When should you pause and step back?
You should pause if play starts affecting your sleep, work, studies, family time, bills, or mood. Stop if you are chasing losses, borrowing money to continue, hiding activity from people close to you, or feeling stressed when you cannot access a game. These are signs that entertainment may no longer be balanced.
Set a clear budget before you start. Use only money you can afford to spend, and never use funds meant for rent, food, transport, school, debt, medicine, or family needs. If the budget is gone, stop. A limit works only when you respect it.