Do you keep your internet usage in check?

EscapeArtist

Well-known member
I like what you said about not fighting it, it's true, because if we fight it with that kind of aggression we lose honoring the need behind the behaviour, and eventually rebel with the original need being even stronger.

I am TOTALLY addicted to the computer (and to music, on the computer) and it sounds like I do everything you do on here, including googling every thought that I get. I don't know if it's because I am looking to form an opinion, but rather I feel like if I google something and people relate by also talking about it on here, I have that support system feeling.

The other day I wondered how one of my friends could spend so much time with people, talking, mainly to my mother who I find to be rather stressful to talk to. Then I realized... Oh, that's right, they don't have a computer to run away to for the same social needs, so they can accept a lot more social contact and learn to live with the things that I've grown uncomfortable with. What else do they have to do? They are pretty much forced to be around people to feel like they're not alone, they are used to the things that my computer addiction has made me extra sensitive to..

I often wonder, if I were to have no electronics (including music), how much more time would I be spending with family, friends, and even strangers? Without the false sense of friendship that the computer, television, and music bring, I would feel so alone that I think I would opt for being around people more than not...! And after the initial pain that "excessive" real human contact would bring (feels like too much energy expenditure, all the insecurities that grow and grow, getting sick of people easily simply because you're not used to being around people much...) eventually there would reach a point where we feel more comfortable around people than away from people.... In the same way that we feel more comfortable with the computer, or music on, than in total silence. Human contact would become our comfort zone rather than the internet. If I could just break through that initial part..
 
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Valhalla

Well-known member
I usually sit at the computer to play games. Before I do that I do my normal Internet routine, and then move on to do "useless" things, internet, music and what not ... Before I know it; the hours have passed and it's starting to get to late to play. Darn it.

But to answer the question; absolutley not. But I don't blame myself really. I know there are a ton of things I could do around the house, do more creative and healthy things. But after that, there isn't much else I can do, and I'm always tired and out of energy. The last week has been some of the most intense computer sessions in a long time. I've been sitting from the moment I wake up, to the moment I go to sleep. Maybe more then 10 hours a day? I don't know. It's hard to motivate myself to do anything else.
 

gustavofring

Well-known member
I can advice you guys to try and break the cycle.

Just throw away your internet cable, burn it. If you have a library nearby go there to do all the necessary stuff on the computer.

It will be a little uncomfortable at first maybe, like with any addiction. But hopefully overcoming it will lift up our self-esteem and make us want to venture out into the world more, be comfortable around people, and do useful things instead of endless days of internet procrastination.

Atleast I hope that's how it will go. I will try and stick to this for a while and see how my progress goes. Maybe it worsens the depression. Can't imagine, but who knows.
 

Agent_Violet

Well-known member
I try to unplug every evening and on weekends.I used to check my phone compulsively and check my email,instant messages,etc.
After realizing i had a problem I started gradually tapering off my usage little by little until I filled my evenings and weekends with other things.

Happier for it and I don't get headaches and blurry eyes anymore;-)
 
Over

No, I don't. I am wayyy too much, probably about 10 hours a day several times a week. I'm not even sure how much I am on exactly, but a lot of the time it's the internet takes up pretty much all of my waking hours. I just need something else to do, and I really don't have anything else to do....
 

bcsr

Well-known member
I'm online quite a bit out of boredom. Not much to do where I live, and most of my friends just want to go drink, which I'm not really fond of. :)
 
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