My story is similar, crazy I would’ve never thought. I live and grew up in the Bronx New York, I went through the same, always played game, had games and had the passion, but I stopped for a while , my story is a little more darker, I was in the streets a lot and metal gear solid 4 opened my eyes and mind back up to what I really enjoyed doing with my time and money other than partying, chicks and being around the wrong crowd. Thanks for sharing this story, always felt like me and you had a lot in common, I see the hood in you. Glad we got out that life and we’re enjoying life how we want to with video games and other thing we do that’s not the street life. Stay up bro 💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽
This video really hits home for me. After struggling to get off dope and pills for years, I finally decided that I had to stop, and Skyrim was actually the game that got me through withdrawal. Getting hooked on that game for weeks helped me forget about the pills and recover. This was almost 5 years ago. Still spend all my money on games and none on drugs ;)
Myself as well. I bought a Gamecube and Metroid, Ikaruga, Super Mario Sunshine and Resident Evil 0. I hadn't enjoyed games for a long time until then and I've never stopped. Games are expensive but there're still there in the morning.
@@hectorleon465 I mean, it wasnt just the game lol, I was initially on suboxone for a while, and I also went to meetings... while getting off suboxone was a struggle and games got me thru that
I tell ya man. Video games are a lifesaver. Im a combat vet, so i do have issues. Gaming allows me to go to a place where i can be someone outside of myself. It helps me just forget the perils of reality. I love the channel man. Keep doing what you do!
I went through a very similar life path. I imagine many kids did. That's why I will always stand up for video gaming as a positive thing for kids to be doing, whenever some asshole bashes it saying it has negative effects. There are FAR worse things kids can be involved in, that gaming is a great distraction from.
I have a similar story but instead of video games, it's my girl friend at the time (now my wife) that got me out of it! I had been alone for a long time and I met her through some friends... we started to see each other and when she learned that I was into drugs and also smoking, she told me that she didn't like that and that she wasn't interested to see me anymore if I didn't stop all that shit... well I stopped everything and we've been together for 11 years and married for 9 years! No regrets at all! Thanks for sharing Shawn! I know it's not easy to talk about personal stuff in front of all that crowd! Great video and keep up the good work!
Thanks for taking the time to share this story, Shawn. For me it was escapism. I wasn't the fat kid growing up, I was the kid with cerebral palsy that never quite fit in. Video games gave me something back that the world took away with my stroke at birth. After all, in a video game you can be or do anything. I never really got into new gen systems as I have difficulties with hitting top and back trigger buttons on new controllers. I'm 34 and just this past year I got back into (retro) gaming since '95. Your channel is among the short list that I regularly watch due to authentic videos much like this one.
Congratulations on your sobriety dude. Oct 14th will be three years for me. Our stories are quite similar, only difference is that it was web design that saved me, not video games. Don’t get me wrong, I love to game, my 7 year old and wife also love to game, the switch is our console of choice, but yea, I was heavy into oxy and without learning to code and design web pages who knows where I would be. Again, congrats dude, I was already subscribed, but you def gained 10000x respect points with your story, thanks for sharing.
My cousin died of a heroine overdose, he was much much older than I probably like... 12 years older. He was the kindest soul you'd ever meet, he'd introduce me to all these games he had. I really relate to this story in a sort of indirect way. glad you got out of it man =).
I too can relate. Video games certainly helped me survive some really dark times. If not for gaming, i would be either in prison or dead. Go figure....
I'm glad this video popped up. Gives me a better idea of who Shawn is. Glad you're still with us man. You put out quality videos and they just keep getting better. It's people like you, Spawnwave and Wood, with your upbeat personalities that get me through the day. I've become more excited about video games because of you guys and because of that I would like to thank you.
That is a crazy story. I played and had games the whole time growing up, but also started fucking with drugs, playing music and just being a jackass for years. Wasn't til I moved away from that area, for me to start getting back into games because of a lack of friends and nothing to do. Really awesome topic... I might have to do a video about this as well sometime!
Good story. Thanks for opening up. I like your honest manner, no BS, no ego, just a nice guy sharing his love and passion for video games FIRST and while hopefully making enough money to survive on as a UA-camr
Kudos for the honesty brother. Not many people have the cajones to share stuff like this. I am a heroin addict getting my life together, Im an army vet and I'm In college with a nice 2 bedroom apt with my girl of 4 years, so its always cool to hear a story of another cool person climbing out from the abyss. Congrats on ur success and anyone out there struggling w drugs remember that you can change ur life. You just gotta work hard at it, nothing comes to those who dont try.
Many people come to UA-cam for fake gurus telling lies. I’m here for genuine people sharing personal stories and gaming fun. Thanks for being so open and vulnerable. I’m sure it’s inspiring others to face their demons in more positive ways.
Awesome story dude, I've been watching your channel for a couple of months now and really enjoy it. Two years ago I lost my 22yr old son in a house fire and one of the things we shared was a love for video games. I have recently started a channel of my own in an effort to help deal with my grief and to share my love for gaming with others..Thanks again for your story and great videos..Chris
NIce collection man. Nothing beats the stimulation of gathering some friends and playing video games, having fun and laughing together/or at each other. Better than any drugs in the world.
I started following your channel after I saw you on the Aaron Kosharsky live steam, and you are easily one of the coolest guys to show up on the steam. I am really into cars and retro games and I think its awesome that you have a cool car and are into old video games! thanks for letting us know that you are a normal guy with a real world life!
