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I may have been addicted to online gaming as a teenager. I would regularly arrive home from school, settle down with my favorite MMORPG or shooter at the time, and play for the remainder of the afternoon and evening. I wouldn't even take a break for dinner, preferring to eat while at the computer. Over the past few years, my interest in gaming has severely waned, to the point where I am not playing for more than a few hours per week. Compare those few hours to around 35-45 as they previously were (the equivalent of a full time job), and you can see how it could have been an addiction.
My schoolwork undoubtedly suffered as a direct result of the imbalance in my life, as did my social relationships and family connections. I had no other hobbies that were anywhere near as significant, so they were kicked to the curb. I developed into an intelligent young man, but without any sort of useful skill set or exploration outside of virtual worlds.
I've changed this over the past few years and will continue to improve myself as an individual. I wasted too much time on what produced nothing of substance, no tangible benefits outside of immediate pleasure.
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