How can you break a computer addiction?

Question

I know it's ironic asking this on a computer, but I figure I might as well try to solve it now rather than later.
I always spend my time on the internet, and lately this website has been doing most of the damage. I can't just turn it off because I need to use the internet for study and job searching. However I always end up here.
I have acknowledged my addiction and tried taking Dr. Phil's advice but it's not getting any better. Is there anyone out there who can help?

By the way, I have a girlfriend, and friends that I spend a lot of time with. However I don't have a job and they all do, so I end up spending my days wasting it on here when I should be searching for a job!

Answer 1

From personal experience, I start spending more time on the computer when I am dissatisfied with parts of my life, or something is missing...just not quite right.
Like you, I have been spending more time online lately, and I know the reason why, but for the time being it is filling a need. It has happened to me before, but eventually I decide to "quit" and sometimes don't go back to it for weeks or months on a regular basis.

If you do not have enough to do and your friends are busy with jobs, you are probably just filing up time.

Why not make a schedule of things you will do during the day, and make yourself stick to it. That is what usually helps me finally break free of my computer compulsion.
I list things I will do and how much time to spend. I also list time on the computer as part of my day so that I don't feel immediate "withdrawal".
You could list an hour to take the dog for a walk, go for a jog or do other exercise, list chores you can do around the house and then do them, read a book or magazine, write a letter, wash the car, work on another hobby you have. Only after you do all the things on your list do you get to spend time on the computer.

If this fails, why not get a job? You didn't say how old you were but if your friends have jobs, it could be that you subconciously want one also.

Answer 2

Like so many others, I feel your pain. Social networking sites, I am guessing, have made Internet addiction rates skyrocket. Some things that have been useful for me:

1) When I find myself becoming "stuck" on the Internet or computer I FORCE MYSELF to get up and do something else, including homework. I find that once I am into the new task that I can complete it.

2) When you want to work on something else go somewhere else - a coffee house, the library, your basement, or even another room in your house. Change of scenery can increase concentration.

3) It is a sad thing, but when my dorm room had Internet problems and therefore no Internet, I studied a heck of a lot more than I do even now. So, if there is a way to make the Internet inconvienent for you, try it. It is more of an extreme measure, but if the Internet is extremely interfering with your life and responsibilities then it might be a good idea. Turn off Internet access in your home and make it so that you have to go somewhere such as the public library to gain access. It sounds crazy and yes, having the Internet at home is convenient, but people lived without it for so long. Or, at the very least, set guidelines for yourself for when you may use it (start at 20 minutes out of each hour -calcuate it up and you may find how shocking - and time consuming - your actual usage is)

4) Last but not least, take a break for a few days or for a weekend (Friday - Sunday) where you have no Internet access. For most people with this problem that means physically going somewhere or taking a miniature trip or vacation anywhere where there is no Internet. You'll realize you can live without it available 24-7 and the benefits of doing so.

5) Seek professional help if the Internet becomes too intrusive on your life and affects your work, studies, relationships, ect.

Good luck and know that you are not alone!

Answer 3

What you resist persists.
Why do you need to change. Any addiction can be stopped by free will choice, but you have to want to. A chemical addiction is more difficult, but there has to be a reason to quit.
How is this desire to use the computer as a tool and enjoyment causing your life harm. Maybe you don't need to quit.
I am only enabling you here because I have somewhat of an addiction to it myself. But I don't want to stop and I use it to help other with it so I see many good uses for it. No more addicted to it than using a car as a tool. Don't want to give that up either.
Rev. TomCat

Answer 4

I know exactly what you mean, I've been unemployed and done nothing but search the web. You've got to be enthusiastic about looking for a job, I always look at job sites for a a couple of hours a day. You should make Seek your home page. If you are looking for a job where you have to inquire within as they do not advertise, I would suggest putting something over your computer, and moving it to a different room. Maybe you can put a parental lock on this site?

Answer 5

Wow! we are groupmates! My work is telephone and computer- based. I do my work in lap top. At times, my clients are from foreign countries. I've been doing my work for the last 24 years so you can imagine how bored I get at times. I can't get away just to have a break... I may linger. So I just log on Answers to do away my boredom from work.

Yes! we can do away with computer addiction --- but I don't think this is addiction because it's a must for us.

Do something else! That's it.

For me, I just can't... because this means losing income.

Answer 6

I recently did a paper on internet addiciton. Well not to be cheesy but the first step is to relalize it. Using the internet for school and looking for a job is not an addiction.
But if you are constanly surfing, emailing etc etc that can be. Ironically why don't you surf the web and find out about counciling. Internet addiction is real, just like a drug problem.
Recently there have been cases of child neglect and even sucide because of internet addictions.

Answer 7

Get a good virus that will mess your computer up. That's what worked for me a couple years ago. After that, I surfed the internet much more cautiously and realized most of it is boring.

You have to remember that a lot of interactive sites that award points and ratings (like this one) are designed to return users. This is good for selling advertising. Just realize that you are a pawn in a money making game. Don't be a sucker and get addicted - read a book (one of the few untapped markets for advertising)

Answer 8

I think of using the system of doing things that need to be done either, Help family with something, or doing the laundry, anything can be addictive ,alcohol, drugs, gambling, sex, just being a compulsive person, " YOU CAN DO IT ' If you want to really do it no one has the power to help you change anything, no one can do it ,except you , I have faith if you really wan't to stop you can, get mean with it ,don't sell yourself short, have a positive and honest try to do this , Ross

Answer 9

Go cold turkey for one week. In that week you will have found other ways to fill your time.
During the week, exercise, take walks, make plans with friends.
You can go cold turkey over Thanksgiving break. You should not have a lot of studying to do during this time. If you MUST use a computer, go to the library and use it there.

Answer 10

I'm 25 years old, and ive learned from most of my actions.

I managed to get internet after not ever really having internet, excpecially premium roadrunner.

I grew out of it.
I grew board of it.
It took me a very long time since April 2007.
and i still use the internet alot.

Thats mainly cause im me, and I "LOVE" technology.

its not mainly now anymore cause i love the internet, but mainly now because i need intel.

Id like to be very smart, so i use the internet to...

window shop.
research , and research, and research, and research untill i dont have anymore questions for that time being.
MySpace

Mostly Research, lol.
I love to learn about whats hot and whats not.

I love to prove people wrong, or to fix things that are wrong, or not right.