I know that this video is a year old, but it's such a great story and to see how far you've come with your life and your channel. I know I've given you a hard time with a few of my comments, but I only wish I could achieve the same success you've had on UA-cam. For now, I guess I'll have to settle for living my dream through you, Wood, The Game Chasers, and other channels that I'm a fan of.
Adding personal stories videos really makes your viewers respect you more as a youtuber. I love the personalization. Love your channel even more than before now! Same thing happened when I watched Woods peroanal videos. You guys are awesome!
It's so funny, I just picked up MGS 2 Substance CIB for $7 at a book store yesterday and I remember how that game changed gaming/life for me years ago. Then I stumble upon your video and see that it means something good to someone else and it just brings a smile to my face. Good video and glad to see a positive change in someone. Keep it up, RGT 85.
I've been watching your videos a lot lately and this popped up in my suggested, Glad that video games provided a positive outlet for you and I hope you're doing better than you were back then. Thanks for your content!
sean, love your channel man. And and I just wanted to tell you, that your story really resonated with me, alot of what you said is exactly how I am and what I do, I've played games since I was a young boy, and I just recently got into retro collecting after joining your channel,and I just gotta say bro, I feel a change coming on. I appreciate you sharing some of your story, my name is Sean to, and i thought it was weird that we share so much in common. keep up the good work Sean!
Of all the games that turned you around, I NEVER would have expected MGS2 would have been the game for you... I would have thought either a wrestling game or a sports game but obviously that passion developed after you turned yourself around. Amazing job RGT. You won at your high school life cuz you were smart enough to see where you were at and what you were doing at the time.
I really appreciate your story. It really hits home with me. I've been watching you for awhile now. And this is a different side of you that I can really connect with. Again thank you for just being a normal guy. I love the channel.
Hey man, big fan. It's refreshing to hear a more human side of you and how it helped you. Hopefully we can get more of these where you tell us about your experiences in life, like first gamIng memory
Video games are truly magical to me. It's really beautiful to see listen to these type of stories where video games saved someone's life. In my case I suffer from depression and bulimia, I used to self-harm and abuse pills just like you and because of depression I kind of stopped playing video games for a while but recently it got me back in and I feel less depressed.
I’m glad you turned your life around. I’m happy you didn’t die. Thanks for making videos letting us know you’ve struggled in the past. This video could help save someone else’s life.
I know how you feel even though my story is different than yours. In my Freshman and Sophomore years of High School I battled depression, and if it weren't for my family and friends I more than likely wouldn't be here today. Video Games in general have played a big part in my life up to now, from the Atari 2600/Commodore 64 all the way to the current generation of games. Thankfully for you and I, even though we have had some dark times in our lives, we've come back from them. I think that even though we don't like to talk about it, it helps us to be thankful to still be alive, and for everything that we've accomplished. I turned 32 this year (2017), so it looks like we're close in age. Keep making great videos and have a good day! :)
Video games saved my life too, but in a different way to you. When I was about 9 in school, my teacher tried to humiliate me whenever she could. I still have no idea what her problem was with me, but day in, day out I was getting more and more depressed until it got the point, where I was starting to get these strange thoughts. I now know when I look back, that I was starting to have suicidal thoughts. All I knew was that "I" had to ignore them. I starting drawing to take my mind of them, but it only helped a little, then at the end of that year, my dad brought my brother a Sega Game Gear for Christmas and he surprised me at Christmas with a Mega Drive as he thought it wouldn't be fair if my brother was the only one to get a Game system. Not only did I now have a form of escapism by playing video games, it also helped me with my hand eye coordination, helped with my dyslexia and introduced me to Video Game music, which is still is my main form of escape when I get a little stressed out.
No I hate how people think that just because you play fps that it influences your life they don’t understand how it keeps people out of trouble and away from bullying
Quake on Dreamcast got me through some rough nights kicking junk back in Hawaii. 80's babys are f@kt up. So many dead friends. Dead before 25. Video games didn't save me though. Krishna Consciousness did. But now being mostly sober (temple/monk life) I am rediscovering myself without drugs and that guy fux with old school games... HARD! Nuff respect on this video. Awesome story. Thanx man
This is great man. This same exact thing happened to me (kinda sorta). I'm a recovering addict, and when I got some stable income after getting a place, I got a switch. And it really got me engrossed in videogames again. And that's where most of my money states going to instead of drugs. And now I use videogames as an outlet, much in the way using drugs provided me an outlet.
Been following your channel about two years now am just seeing this video and its really cool. Its good you have moved on, I must say we kinda have that in common.
Man I respect you 100% for this. This is some real testimony type stuff here man. You probably like saved somebody life who watched this. God bless bro!
So they often say that addiction will take on another form that will also become an addiction, this is how AA stays so popular and so full during meetings. And that’s good as long as the persons staying clean and sober. So I’m going to venture your collection is part of an addiction replacement. And for that I applaud you. Your keeping yourself clean and doing what now is joyful in your life. It will be an everyday struggle and your love for video games might just be an everyday love that will fill that void left from drug abuse. You my friend are a good man for sharing your story. And I wish you continued recovery and continued good health.
I dont know you dude. But Im so glad that you manage to stay alive, I hope you can get a great 2017 ,things like this remind me why I love so much art and video games.
