I fell into an abyss

Trystan Cook, 37, developed carpal tunnel syndrome, a painful and debilitating arm condition, because he was playing games 12 hours a day while in the grip of a computer game addiction. His problem developed after he finished a job and a relationship ended. “I started playing games when I was about seven years old and continued through my teens and into my twenties,” says Trystan, a chef. “But when I had a bad year it really took over and I was playing virtually every hour of the day. “When you have nothing to do, gaming can fill up the time and then it becomes a crutch and you don’t work towards anything else. It puts your life on pause. I just fell into an abyss.” Trystan realised he needed help after developing the injury in his right arm, and he signed up for a Game Quitters online course that helped him break his addiction. “It was hard because the game is there in the background baying for your attention. It is always there,” he adds. “But they gave me various tactics to do things like build confidence, and that really helped me re-evaluate my life. “Games are fantastic – it is the relationship with the games that is the problem. They have a place and don’t need to be banned, but there should be more work done so that everyone can have a good relationship with games.” Trystan, who runs Hot Pot Spot, a Chinese restaurant in Cardiff, now only has a basic computer in his home and is committed to staying clear of intense games.

The games really took over and I was playing virtually every hour of the day

ADDICT Trystan