need something to do

[j00sh]

I never thought my life would consist of video games, drugs, and hookers at 21 years old. I'm on a shitty path right now that's only getting worse. It started as I just played too many games, wasn't much into drugs, I had tried marijuana a couple times and wasn't that into it.

Well I met up with an escort one day, figured losing my virginity might spice up my life a bit, but so far it's been nothing but trouble. I'm hooked on seeing her, I'm trying more and more drugs (in 2 years I've went from clean/sheltered, to trying crack the other day) and every time I try getting away from one habit, another gets worse. If I try not to play games or do drugs and I end up calling the girl. I try to go a month without seeing her and I end up passing the time with more drugs while trying to find a nice time-consuming game. Drugs quickly went from once a month for a bit of fun, to once or twice a weekend because I'm bored/depressed.

I'd love to get a gym membership but with my schedule (long hours at work, night shift) I won't be able to do it without missing a lot of sleep every day, and that's kinda counter-productive if I'm trying to get into shape. I'm not in terrible shape anyways, I do exercise around the house and watch my diet, and I work a physically demanding job. I am pretty in shape I'd say.

I might get a motorcycle license and a bike soon, that could be fun and time-consuming, even though it will hurt my wallet a bit. Don't know how long it will keep me occupied though but maybe I can give up at least one thing for that.

Other than that I really just don't have any interests. I've done nothing but play video games all my life. Sometimes I watch movies or anime instead of playing games, but what's the difference, really? I don't know what to do anymore. This county is so shitty too. Plenty of trashy bars to go to, but drinking brings out the worst in me, that's when my self-destructive, addictive side really shows.

Video games used to be enough, but now I've introduced more vices, and I want to just be done with all of it.

 

[psychedelic food]

Dude i recommend going to a rave and rolling balls type your state then "raves" into google. You will make so many friends and discover a whole new world you didnt even know existed. Your life will change and you will have plenty of things to do. You will lose your virginity too. I used to just play video games too i was obsessed with them for so many years its all i did everyday.

 

[Jabberwocky]

^ lol at googling raves

why not get certified to skydive or scuba dive?

 

[j00sh]

psychedelicfood I did lose my virginity lol, and I'm hoping to stay somewhat sober for a while at least until I get my shit straightened out then I might go back to a once-a-month robotrip like the old days. I'm not against recreational drugs with harm prevention but I let my emotions get fucked up here for a bit and it's causing me to slip with my drug use.

Oh shit scuba diving sounds awesome, thanks for reminding me, hasn't even crossed my mind since I was a kid.

 

[footscrazy]

I swear by running rather than going to the gym. It's cheaper and much easier to fit into a hectic schedule. The things I do when I have time and am feeling motivated are - practice the drums (any instrument you've always wanted to learn?), draw/paint, and write. The last two especially are cheap and easy.

 

[Portillo]

Change your lifestyle. I was inspired by a bodybuilder Bill Pearl, who gets up at like 4 or 5 every morning and heads to the gym. Then he comes home has a shower, breakfast, and goes to work. Goes to sleep nice and early too. BTW hes not young hes in his 50's or 60s by now.

 

[Mehm]

If you have time for video games and call girls, then you have time for the gym. I would recommend yoga over lifting however. It heals and strengthens joints and organs.

 

[theotherside]

Learn to play an instrument, then find friends that play and get a "for fun" band together. Just don't get illusions of stardom.

 

[mrs_mia_wallace]

Dude i recommend going to a rave and rolling balls type your state then "raves" into google. You will make so many friends and discover a whole new world you didnt even know existed. Your life will change and you will have plenty of things to do. You will lose your virginity too. I used to just play video games too i was obsessed with them for so many years its all i did everyday.

