Ballwin, MO
Ok, I considered posting this in the "Serious" category but it is related to pinball. This is a serious topic for me and I don't mean to use pinside as an emotional dumping ground, but I figured that I don't personally know any of you, so it might be a "safer" space to share.
6 weeks ago I was blindsided by the fact that addiction had been impacting a member of my immediate family. It has been a stressful time, but not a hopeless one. The addict in my family has been attending rehab meetings, and I have been going to Al-anon meetings for myself.
Things could easily be MUCH worse and at every meeting I attend, I meet people that are hurting more and have lost much more than me, so I remain very grateful.
Where this ties into pinball is that I have had several friends tell me I should "get away" and de-stress by going downstairs and playing pinball, or going out to a barcade with friends. I have plunged a couple balls and immediately think to myself "this is stupid. What am I doing? This isn't going to make anything better." etc. I just don't get any joy out of it and don't feel like I care if I ever play another game.
I don't want to make this about me. But I have learned that there are more people that deal with addiction, depression, and mental illness than I ever realized. So lets have a discussion about US. Have life events ever left you feeling like you lost your love for pinball? Did it ever return? Was it ever the same? Did you sell off your collection and regret it? Did you keep a game or two only to later wish you had kept then all?
Once again, I am not looking for non pinball advice regarding my situation, nor do I want to make this about me and my problems.
Sorry if this is too loathsome or dark for this forum, but like I said, these problems seem to be more widespread than we realize.
