The 5 Stages Of Pokémon Go Addiction

I was basically raised on Pokémon. Growing up, I remember one of my first gaming devices was a clear Nintendo Game Boy Color, and one of the first games I ever played was Pokémon Yellow. Since then, Pokémon has grown quite advanced, and it continues to be one of my favorite sources of nostalgia. With the newest addition of Pokémon Go, it's every 90's kid's dream- going out into the world and catching Pokémon in the wild. So it's no secret that I've also fallen prey to the Pokémoncraze, like the rest of the 20 something-year-olds who grew up on the game as well. If you also can't get enough of your favorite childhood game, there's a few stages of addiction you'll fall prey to.

1. The Startup

You've downloaded the app, even though you said you never would. You played it when you were younger, but only kids play Pokémon nowadays, right? Right. You just want to see what the hype is about. No harm, no foul. Not like you know what you're doing anyway. You catch your first starter Pokémon, and put the game away for the day...

2. The Initial Fall

Uh-oh. You stare at your phone in boredom, and eventually, you click on that tempting Pokéball in the corner. The app opens, and while you walk catching multiple Weedle, Rattata, and Pidgey around town, you realize that you're having fun. This is actually kind of enjoyable, going to different Pokéstops and Gyms and seeing what teams you can pick. You walk around for a bit, and tell your friends you've fallen prey to the Pokémon.

3. The Long Walk

And now you have a slight problem. You've been out walking for about 3 hours, and you've caught 30+ Pokémon in that time period, but you're far from done. 4 hours later, you finally are tired enough to go home and look at the treasure you've collected. Hitting multiple Pokéstops cashes out, and you finally pick a team once you reach level 5: Team Instinct, Team Mystic, or Team Valor. You belong, man. (Team Valor for the win!)

4. The Going Out at Night

Now you have a group who's also addicted, so you have a group of people that you go Pokéhunting with. You go out during the day, and at night, you and your group go out to hunt for the best of the best. You know the ins and outs now: how to pick up a Pokéball after throwing it, the best time to use candies to power up and evolve your Pokémon, and how to dominate the gyms. Going pro.

5. The Steep Descent

You sleep and breath Pokémon. Free time? Pokéhunting. Riding in the car? Pokéhunting. Eating at a restaurant? Pokéhunting. You go during the day till 3 at night. Your CP levels are through the roof and you don't care if you look stupid while spinning around in circles or sprinting after Pokémon down the street. You have a posse of your team color and you're basically like a really small gang.

Keep on being the very best, you beautiful Pokémon people!