Description

**I’m 26 now, but I spent 12 years of my life (from 11 to 23) inside a screen.**

When I was younger, I didn’t just "play" video games. I lived in them. What started as fun turned into **a real gaming addiction that ruined my life**.

I watched my real life shrink while my digital stats grew. I remember days where I’d pull 12-hour sessions, skipping meals and ignoring texts from friends until they just stopped calling. I lied to my family about what I was doing. I told myself, *"I can stop whenever I want,"* or *"I’ll just play for one hour today."*

But "one hour" always turned into ten.

I spent years trapped in that cycle, trying to "cut back," failing, and feeling the heavy shame of starting over. The hardest realization I ever had was this: **For people like me, moderation is a lie. Nobody is coming to save me, I just need to stop right now, otherwise I’ll still be there in 10 years.**

You can’t "moderately" use something that you’ve rewired your brain to depend on. You have to rebuild your life so you don’t *need* the game to feel whole.

That’s why I built **Lume**.

I didn't want another app that just counts days. I needed something that understood the psychology of why we game. Lume isn't just a tracker; it's the companion I wish I had when I was quitting cold turkey.

**It guides you through a structured recovery journey:**

- **🏆 Sober tracking** that celebrates milestones without shame when you relapse
- **🌱 A Daily Habit System to fill the void:** Quitting gaming leaves a massive hole in your day. Lume helps you plug that hole with real dopamine sources, exercise, reading, socializing, so you aren't just "not gaming," you're building a life you actually like.
- **🧠 A "Learning Center" for your brain:** Bite-sized, science-backed lessons on dopamine, cravings, and sleep, plus real stories from ex-gamers who made it out.
- **🆘 The "Emergency Button":** For that exact moment at 11 PM when the urge hits hard. One tap gives you breathing exercises, immediate distraction, and access to a community that *gets it*.
- **🧑🏼‍🤝🏼‍🧑🏼 A supportive community** where you're never alone, share struggles, get real-time help during cravings, and earn "Helper" badges for supporting others

I spent the last 4 months pouring everything I know about addiction recovery into this.

I’m launching this today for the version of me from a few years ago, and for anyone else who feels stuck in the loop right now.

If you know someone, a brother, a friend, a partner, who is losing themselves to gaming, tell them they aren't alone.

Let's build a real life. 🌅

Would love to hear your thoughts, experiences, or questions below. I'll be here all day answering everything 🙏