Trade one drug scene for another = not great advice

If getting physically fit is important to you, I would suggest getting a gym membership anyway and looking at the classes offered. I know it's difficult to go the gym after working long hours-- I do as well-- but it will honestly give you MORE energy and make you feel MUCH better about yourself. It's a little sad, but at times when I've felt really lonely in my apartment I've gone to the gym just to be around large groups of people and so something productive. Taking classes however is what I would suggest-- it really won't feel so much like a chore because you'll be in a fun and social atmosphere, and it's an easy way to meet people and find other people to work out with outside of class. Also, it gives you a time when you have to go to the gym, so you're less likely to just put off and put off. It might be a bit of a struggle in the beginning, but your body will get used to it and you'll adjust. Unless you're working extremely long shifts or have a job that's physically demanding, I really don't see a scenario where going to the gym for three hours a week could be detrimental to your health.

Other than that, don't know how old you are but have you thought about taking some classes at your community college? I'm not saying decide to begin with any degree, but just taking some easy classes to see what other interests you may have.

 

[VerbalTruist]

Gym, yoga, diving.

Keeping yourself physically active is very important.

It worked for me.

 

[Daught]

Go for the motorcycle. Chances are you will love it, and you will stay sober just so you can go out. It also requires a lot of focus so it is good for clearing your head. You can meet a lot of people on group rides, so check your local boards. On the flip side when winter comes around you could REALLY miss it.

 

[DzNutz]

u are so like me... i changed but it took time.

i used to be a hooker addicted, drug fuelled 21yr old.. in fact i spent my 21st birthday doin both.. and i also lost my virginity to a prostitute when i was 16 in amsterdam..

start just 1 step at a time... and in time u can get out the circle.. im 25 now...

 

[Mystik1]

Listen to Tony Robbins Get the Edge, find your dream, get off your ass and follow it.

We all have vices but it is up to YOU to control the impulses.

 

[Nibiru]

Trade one drug scene for another = not great advice

Raves aren't a drug scene. I know plenty ravers who just smoke herb or don't use drugs at all.

I'm one of them. I eat some mushrooms once in a while but don't use drugs very much at all anymore. I just love electronic music, and will drag my ass to another town just to see a proper live pa or a junglist dj play fresh dubplates. I volunteer to set up and take down at festival-type parties, do harm reduction work and blast trippy visuals through a projector because I like doing it. I wish people would get over the whole thing of rave culture being about drugs, because as long as people think it is, there will always be too much drugs in it and not enough hard-working artists and free-thinking people. Drugs are everywhere, in all sorts of scenes, but a rave scene at the heart isn't a drug scene, it's a music scene and when it is more of a drug scene than anything else, it doesn't go very far, and the parties wind up pretty boring/sketchy/busted.

 

[underground_troll]

why don't you buy a regular ol' peddlin' bicycle? good exercise AND lots of fun! i agree with trying yoga out. since I started doing yoga 3 or so years ago, I find I HAVE to do some poses daily or my body feels out of whack....also, what about reading? taking up some sort of art form? get those creative juices flowin'

 

[mrs_mia_wallace]

Raves aren't a drug scene. I know plenty ravers who just smoke herb or don't use drugs at all.

I'm one of them. I eat some mushrooms once in a while but don't use drugs very much at all anymore. I just love electronic music, and will drag my ass to another town just to see a proper live pa or a junglist dj play fresh dubplates. I volunteer to set up and take down at festival-type parties, do harm reduction work and blast trippy visuals through a projector because I like doing it. I wish people would get over the whole thing of rave culture being about drugs, because as long as people think it is, there will always be too much drugs in it and not enough hard-working artists and free-thinking people. Drugs are everywhere, in all sorts of scenes, but a rave scene at the heart isn't a drug scene, it's a music scene and when it is more of a drug scene than anything else, it doesn't go very far, and the parties wind up pretty boring/sketchy/busted.

I'm not a raver/don't go to raves, and I'm not trying to bust on the rave scene...

But if someone is trying to stop using drugs, I don't see how going to a rave where there are going to be a LOT of drugs there, and LOT of people on them, is a good idea.

 

[An Iz]

Dude you aren't gonna be happy doing what people tell you to do, even if you ask for it.

