The Biggest addiction I Had in My Teens

I used to spend entire Winter/Spring/Summer breaks playing this 12 hours a day.

Looking back, the one thing I regret most about my teenage years was playing way too many video games—particularly Counter-Strike. I was hooked. Every single day, seven days a week, I’d spend anywhere from 4 to 8 hours glued to my screen. The game gave me an adrenaline rush, that dopamine hit, and most importantly, it was an escape. It helped me forget about the problems I was dealing with at home.

The truth is, my parents didn’t mind. As long as I was home and occupied, they didn’t have to worry about me. So, I kept playing. And playing. And playing.

Fast-forward to my late 30s and early 40s, and I see just how much time I lost. Now, I find myself trying to make up for it—reading more books, joining social groups, getting involved in different activities, and playing sports. I’m focused on growth in ways I never was back then.

If you’re a teen reading this, let me be clear—there’s nothing wrong with playing video games. But don’t let them take over your life like I did. Explore other things. Develop your mind. Gain knowledge. Build real-life skills. Trust me, when you get to my age, you’ll be so much further ahead if you start balancing your time now.

Take it from someone who learned the hard way—your future self will thank you.