I’ve been watching your videos for months now and just came across this. This is amazing! I can totally relate. I was/am and alcoholic and I quit drinking 7 months ago. I decided to play my PS4 my first days of sobriety. I fell back in love with video games and it helped me to stay busy and not want to drink. I suck at video games drunk so I’d stay sober to play and catch up games I missed over time. So I feel like in a way video games saved me from ruining my life. I honestly think I would be dead or in jail if I didn’t stop. Thanks for the great content and for sharing your truth.
Hey RGT, thanks for the great content. This may sound weird, but I feel like you're one of my friends. I also had a time where I was doing drugs and not playing video games, thinking I was cool. Now I'm back into gaming, working out, taking care of myself. I'm less social now, but I'm in much better shape. Keep your head up, I'm glad you're doing better also 👍
I'm high rught now :) Gaming never really 'saved' my life, but it has been in my life for as far back has my mind can reach. I had a rough time growing up myself in middle-of-nowhere America, and also had my struggles with alcohol (quit 2 years ago) and cigarettes(quit 3 years ago)...and caffeine(but it's by far the worst, and alive.) Now I just smoke weed, but video games of every shape size have been there for me the entire time and have kept me company and sometimes given me existential insight and encouragement. Has well as being fascinating for an infinite number of other reasons. Thanks for sharing your story!
Video games definitely helped me and are still helping me through difficult times and alongside that youtubers like you and my personal Favorite dashiegames always give me reasons to smile and continue my day, didn’t do drugs but yeah.
Props to you for bringing this topic up in the context you're in. We need to highlight mental issues and abuse a lot more. This coming from a longterm addict and one with generell anxiety disorder, psychosis etc..
I understand completely. I am a hemophiliac, and i have a lot of pain issues. I played a lot of video games growing up, but as i got more addicted to pills like Oxycontin, and eventually slid down to using heroin. I have lost a lot, my brother to drugs, and all my games, my music equipment, etc. But i bought a Nintendo Switch with some of my brother's life insurance money, and i kept playing. I ended up getting help with my issues and i have my pain under control, and I have been keeping myself busy, and things are finally looking up. So i can totally relate. Actually buying a new system to play on Friday. Thanks for sharing.
been watching your channel for around a year now but just found this video, thank you for sharing this. definitely some relatable themes in here. keep up the great work, love your content
I felt the same way about MGS 3 man that game taught me a lot of how people are through the times and how we change perpesctive on things and all that. I know this is a 3 year old video but I felt to leave a comment. Glad you made it out and congratulations on your success.
It is funny that MGS2 is the game that sparked your re-engagement with gaming. I did the same thing, stopped gaming through some of highschool and then all of college. Eventually I was with someone who wanted to go to a game store and I went just because we were hanging out. I was definitely not expecting anything for me to come from it. That was when I saw MGS Twin Snakes on the shelf. The only console I had left was a GC which was in my closet and was only rarely used for Mario Kart when friends were over. I played through MGS and that was all I needed to remember what I had forgotten, that I love video games. That was about 4 years ago now, and it has been pretty much full force ever since. Good stuff man, thanks for sharing 👍.
Video games actually helped me cope with the depression and negativity. To RGT 85, I'm an autistic man. I grew up in the 1980s and 1990s era, I watched alot of cartoon TV shows and movies, I read comic books and I played video games. I played the NES, SNES and also the DOS PC games. I have never smoked or drank alcohol or taken illegal drugs and I never really cared for coffee. I go to church almost every week. I did have some caffeine soda drinks or some fruity tea drinks. But I had junk food addictions growing up and the fast foods like greasy foods was hard on my stomach. I went to school but going to High School was the worst for me usually, the school was too hard, I was exposed to profanity which was a culture shock for me. I was also stressed out by trying to be on time for classes. Thankfully my job training program was a little more forgiving and I now work at Grounds job in the apartment complex. Anyways I'm impressed with the 2D cartoons and video games now it's 3D CGI cartoons and video games. I admit they do waste my time but I have to learn to give them up to work on my projects like drawing cartoon pictures, making cartoon and stop motion videos, and make video games and make my own music and comic books. Also video games and cartoons help me because some of my best friends I used to hang out with at their houses are now dead.
10 years clean from the oxy's I can read a person very well Shaun me and you have so much in common. That's what drew me into video games once I had kids even more so... Thanks for sharing Brother.
Thanks for sharing your story. I'm glad you got back into video games when you did and it helped you out of a bad place. I always enjoy your videos on here. Keep up the good work!!
Hey man I’m new to watching your videos. Just started watching the last few months. I’m really glad you found video games again. Just so you know I look forward to watching any new videos you put out each day. So keep up the good work!!!
hey rgt, glad you're still here. that was an inspired story. it was motorcycles that saved me. I will always have at least one,until I pop my clogs. lol 😁 👍 👍
Been watching you for a year now at least, and this video was just recommended to me I seriously appreciate the genuineness of this vid I know your channel is not about that , especially this year I've been watching you But this is a very sincere, intimate dive into your story, that's awesome to hear as a viewer ❤️ Hope things have continued to be on the upswing
I can really relate to this, i have allways liked video Games since i was a kid, but like you i Got into drugs and alcohol, i still played Games but they allways came second, and after a few years of partying i was in a really bud alcohol and drug addiction, was doing all kinds of hard drugs, but about 2 years ago i decided to go to rehab and when i Got out i really Got into playing and collecting Games, i think thats a big part of what Made me stay clean and sober, but yeah sure i may spend way to much money and time on Games now, but compared to the life i used to live its not bad
i relate with your upbringing in a ton of ways (moving around a lot, introverted personality, etc etc) and i see a lot of what i experienced in you as well, although replacing pills with the occasional bump of coke. i never went anywhere beyond that, no heroin or pills or meth or other craziness, nor will i ever, so, as a result, videogames were a great outlet for my time. all i do now is, every now and again, smoke dank and drink beer when i play my Dreamcast, work and life notwithstanding. thank you for sharing this.
