Video game addiction

Well I mean, I've been playing video games from a very young age, and I've had around 5 years (soon 6) of subscription to Xbox live total. While hopping on the mega drive or PlayStation or whatever I had at the time were always at the forefront of my mind whenever I woke up to whenever I got home from school, I never let that get in the way of actually going to school, even if I was a little bastard.

I tried as much as I could to have at least one good friend at school because I wasn't comfortable with loads of people like everyone else was, but even without the internet, I found that going on video games and such was just a way more fun time to me.

I still visit my current consoles (sometimes emulating on mobile), and still don't really get out much unless it's part of my exercise routine or to help the rest of the family with shopping etc...

At the same time though it's weird, when it comes to my overall mental health, this avenue can be both a great sigh of relief to be able to forget about the stresses I face, but I also feel worse because I'm not "doing anything better" or "I'm only just procrastinating on the things I really want to do". Sometimes I wonder if I really even want to get out and do more than just exercise, or if that's just pressure I'm feeling from pretty much nowhere but myself or society. "You have to do this because everyone else does, if you don't, you're a failure" to "what's the point in trying to be someone you're not? You'll only look silly"

It's been a very long time since I actually broke down like you described but that wasn't because of lack of social interaction on xbox as you described, that was due to an induction day, where I felt so out of place, so much like I didn't belong, that I decided to leave, thereby forfeiting that job. Shortly after I got home I felt so bad walking away from what would've been a guaranteed job that I just broke down.
As I said in my update and confession thread I did go to get help on that.

But yeah, I'm addicted to video games even in the worst of times, however I still go to work, still look after my health, and try to hold a conversation with customers I serve when it looks like we have time to talk. The point I'm trying to get across here is unless it affects your life or wellbeing like it currently is, it's not a problem.

Maybe you should vary your activities a bit? Even to just take a walk with music in your headphones helps to clear your head, and while this is something I'm having difficulty with, I think introducing more of your hobbies into your schedule gradually would do you good. If you can, make a varied schedule for yourself and the things you have to do etc, and balance those with things you enjoy.

Oh and sorry for the tangent, when I get going I can talk.

Balance really helps basically, even with the type of people you talk to. I don't know how it is because most people I talk to are guys, although I get along well with girls all the same. Also I'd try not to sleep through the day to pass the time, unless you feel really tired.

Here's some internet trash which very basically explains the concept of balance and doing the thing.

Gaming is an escape for me, I'm not very social and I find it hard to socialise in the first place outside of going to college or the shops,

I would say while there is a case for addiction, I will also argue it being necessary for my own self-preservation at the moment, when I didn't have anything to do, I ended up on a dark and very sad path, that almost ended up with my death.

Gaming has allowed me to build up knowledge, it's helped me read, and help me with morals, as corny and tragic as that sounds, it's true, it's allowed me to become who I am nowadays.

I can stop any time I want! I swear!