gaming after only playing ow for a long time and its awesome to see people enjoying their one game.
Never thought i’d get the human condition explained to me in a video with wow fishing in the thumbnail.
Speedrunning a popular game is a great target for obsession. If you choose the right game you'll have variety (categories), new stuff (new strats/fixes/patches) and the best part - community
I am so glad I found you. Your experiences are so close to me and its comforting that there are people who can fully understand how my mind works :) this video is wonderful thank you.
Really needed this video! I havent been diagnosed with ADHD or anything but I do switch hobbies and games often. I play wow religiously then get burnt out, and then I always make my way back to competitive games I love like valorant, fortnite, rainbow 6, etc. Recently I have been doing sim racing/driving stuff and its been fun but I dont want that to be all my youtube channel is about. My main hobby outside of games is cars and motorcycles. Modding, driving, etc. But its extremely expensive to do which means I cant do it often. Been thinking about getting back into photography again and taking that more deeply. Thanks for such a great video!
One of the biggest problems is the lack of difficulty in doing things. The easier something is to switch, the less one stays invested.
Think about flipping on the power switch of a Ps2, picking a game off the shelf, opening the disk tray, open the game case and put in the disk, close the tray, grab the controller and sit and wait for the game to boot up and now you can start. For people today that's "a long time investment".
VS
"XBOX ON", grab controller, pick game and click. Get bored, click twice new game starts. There is really no commitment when playing digital games.
This is something I realized when I picked up a Miyoo Mini+. Being able to quick swap games without any work is fucking with my ability to stick to one because it's so easy to switch between games, especially when you don't have to search for them as they are in your favorites folder.
I feel so good when I get into a flow state with a game or activity. It's like nothing else in the world. I also get deeply unhappy when I'm forced to spread my attention too thin.
Something else worth noting about live service games as a thing to center your time around is that while the progression systems often DO encourage FOMO and are intentionally paced unbearingly slow at times, that downside becomes less "bad" the more concentrated the time you spend on it is. If I spend all my time playing say Black Desert Online, which is of course infamous for fairly tedious late game content but having immense depth, It's not gonna feel as bad that the progression is so slow and the artificial slowness helps add to longevity and makes it easier to structure long term goals with the game. Comparatively if you are playing 10 games in a 2 week timeframe you are spending time on, trying to play BDO will be insufferable and boring because you never get anywhere.
A lot of what you spoke about resonated with me. Subbed for more
thanks!
@ No no. Thank YOU, sir!
Wow thats exactly my thoughts packed in one video.
Tysm!
This looks like one of those videos where the message in it is so more important than any other content related to it. The message even is in the title, it helps me feel like he is worried in showing the discovery, seems more genuine, i think.
This is the best summation of an experience many gamers are having right now. Great vid
just wanted to wish you a happy new year, i really enjoy your content. keep it up. 🎉
happy new year to you!
I love your ability to explain stuff and your knowledge. This channel is so good. If i had to draw a venn disgram about the topics it wouls be where video games overlap with anxiety and adhd. I even think dropping gaming as a hard requirement for a video would be ok sometimes. I really benefit from the adhd and anx thoughts. Gaming is just a relatable context.
Damn bro what you said at 15:20 is so me. I don’t want to be at loud parties anymore but I like being around other people who are having a good time enjoying similar interests. But then I have the freedom to go and enjoy solitude and logout when I want.
Thank you for this Video. It very much resonates with me and just watching it makes me feel a bit more at ease. It also gave me some Inspiration and motivation to lean more into my tendencies.
5:20 yeaaahhhhh I hate that feeling SO MUCH. But having fewer things to focus on sucks because that sense of getting bored is still there...
Very good advice never heard of just solid straight up advice like this i appreciate you for making the video!
Fantastic video. Came here for the WoW content, stayed for the ADHD life hacks. I so easily get so overwhelmed from all my options and shut down and hyper focus and crash. Appreciate the ideas on how to help.
Thanks for sticking around and watching my content. I hope it helps. I know it helps me just knowing I'm not alone.
Thank you for this video. I can relate to so many of the things you talked about. Love how you connect it to gaming/wow as well. :)
I have 3 hobbies. Cooking, fitness, and gaming. Thats enough for me to be happy my entire life.
Hard to explain to others about the ADHD about how when I take medicine for it, my brain is quiet and calm and how it's almost tear-provoking at calm it is instead of the constant symphony of thoughts.