I can relate to this topic . I was a bad bad hardcore alcoholic for years and would go out and just get into trouble or hanging at wrong places at wrong times. Gaming made me lay low and stayed home with my wife and kids so yeah ill have some occasional beers late night and stream or something like that but no where near the high scales of madness as I used to do. gaming and my wife both saved me from a dark downward spiral for sho
That's crazy man, I used to have a drug addiction problem as well. I'm currently on Suboxone right now tapering off in the last year I tapered down from 6 mg to about 1.75 mg as of today. I'm still slowly decreasing and going to come off of it eventually more sooner than later, I'm thinking hopefully this June. It was great to see this side of you Sean. Peace and love brother
Good story mate, takes guts to admit this kinda stuff online. I started my collecting for a similar reason as well. Than it lead to a youtube channel. Funny how life works out sometimes.
Very cool of you to share that story. I'll be watching more of your vids from now on. Drawing, gaming, and writing hip-hop lyrics (not gangster rap) pulled me out of a similar situation as yours. The first song I ever wrote was a suicide note. But I just kept writing. Crazy...
"This isn't a typical video for my channel" is becoming a typical intro for your channel X') Awesome video. I like personal stuff like this. Keep it up!
I quit fentanyl and heroin six years ago with games and I never really cared about them until then. So I’m not talking about the acute withdrawal, unfortunately there is no way out of that but to face it, but the post withdrawal. At that point I hadn’t really been able to sleep and it had been months since the last use. Someone told me about the souls games, I went and borrowed bloodborne from the library, put it in my sons PlayStation and have never looked back. I’ve been six years clean this summer. I wish there was some way to let Miyazaki know how much his games have meant to me.
Yo I feel you bro! I just turned my life around two years ago and I'm getting back into video games. Trying to find my old self. Anyways Thanks for putting this up homie
I am glad I watched this video. I need to make video games a part of my life. I have been dealing with addiction for years and even now. I will try this out. Pray for me dude. I really want to quit. But it's hard man
Great story. I think that we have all done stupid stuff when we were younger that we grow up to regret. My vice was always alcohol and like you, my other activities made me lose interest in video games but they later became an outlet for my boredom once I decided that enough was enough and gave it all up. I don't care what anybody says. Alcohol can be just as destructive as the hardest drug out there. I know multiple people that succumbed to meth, alcohol, or got lead to suicide by the misery that drugs and alcohol will inevitably bring. It takes courage to do what you did and leave behind that lifestyle. I'm proud of you, man.
Man, I was in a similar situation as you. Video games man! Saved my fucking life. I was in a suicidal psychosis for a very long time, I got through it with the help of video games. Beautiful.
![Lp. Сердце Вселенной #60 РОЖДЕНИЕ ЛОЛОЛОШКИ [Финал] • Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YoR0pAV9FVQ/mqdefault.jpg)
I love you buddy. None of us are ever alone. Thank you for sharing your story with us
Hi
Ugh love you both 😭😭 warms my soul to see good people being good to people
You should not have gotten dropped by Nintendo
Just saw this... wow glad you are out of that space for years now
My story is similar, crazy I would’ve never thought. I live and grew up in the Bronx New York, I went through the same, always played game, had games and had the passion, but I stopped for a while , my story is a little more darker, I was in the streets a lot and metal gear solid 4 opened my eyes and mind back up to what I really enjoyed doing with my time and money other than partying, chicks and being around the wrong crowd. Thanks for sharing this story, always felt like me and you had a lot in common, I see the hood in you. Glad we got out that life and we’re enjoying life how we want to with video games and other thing we do that’s not the street life. Stay up bro 💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽
This video really hits home for me. After struggling to get off dope and pills for years, I finally decided that I had to stop, and Skyrim was actually the game that got me through withdrawal. Getting hooked on that game for weeks helped me forget about the pills and recover.
This was almost 5 years ago. Still spend all my money on games and none on drugs ;)
lol money on games is way better at least! Glad you've beat the habit bro :)
Myself as well. I bought a Gamecube and Metroid, Ikaruga, Super Mario Sunshine and Resident Evil 0. I hadn't enjoyed games for a long time until then and I've never stopped. Games are expensive but there're still there in the morning.
Awesome sounds like you didnt need Methodones or non of those programs. Videogames was your rehab :)
@@hectorleon465 I mean, it wasnt just the game lol, I was initially on suboxone for a while, and I also went to meetings... while getting off suboxone was a struggle and games got me thru that
obviously you are clean now probably but clonidine is pretty good for opi withdrawals, my doctor gave me it and works pretty good
I tell ya man. Video games are a lifesaver. Im a combat vet, so i do have issues. Gaming allows me to go to a place where i can be someone outside of myself. It helps me just forget the perils of reality. I love the channel man. Keep doing what you do!
I went through a very similar life path. I imagine many kids did. That's why I will always stand up for video gaming as a positive thing for kids to be doing, whenever some asshole bashes it saying it has negative effects. There are FAR worse things kids can be involved in, that gaming is a great distraction from.
+tmpardi77 I agree!