Instead, look at your life and find something that you've always liked to do.

You say you've always played video games but there must be something. Go look through your family photo albums, find some damn thing-- its probably so little and 'inconsequential' that you don't notice or maybe remember doing it-- but that inconsequentiality actually corresponds to how natural and enjoyable it was for you.

It can take a while to get your mind right and find it, but there are things there. Or you'll find new things. Whatever interests you, keep looking for it.

 

[Nibiru]

I'm not a raver/don't go to raves, and I'm not trying to bust on the rave scene...

But if someone is trying to stop using drugs, I don't see how going to a rave where there are going to be a LOT of drugs there, and LOT of people on them, is a good idea.

Well, getting into music can help for sure, electronic or otherwise. But aside from being totally asocial and playing an instrument at home, getting into music sooner or later is going to put people into a "scene" at some point if they are passionate for it, and there are drugs or liquor in practically all music-loving social circles to some degree, unless we're talking about straight edge punkers or Christian rock (they're high on Jesus!). Really in fighting addiction, sooner or later you have to face it out in the open, and something like Heroin addiction, where the entire culture of heroin is mostly based around getting heroin, being able to get more heroin, scoring some clean piss to be able to pass a test and get methadone while doing heroin, and generally focusing on drugs most of the time is a lot different than a social scene which has drugs floating around it but not central to it. And from what I can put together from the op's post, it seems they need a proper social life as much as they need to get off of drugs. If they can go to shows or parties or whatever where people may be on drugs or drinking, but where there are enough people who won't be that are interesting enough to hang out with sober, then I think that could help.

But yeah, raves could be a little much I guess. I was just defending my culture bracket as a relatively sober party-person who knows a lot of relatively sober party-people.

 

[mrs_mia_wallace]

Well, getting into music can help for sure, electronic or otherwise. But aside from being totally asocial and playing an instrument at home, getting into music sooner or later is going to put people into a "scene" at some point if they are passionate for it, and there are drugs or liquor in practically all music-loving social circles to some degree, unless we're talking about straight edge punkers or Christian rock (they're high on Jesus!). Really in fighting addiction, sooner or later you have to face it out in the open, and something like Heroin addiction, where the entire culture of heroin is mostly based around getting heroin, being able to get more heroin, scoring some clean piss to be able to pass a test and get methadone while doing heroin, and generally focusing on drugs most of the time is a lot different than a social scene which has drugs floating around it but not central to it. And from what I can put together from the op's post, it seems they need a proper social life as much as they need to get off of drugs. If they can go to shows or parties or whatever where people may be on drugs or drinking, but where there are enough people who won't be that are interesting enough to hang out with sober, then I think that could help.

But yeah, raves could be a little much I guess. I was just defending my culture bracket as a relatively sober party-person who knows a lot of relatively sober party-people.

I don't disagree that music and being in a social enviroment would be helpful to the OP-- partially why I suggested going to the gym and taking classes. Maybe I just don't know enough about the true rave culture since I don't think I've been to a rave in a good six years, but what I always hear from my friends is "the colors are so amazing on e... you meet the best people, you will love them... it's so awesome" and they always end up taking E. So it doesn't seem like the best enviroment to make long-lasting connections that aren't related to drugs, but like I said, I don't really have any experience in them, that's just the impression I've gotten.

I would just suggest the OP to try and get into a social scene that just doesn't have anything to do with consuming substances. But realistically in any night-life enviroment those are going to come up.

 

[fizzle]

I'm a little suprised no one has suggested this, but it sounds like you are looking for an overall life change. You're only 21, why not go back to school? There must be something you want to do with your life. If you go to a community college it wouldnt cost you much at all and you could take as many or as few classes as you wanted to. Thats also a good place to find those extra things, like scuba diving, for much cheaper and better quality than you could get anywhere else. I got scuba certified through my school. Classes would give you something to do with all your free time and give you a jump start into a career or whatever you wanted to do with it.