Gaming was basically therapy where it could drive away the thoughts and keep a focus...but bang on with the hobbies. MMOs were the best since there was so much content and so many things. UO was a big one where it just needed lots of work.
I play WoW - the game I found peace in when I lost my father at 13 years old but I now have 25 maxed characters with 10 of them in current max gear plus 30 more above level 20 and I also play tons of other games, I finished 30 stories this year and built my own GTA5 server for a good amount of people all learning how to code from scratch in 6 months. I built a business in 2023 that has since pulled over 7 figures in profit, travel at least once a month and do so much more things in between.
I am only 30 and have some of the WORST ADHD I've seen on anyone and it got worse when I got older - so bad my feet shake basically 24/7 without stopping and I only sleep 3-4 hours per night, sometimes I'll be up 48+ hours on 4 hours of sleep, go down the list of the extreme ADHD cases and I probably had all of it and guess what, I love it because it benefits me so much. Having so many interesting has made me progress in life and make me more interactive in society because I used them to my advantage and would never limit myself.
I'm going to be blunt here, stop using ADHD as some excuse and coping mechanism. You have multiple interest? Good, most people don't.
Drop this whole introverted/extroverted mindset as well, just do what you enjoy and stop what you don't, but also actually take the time to do different things instead of limiting yourself to 1-2 for months at a time, THAT is draining and much worse on your mind, especially for the ADHD brain.
No one says you have to live a certain way.
For real, keep up with this life styles content, it really helps with finding fun again in games
I completely agree with you! Great video!
It's like looking into a mirror. I find myself over reaching interests as well. I love reading, writing, gaming, and Magic the Gathering. I've spent so much time playing WoW and The Elder Scrolls, partly for mental health. I've spent so many years wondering aimlessly due to hyper fixation then apathy, as you describe. I even started making UA-cam videos 7 months ago. Because I feel like I want to get my thoughts out there. But when it comes time to record and edit, I can not be bothered. It's sad really. But, these feelings in this video encapsulate what I've tried explaining to friend and family. Thanks
Wow this really resonated with me as someone with Asperger’s / ADHD. Really good analysis!
I'm a huge jack of all trades, and I honestly enjoy swapping between hobbies and still do it. I find however that things are best when I think of things in terms of outlets. I try to have a competitive outlet, a creative outlet, and an entirely relaxing outlet. Then I just do what I am most in the mood for.
For example, right now my competitive outlet is Street Fighter, creative is guitar, and relaxing is WoW. If I want a different hobby, something needs to get swapped (swap guitar for piano, SF for Tekken, WoW for Elden Ring, etc.)
I also try to not let myself "cheat" by having the hobby be too general. I.E. Music is so expansive that saying "music" generally is my hobby will get me overwhelmed quickly. Instead I focus on one aspect of it at a time, but allow myself to swap fairly fluidly (i.e. week to week, but not day to day or hour to hour)
I really enjoyed this and can relate. Thank you so much for sharing
Holy shit you just described exactly what I've been experiencing for the past 5 years. I'm going to try some of the stuff you've suggested. I thought it was just depression but sounds like its the ADHD. I started taking Adderall and my hyper focusing ability is insane right now and I've been glued to wow. I main a pally so this video reaaaaaaaly speaks to me.
keep your faith in the light!
Thank you so much, I have ADD and can relate to that fixation on one thing and that it can feel like silence or peace of mind so much.
Damn, you're talking about me! 100% accurate! Probably I have ADHD too! Thank you for sharing your experience!
Great insight mate, very much relate. I have never thought about it like this!
great video.
And pair radically different interests, for example software and carpentry. Both feel like a relief of the other
Glad I found this video. You talked about stuff I can relate to so thank you :)
I found it better having fewer interest myself. And also important, trying to have set times and schedules around those interest, although I know that can be difficult. For me, I schedule a single player game before work for an hour. An hour and a half after work for exercise. And the the rest of the evening (aside from dinner, shower, time with wife) on WoW. And weekends on FFXIV because we play that together. This way all of my interests and gaming preferences are explored and nothing is ignored. A well balanced life.
I relate to this so much, This was really insightful and im going to try and implement this into my daily practice
Wow, are you me? I totally feel like this. I have been playing WoW since 2006 and it is my all time favourite and most played game. The social aspect and the depth of the game always allows for new things and experiences. But, I also get bored easily and so in the past I easily end up jumping from one class to another and ultimately getting burned out from the game. I need variety to keep me interested. Back in 2019 re-release of classic, I played my main class since 2006, a warlock. But after a while I found myself getting bored and maybe it was the lack of any other interest at the time that I started a cycle of trying pretty much every class until I burned out.