Tell that to my wife that divorced me for playing games.
Your honesty is honorable.
+Created2LiveFree (GLoW) thank you
I have a similar story but instead of video games, it's my girl friend at the time (now my wife) that got me out of it! I had been alone for a long time and I met her through some friends... we started to see each other and when she learned that I was into drugs and also smoking, she told me that she didn't like that and that she wasn't interested to see me anymore if I didn't stop all that shit... well I stopped everything and we've been together for 11 years and married for 9 years! No regrets at all! Thanks for sharing Shawn! I know it's not easy to talk about personal stuff in front of all that crowd! Great video and keep up the good work!
Thanks for taking the time to share this story, Shawn. For me it was escapism. I wasn't the fat kid growing up, I was the kid with cerebral palsy that never quite fit in. Video games gave me something back that the world took away with my stroke at birth. After all, in a video game you can be or do anything. I never really got into new gen systems as I have difficulties with hitting top and back trigger buttons on new controllers. I'm 34 and just this past year I got back into (retro) gaming since '95. Your channel is among the short list that I regularly watch due to authentic videos much like this one.
Congratulations on your sobriety dude. Oct 14th will be three years for me. Our stories are quite similar, only difference is that it was web design that saved me, not video games. Don’t get me wrong, I love to game, my 7 year old and wife also love to game, the switch is our console of choice, but yea, I was heavy into oxy and without learning to code and design web pages who knows where I would be. Again, congrats dude, I was already subscribed, but you def gained 10000x respect points with your story, thanks for sharing.
Blame Dr. Mario for your High School habits.
lol I just saw this. that ws good
RGT 85 I'm glad you were able to get clean but you are right, here in North Carolina snow is taken way to seriously!
Big pharma lol
Hey John Riggs, I like pills
My cousin died of a heroine overdose, he was much much older than I probably like... 12 years older. He was the kindest soul you'd ever meet, he'd introduce me to all these games he had. I really relate to this story in a sort of indirect way. glad you got out of it man =).
Not sure why this came up as a recommendation 4 years later... But much love dude, be proud of who you are and how far you have come... Your amazing
I too can relate. Video games certainly helped me survive some really dark times. If not for gaming, i would be either in prison or dead. Go figure....
I'm glad this video popped up. Gives me a better idea of who Shawn is. Glad you're still with us man. You put out quality videos and they just keep getting better. It's people like you, Spawnwave and Wood, with your upbeat personalities that get me through the day. I've become more excited about video games because of you guys and because of that I would like to thank you.
I totally relate man. I'm glad to see someone being honest on youtube.
Thank you bud
I lost my cousin to it… we grew up gaming but some point he went astray. I’m glad you saw the light and are here to tell us about it.
That is a crazy story. I played and had games the whole time growing up, but also started fucking with drugs, playing music and just being a jackass for years. Wasn't til I moved away from that area, for me to start getting back into games because of a lack of friends and nothing to do. Really awesome topic... I might have to do a video about this as well sometime!
Good story. Thanks for opening up. I like your honest manner, no BS, no ego, just a nice guy sharing his love and passion for video games FIRST and while hopefully making enough money to survive on as a UA-camr
Kudos for the honesty brother. Not many people have the cajones to share stuff like this. I am a heroin addict getting my life together, Im an army vet and I'm In college with a nice 2 bedroom apt with my girl of 4 years, so its always cool to hear a story of another cool person climbing out from the abyss. Congrats on ur success and anyone out there struggling w drugs remember that you can change ur life. You just gotta work hard at it, nothing comes to those who dont try.
Thanks for sharing with us man, obviously happy you were able to get yourself out of a bad situation. Keep on gaming!
+Mitch R (Mister Bones) thank you bud
Many people come to UA-cam for fake gurus telling lies. I’m here for genuine people sharing personal stories and gaming fun. Thanks for being so open and vulnerable. I’m sure it’s inspiring others to face their demons in more positive ways.
Awesome story dude, I've been watching your channel for a couple of months now and really enjoy it. Two years ago I lost my 22yr old son in a house fire and one of the things we shared was a love for video games. I have recently started a channel of my own in an effort to help deal with my grief and to share my love for gaming with others..Thanks again for your story and great videos..Chris
I'm always drawn to your channel and your humor makes me smile. Glad you do what you do.
NIce collection man. Nothing beats the stimulation of gathering some friends and playing video games, having fun and laughing together/or at each other. Better than any drugs in the world.
I started following your channel after I saw you on the Aaron Kosharsky live steam, and you are easily one of the coolest guys to show up on the steam. I am really into cars and retro games and I think its awesome that you have a cool car and are into old video games! thanks for letting us know that you are a normal guy with a real world life!
RIP Harambe
Stumbled on this after I found and been watching your channel. You’re the man, thanks for getting snowed in bro. Glad you can make videos for us!
I know that this video is a year old, but it's such a great story and to see how far you've come with your life and your channel. I know I've given you a hard time with a few of my comments, but I only wish I could achieve the same success you've had on UA-cam. For now, I guess I'll have to settle for living my dream through you, Wood, The Game Chasers, and other channels that I'm a fan of.
Adding personal stories videos really makes your viewers respect you more as a youtuber. I love the personalization. Love your channel even more than before now! Same thing happened when I watched Woods peroanal videos. You guys are awesome!
