internet & facebook addiction

Hello everyone.

I really didn't know where to post this but here it is...
I think I have to get rid of facebook. There have been times I was heavily addicted to it, to the point where I'd go out for a walk and all I'd see is the facebook News Feed, and all my thoughts were in fb-status form. It was very disconcerting. I managed to cut down and a little while ago I even deactivated it for a month to write my dissertation and it was amazing. Hard, but very liberating. I have also started deleting as many things as I can off it and it's like I'm throwing off a huge weight.

And now...I'm spending again more time on the internet generally than I want to (and it actually makes me feel worse, makes the depression worse, the anxiety, or makes me highly irritable if I'm getting manic) and facebook makes it more difficult to have my laptop on for music and not opening google chrome with its multiple tabs opened at all times. It's become an impulse that I really struggle to control so I've started thinking of doing something radical. The problem is that I'm too scared to delete it completely because I also tend to isolate myself at times and I don't want to annoy others who would have to get out of their way to include me in their facebook centred lives when it comes to organising events - or doing anything at all these days! I'm also moving to a different city soon for a course, which makes it scarier (and yet I dread meeting new people and being asked 'are you on facebook?' To which I'd like to be able to say, 'no, I'm right here in front of you and I have a phone and an email address! - well, not in those words...)

This whole thing just makes me so sad now.....I think I was meant for a less technological era, even though I don't have issues with the technology itself...

Thank you for reading this and I apologise for the rantiness...It's not facebook's or anyone else's fault that I can't put myself in order...

I can understand. I'm addicted too. I barely post, but I feel the need to check facebook to see what is going on. I find myself browsing profiles to see what is up with everyone. I'm addicted to the internet too. It is a blessing and a curse. A curse because it really does depress me the more time that I spend on the internet, but without it, I wouldn't have much human interaction. Sad, I know! I don't have a great solution for you, because I'm dealing with the same problem. Just know that you are not alone! My best bet would be to quit cold turkey...

I'm easily addicted to any online social network I join and therefore need to refrain from joining them. Often I open accounts play on the network and then delete my account. It's the best way I know how to handle the problem. In time I think I'll get tired of opening and closing accounts and just find something else to do. Two years ago I was very addicted but now the thrill is starting to fade.

i am happy that there communities are because I am just living in unfriendly area

Thank you all
Stardusted - I think you're right that it is something that can fade, when I started deleting wall posts, the further back I went, the more posts were there to be deleted! Two years ago there would be a post literally every 5 minutes for hours! Now I have stopped posting and I'm just stuck checking this and that and fretting without knowing what I'm fretting about..Which is why I think now it's something compulsive, no thrill left whatsoever..
Glad to know I'm not the only one being affected in a negative way by this (someone else just said: what's wrong with social networks? just don't go on them, I don't understand!)



p.s. I'd never leave PC though