Hi my name is Adrienne, and this is my story...a World ofWarcraft/"Intervention" Mashup

"World of Warcraft" and I have had a pretty tumultuous relationship.  Like the best telenovelas, there was passion, drama, cat fights, and people speaking foreign languages (I raided with a guy who I really don't think spoke any English or at least pretended he didn't know any--Orochi, if you're out there--hola, amigo!).  For six years I lived and breathed Azeroth.  Last year I gave it up cold turkey (I'm still waiting for Blizzard to send me my one-year chip).  This is my story (cue "Intervention" style music).

I was first introduced to WoW in 2006.  A family member said "hey, you've got to try this," so I did.  I was hooked from the first time I stepped into that crowded night elf starting zone.  At first, I only played when I felt like I needed it.  To blow off some steam after a stressful day of work or on the weekends.  Then, I started playing even more--I needed it every day.

Casual questing turned into hours of raiding.  I was driven to get as much WoW as I could handle.  When I woke up in the morning my first thoughts would be of WoW.  I would go to work and sneak WoW--well, not exactly the game itself, but forums, videos, and articles.  It was then that I realized I had a problem...

I started skipping out of obligations and making up lies to get more WoW.  But now, I was in deep...I was obligated to log on and raid.  I couldn't quit.  I'd be letting all those people down.  So, rather than acknowledge my problem I let it get worse.  I signed up to raid five days a week or more--I started hanging out with others who were just as deeply entrenched in the culture and who encouraged me to continue.

Things started to decay quickly.  My new friends were very demanding and wanted me to do more WoW with them.  Relationships grew strained and finally I quit.  It felt great to no longer have this hobby that had turned into an obligation in my life.  Unfortunately, I only stayed on the wagon for a short time.  All it took was for me to read an article or talk to someone that was still playing for me to have a deep seated hankering for more WoW.  I renewed my subscription after a year away and the cycle started all over again--"I'm just going to play casually."  "I'll just do a few raids."  I've quit and returned three times.  (Cue crying and desperation ala "Intervention" style drama)

This last time I went back, it was different.  I found that WoW had grown stale for me.  It no longer held the fun that it used to.  I didn't feel like being obligated to play--I didn't want the drama.

Now, picture happy family members exchanging hugs and congratulating me on my achievement.  I've been WoW sober for a year now.  The end.

So if you insert some sort of substance that you would see on "Intervention" for the places that say WoW and change the verbage from being game related...

I'd like to dedicate this post to all the awesome people I met in Azeroth--Gathun, Monkeynuts, Gyna, Grimclaw, Ivalla, Joerock, Rubylynx, Pandamage, and especially my three besties Lindyra, Tannhauser, and Liska.