It's so funny, I just picked up MGS 2 Substance CIB for $7 at a book store yesterday and I remember how that game changed gaming/life for me years ago. Then I stumble upon your video and see that it means something good to someone else and it just brings a smile to my face. Good video and glad to see a positive change in someone. Keep it up, RGT 85.
I think you and I around the same age (I'm 32) and pills seem to be the go-to for our age group in boring towns; glad you got away from that crap
+Random Assault Podcast thank you bud
I've been watching your videos a lot lately and this popped up in my suggested, Glad that video games provided a positive outlet for you and I hope you're doing better than you were back then. Thanks for your content!
great story dude! glad you're here making great video game content for us today! and congrats on 16k hell yeah!
+SquadSeven thank you!
sean, love your channel man. And and I just wanted to tell you, that your story really resonated with me, alot of what you said is exactly how I am and what I do, I've played games since I was a young boy, and I just recently got into retro collecting after joining your channel,and I just gotta say bro, I feel a change coming on. I appreciate you sharing some of your story, my name is Sean to, and i thought it was weird that we share so much in common. keep up the good work Sean!
Of all the games that turned you around, I NEVER would have expected MGS2 would have been the game for you... I would have thought either a wrestling game or a sports game but obviously that passion developed after you turned yourself around. Amazing job RGT. You won at your high school life cuz you were smart enough to see where you were at and what you were doing at the time.
I really appreciate your story. It really hits home with me. I've been watching you for awhile now. And this is a different side of you that I can really connect with. Again thank you for just being a normal guy. I love the channel.
Hey man, big fan. It's refreshing to hear a more human side of you and how it helped you. Hopefully we can get more of these where you tell us about your experiences in life, like first gamIng memory
Video games are truly magical to me. It's really beautiful to see listen to these type of stories where video games saved someone's life.
In my case I suffer from depression and bulimia, I used to self-harm and abuse pills just like you and because of depression I kind of stopped playing video games for a while but recently it got me back in and I feel less depressed.
I’m glad you turned your life around. I’m happy you didn’t die. Thanks for making videos letting us know you’ve struggled in the past. This video could help save someone else’s life.
Super brave of you to share your story. I've been watching your newer videos and it's nice to hear a piece of your story.
I know how you feel even though my story is different than yours. In my Freshman and Sophomore years of High School I battled depression, and if it weren't for my family and friends I more than likely wouldn't be here today. Video Games in general have played a big part in my life up to now, from the Atari 2600/Commodore 64 all the way to the current generation of games. Thankfully for you and I, even though we have had some dark times in our lives, we've come back from them. I think that even though we don't like to talk about it, it helps us to be thankful to still be alive, and for everything that we've accomplished. I turned 32 this year (2017), so it looks like we're close in age. Keep making great videos and have a good day! :)
Video games saved my life too, but in a different way to you. When I was about 9 in school, my teacher tried to humiliate me whenever she could. I still have no idea what her problem was with me, but day in, day out I was getting more and more depressed until it got the point, where I was starting to get these strange thoughts.
I now know when I look back, that I was starting to have suicidal thoughts. All I knew was that "I" had to ignore them. I starting drawing to take my mind of them, but it only helped a little, then at the end of that year, my dad brought my brother a Sega Game Gear for Christmas and he surprised me at Christmas with a Mega Drive as he thought it wouldn't be fair if my brother was the only one to get a Game system. Not only did I now have a form of escapism by playing video games, it also helped me with my hand eye coordination, helped with my dyslexia and introduced me to Video Game music, which is still is my main form of escape when I get a little stressed out.
No I hate how people think that just because you play fps that it influences your life they don’t understand how it keeps people out of trouble and away from bullying
Quake on Dreamcast got me through some rough nights kicking junk back in Hawaii. 80's babys are f@kt up. So many dead friends. Dead before 25. Video games didn't save me though. Krishna Consciousness did. But now being mostly sober (temple/monk life) I am rediscovering myself without drugs and that guy fux with old school games... HARD! Nuff respect on this video. Awesome story. Thanx man
I'm happy you're doing what you're doing. I feel like your videos keep improving too. "Don't stop, belieeeeving" 😈
Really great story Shawn! Awesome to hear how video games have helped you and where they've brought you!
This is great man. This same exact thing happened to me (kinda sorta). I'm a recovering addict, and when I got some stable income after getting a place, I got a switch. And it really got me engrossed in videogames again. And that's where most of my money states going to instead of drugs. And now I use videogames as an outlet, much in the way using drugs provided me an outlet.
Been following your channel about two years now am just seeing this video and its really cool. Its good you have moved on, I must say we kinda have that in common.
Man I respect you 100% for this. This is some real testimony type stuff here man. You probably like saved somebody life who watched this. God bless bro!
So they often say that addiction will take on another form that will also become an addiction, this is how AA stays so popular and so full during meetings. And that’s good as long as the persons staying clean and sober. So I’m going to venture your collection is part of an addiction replacement. And for that I applaud you. Your keeping yourself clean and doing what now is joyful in your life. It will be an everyday struggle and your love for video games might just be an everyday love that will fill that void left from drug abuse. You my friend are a good man for sharing your story. And I wish you continued recovery and continued good health.
Awesome video! Been following RGT for a while, never saw this! Definitely well worth a listen for anyone remotely into games or RGT's content.
I dont know you dude. But Im so glad that you manage to stay alive, I hope you can get a great 2017 ,things like this remind me why I love so much art and video games.