Anyhow, with the release of the anniversary realms, I acknowledged my past experience and so I needed a class that would offer me variety, so I found my love for the shaman class. Allows me a variety of gameplay styles.
Wow aside, I like to jump from one hobby to another and my other interest (motorsports), from one car/motorcycle to another. This has caused a great deal of anxiety and stress, the indecisiveness. How is everyone else able to make these decisions with ease? How do I know what the right decision is? I think it is the variety, instead of getting a sports bike for the road, I’ll a motorcycle that can handle the road and off-road.
This indecisiveness has extended to my gaming as well, do I play on a desktop pc, or should I get a laptop, what about a console? Or maybe all of them? Currently I have only one system for gaming, a steam deck and you know what, it offers variety as well, it’s portable like a laptop, it can be used like a desktop pc and it’s easy to use like a console. And don’t even get me started on peripherals, I’ve had so many different mice, keyboard, controller, headset, monitors…
Maybe it’s boredom or the seek for perfection, or maybe my brain is just that chaotic that nothing pleases it. It sucks.
But yes, less options to choose from is always a blessing.
Great explanation! Feeling this right now with POE2, Marvel Rivals, and WoW.
ive kind of been trying to do this too... "minimal"izing my steam list and deleting everything but the core couple of games i wanna play, amongst other things. nice to keep things simple and direct
I agree and I heard kind of the same of putting this concept of doing less done by HealthyGamer (Dr. K)
Basically, the more you "want" makes it harder to enjoy what you did
Having 1 of 10 done feels devastating as compared to 1 of 3, as example
And it is not about having less ambition - it is about your mental pattern of beating yourself up over not doing all of the possible things
wow I loved this, thank you
7:30 resonated so much with me, especially with those same series
Very interesting video which resonates a lot, i'm surprised you didn't touch the subject of choosing your class and character in a game like WoW and sticking with it!
Relate to this video so much, interesting thoughts and well said!
You've described my experience to the exact detail holy shit
Damn are you me?? I have almost the same symptoms as you. I got a heavy wow burnout, even though that game game always scratched that itch, as you said. For the first time since 2015, I deleted the game. I got a heavy burnout. I am always hyped for new patches, the anniversary realms. But when I started the game, I just closed it immediately. I'm not motivated anymore. It doesn't make me happy at all anymore. Now I want to commit to final fantasy 14 a little bit. I played the game on and off. I truly want to give it a try. Cheers!
Great video! Not at all what I expect from a WoW creator, but I watch videos about this stuff all the time.
Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. Means a lot.
oSame here, my friend! For some reason only WoW can give me the peace of mind. Regarding the book "problem", I tend to tell myself constantly, that I have unfnished books already, stop buying new ones! Most of the it works, but man the temptation sometimes wins haha!
Absolutely helped, I share most of those traits and thoughts.
I wanna be an absolutist as well and WoW is definitely my priority, but I would really like to experience some final fantasy on the side, and I think it would help me appreciate WoW more and not burn out.
Cool video, thanks for sharing your thoughts
Listening to this I realised I may actually have ADHD
My experience with WoW and LoTR and Harry Potter and having RuneScape as a burn out alternative is so similar to what you’ve been taking about in the video
A very relatable and helpful video dude 👏
I definitely have anxiety, never really though of myself as having ADHD but I relate hard to the hyperfixation.
I'm autistic, so there's a little overlap with ADHD. This helps. Thank you
You’re on to something, I feel the most relaxed and focused in hotels
I had a job where I travelled for weeks at a time and I loved being on planes and staying in hotels. I always felt like I could get more work done.
Funny how I found you from your mount guide and now i watch every one of your vids lol
Marcus Aurelius advised the same. The less things you’re into, the less stress you’ll have.
I will say, choosing a main that I all in caused the same style of variety stress. Like always thinkin FOMO of another class. Like a do I main a tauren shaman or orc warlock for the fresh classic. Luckily got over it and chose the orc warlock but I feel you on this
Stannis Baratheon: "Fewer."
Interestingly enough, that is sort of why I don't enjoy retail wow but I absolutely love classic. Retails is so unbelievably bloated with "things to do" that it feels very messy and overwhelming, whereas in classic nothing is really trying to grab my attention and I can just take my time and be in the game doing whatever.
Games should be fun first, this is why i always avoid online games that try to hook you up with virtual items and progress
Nice vid man thanks for the nice commentary :)