I’ve been watching your videos for months now and just came across this. This is amazing! I can totally relate. I was/am and alcoholic and I quit drinking 7 months ago. I decided to play my PS4 my first days of sobriety. I fell back in love with video games and it helped me to stay busy and not want to drink. I suck at video games drunk so I’d stay sober to play and catch up games I missed over time. So I feel like in a way video games saved me from ruining my life. I honestly think I would be dead or in jail if I didn’t stop. Thanks for the great content and for sharing your truth.
Hey RGT, thanks for the great content. This may sound weird, but I feel like you're one of my friends.
I also had a time where I was doing drugs and not playing video games, thinking I was cool. Now I'm back into gaming, working out, taking care of myself. I'm less social now, but I'm in much better shape. Keep your head up, I'm glad you're doing better also 👍
I'm high rught now :) Gaming never really 'saved' my life, but it has been in my life for as far back has my mind can reach. I had a rough time growing up myself in middle-of-nowhere America, and also had my struggles with alcohol (quit 2 years ago) and cigarettes(quit 3 years ago)...and caffeine(but it's by far the worst, and alive.) Now I just smoke weed, but video games of every shape size have been there for me the entire time and have kept me company and sometimes given me existential insight and encouragement. Has well as being fascinating for an infinite number of other reasons. Thanks for sharing your story!
Video games definitely helped me and are still helping me through difficult times and alongside that youtubers like you and my personal Favorite dashiegames always give me reasons to smile and continue my day, didn’t do drugs but yeah.
Props to you for bringing this topic up in the context you're in. We need to highlight mental issues and abuse a lot more. This coming from a longterm addict and one with generell anxiety disorder, psychosis etc..
I understand completely. I am a hemophiliac, and i have a lot of pain issues. I played a lot of video games growing up, but as i got more addicted to pills like Oxycontin, and eventually slid down to using heroin. I have lost a lot, my brother to drugs, and all my games, my music equipment, etc. But i bought a Nintendo Switch with some of my brother's life insurance money, and i kept playing. I ended up getting help with my issues and i have my pain under control, and I have been keeping myself busy, and things are finally looking up. So i can totally relate. Actually buying a new system to play on Friday. Thanks for sharing.
been watching your channel for around a year now but just found this video, thank you for sharing this. definitely some relatable themes in here. keep up the great work, love your content
I felt the same way about MGS 3 man that game taught me a lot of how people are through the times and how we change perpesctive on things and all that. I know this is a 3 year old video but I felt to leave a comment. Glad you made it out and congratulations on your success.
I recently started following you and I love watching your video games reviews.. thank you for sharing. Stay blessed
I feel ya bro, you're not alone in that type of experience
Great story man. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for watching buddy. I see you closing in on 2K!
I've been stuck there for a few weeks. Probably because I haven't been releasing any big videos lately. lol
I know I’m late to this video but such massive respect for putting this out there. Love you even more dude.
It is funny that MGS2 is the game that sparked your re-engagement with gaming. I did the same thing, stopped gaming through some of highschool and then all of college. Eventually I was with someone who wanted to go to a game store and I went just because we were hanging out. I was definitely not expecting anything for me to come from it. That was when I saw MGS Twin Snakes on the shelf. The only console I had left was a GC which was in my closet and was only rarely used for Mario Kart when friends were over. I played through MGS and that was all I needed to remember what I had forgotten, that I love video games. That was about 4 years ago now, and it has been pretty much full force ever since. Good stuff man, thanks for sharing 👍.
Excellent story! Video games saved my life as well buddy! Thanks for sharing Shawn!:).
+The Guerrilla Gamer thank you bud
Wow Shawn! Crazy story and I'm glad that things got better for you man. Keep making the awesome content and good luck with the upcoming move. Peace!
Video games actually helped me cope with the depression and negativity.
To RGT 85, I'm an autistic man. I grew up in the 1980s and 1990s era, I watched alot of cartoon TV shows and movies, I read comic books and I played video games. I played the NES, SNES and also the DOS PC games.
I have never smoked or drank alcohol or taken illegal drugs and I never really cared for coffee. I go to church almost every week.
I did have some caffeine soda drinks or some fruity tea drinks. But I had junk food addictions growing up and the fast foods like greasy foods was hard on my stomach. I went to school but going to High School was the worst for me usually, the school was too hard, I was exposed to profanity which was a culture shock for me. I was also stressed out by trying to be on time for classes. Thankfully my job training program was a little more forgiving and I now work at Grounds job in the apartment complex.
Anyways I'm impressed with the 2D cartoons and video games now it's 3D CGI cartoons and video games. I admit they do waste my time but I have to learn to give them up to work on my projects like drawing cartoon pictures, making cartoon and stop motion videos, and make video games and make my own music and comic books.
Also video games and cartoons help me because some of my best friends I used to hang out with at their houses are now dead.
10 years clean from the oxy's I can read a person very well Shaun me and you have so much in common. That's what drew me into video games once I had kids even more so... Thanks for sharing Brother.
Thanks for sharing your story. I'm glad you got back into video games when you did and it helped you out of a bad place. I always enjoy your videos on here. Keep up the good work!!
Hey man I’m new to watching your videos. Just started watching the last few months. I’m really glad you found video games again. Just so you know I look forward to watching any new videos you put out each day. So keep up the good work!!!
hey rgt, glad you're still here. that was an inspired story. it was motorcycles that saved me. I will always have at least one,until I pop my clogs. lol 😁 👍 👍
Thanks for sharing. Very brave and happy you're here sharing your story. Glad everything worked out well.
Thanks Shawn. Sharing something like that isn't easy. Posting this took some courage. Good for you, brother!
Been watching you for a year now at least, and this video was just recommended to me
I seriously appreciate the genuineness of this vid
I know your channel is not about that , especially this year I've been watching you
But this is a very sincere, intimate dive into your story, that's awesome to hear as a viewer ❤️
Hope things have continued to be on the upswing
Awesome story bro! Glad you are here making awesome videos.
I can really relate to this, i have allways liked video Games since i was a kid, but like you i Got into drugs and alcohol, i still played Games but they allways came second, and after a few years of partying i was in a really bud alcohol and drug addiction, was doing all kinds of hard drugs, but about 2 years ago i decided to go to rehab and when i Got out i really Got into playing and collecting Games, i think thats a big part of what Made me stay clean and sober, but yeah sure i may spend way to much money and time on Games now, but compared to the life i used to live its not bad
Awesome story. Redemption
i relate with your upbringing in a ton of ways (moving around a lot, introverted personality, etc etc) and i see a lot of what i experienced in you as well, although replacing pills with the occasional bump of coke. i never went anywhere beyond that, no heroin or pills or meth or other craziness, nor will i ever, so, as a result, videogames were a great outlet for my time. all i do now is, every now and again, smoke dank and drink beer when i play my Dreamcast, work and life notwithstanding. thank you for sharing this.
takes a lot of courage to talk about something so personal on suck a public forum! Glad you made it out, and have a happy new Year buddy!
+Alan Thompson (RegularNintendo) you too buddy
glad you're still here and have found something you love doing
I can relate to this topic . I was a bad bad hardcore alcoholic for years and would go out and just get into trouble or hanging at wrong places at wrong times. Gaming made me lay low and stayed home with my wife and kids so yeah ill have some occasional beers late night and stream or something like that but no where near the high scales of madness as I used to do. gaming and my wife both saved me from a dark downward spiral for sho
+Black Metal Gamer it's powerful shit man for sure.
That's crazy man, I used to have a drug addiction problem as well. I'm currently on Suboxone right now tapering off in the last year I tapered down from 6 mg to about 1.75 mg as of today. I'm still slowly decreasing and going to come off of it eventually more sooner than later, I'm thinking hopefully this June. It was great to see this side of you Sean. Peace and love brother
I consider this my non-self destructive hobby .
we all have our faults.
Good story mate, takes guts to admit this kinda stuff online. I started my collecting for a similar reason as well.
Than it lead to a youtube channel. Funny how life works out sometimes.
Very cool of you to share that story. I'll be watching more of your vids from now on. Drawing, gaming, and writing hip-hop lyrics (not gangster rap) pulled me out of a similar situation as yours. The first song I ever wrote was a suicide note. But I just kept writing. Crazy...
+Justin DaRonco glad you came out good from it broski
+RGT 85 Thanks man! I appreciate it.
I don't think I ever saw this video before but wow...I have soo much respect for you!!!!!
You should share this story more, it’s great to hear how you have overcome tough situations.
Thanks for giving a part of yourself to us
"This isn't a typical video for my channel" is becoming a typical intro for your channel X')
Awesome video. I like personal stuff like this. Keep it up!
Thanks for sharing,have a good 2017!
I quit fentanyl and heroin six years ago with games and I never really cared about them until then. So I’m not talking about the acute withdrawal, unfortunately there is no way out of that but to face it, but the post withdrawal. At that point I hadn’t really been able to sleep and it had been months since the last use. Someone told me about the souls games, I went and borrowed bloodborne from the library, put it in my sons PlayStation and have never looked back. I’ve been six years clean this summer. I wish there was some way to let Miyazaki know how much his games have meant to me.
Yo I feel you bro! I just turned my life around two years ago and I'm getting back into video games. Trying to find my old self. Anyways Thanks for putting this up homie
Thanks for sharing Shawn, really enjoying your channel mate and keep up the good work!
I am glad I watched this video. I need to make video games a part of my life. I have been dealing with addiction for years and even now. I will try this out. Pray for me dude. I really want to quit. But it's hard man
Dont give up man, u got this, just take one day at a time!
@@snuggie1849 Thanks man. Your comment really means a lot
Drug addiction is very hard to shake, glad that you were able to sober up.
Great story. I think that we have all done stupid stuff when we were younger that we grow up to regret. My vice was always alcohol and like you, my other activities made me lose interest in video games but they later became an outlet for my boredom once I decided that enough was enough and gave it all up. I don't care what anybody says. Alcohol can be just as destructive as the hardest drug out there. I know multiple people that succumbed to meth, alcohol, or got lead to suicide by the misery that drugs and alcohol will inevitably bring. It takes courage to do what you did and leave behind that lifestyle. I'm proud of you, man.
Time flies, man...
Man, I was in a similar situation as you. Video games man! Saved my fucking life. I was in a suicidal psychosis for a very long time, I got through it with the help of video games. Beautiful.
2020. Bro this vid is AMAZING.
This is nelli from radical reggies channel, I can def relate. Great video man. Your a real one.
+Nick Nelson hey bud! Glad to see you on here. You and Reggie gotta play this upcoming hack from Riggs featured some stupid fuck with a cigarette. Lol
RGT 85 hell yeah you already know mayne! What game is the hack based on?
Middle school is just cigarettes and vodka. High school opens up to cocaine and moonshine. I am glad you went with the ultimate drug of video games.