Well... I just wanted to get some advice on how to stop being so addicted to the internet. I know the internet is such a good place to chat to people and find out information but I'm on the internet nearly for all day. I have tried to quit going on facebook but I failed. If I go off my laptop I'll be bored and then I would want to go back on the internet again. If I decided to play my guitar I feel like I wouldn't want to play it. Is there any advice on how to stop my internet addiction? Any help will be appreciated. Does anyone know ways how I can stop being addicted?

[madisgram]

hi happy cheeks, what works for me is to develop other things to do-like a hobby, reading, going out with friends, etc. another thing that seems to help is by my not allowing myself to surrender to the urges of addiction. it's not easy but it has helped me a lot. i'm 21 years sober now and in my case with alcohol i had to practice complete abstinence. however other things like internet addiction may be like doing it in moderation. try setting a timer for how long you are online and stick to it. that may help you.

[Miss Laura]

My simpliest answer would be to make arrangements to go out of your house that way you won't have the access. Obviously if your phone has internet useage then what you can do is make sure you have a plan for an activity that your about to do. I have limited my time on here and on the internet in general by watching tv/dvds, reading, socialising etc etc!!

Maybe make a list of things you can do?

It doesn't always work and there will be days you want to sit on here all the time but hey your allowed that!!

Originally Posted by madisgram

hi happy cheeks, what works for me is to develop other things to do-like a hobby, reading, going out with friends, etc. another thing that seems to help is by my not allowing myself to surrender to the urges of addiction. it's not easy but it has helped me a lot. i'm 21 years sober now and in my case with alcohol i had to practice complete abstinence. however other things like internet addiction may be like doing it in moderation. try setting a timer for how long you are online and stick to it. that may help you.

Thank you for your advice

Originally Posted by Miss Laura

My simpliest answer would be to make arrangements to go out of your house that way you won't have the access. Obviously if your phone has internet useage then what you can do is make sure you have a plan for an activity that your about to do. I have limited my time on here and on the internet in general by watching tv/dvds, reading, socialising etc etc!!

Maybe make a list of things you can do?

It doesn't always work and there will be days you want to sit on here all the time but hey your allowed that!!

Yeah I could give that a go. Thanks for your advice

[sugahorse1]

i have internet @ work-always connected. But now my usage is over the top. I'm being monitored and battling to not be in touch. So i use my cellphone. I realise I may be addicted and am taking strain not being able to use it as much.

Originally Posted by sugahorse

i have internet @ work-always connected. But now my usage is over the top. I'm being monitored and battling to not be in touch. So i use my cellphone. I realise I may be addicted and am taking strain not being able to use it as much.

I'm sorry to hear that you might be addicted. Maybe being monitored may help stop you from going on the internet. I'm not good at giving advice. It's annoying being addicted to the internet.

[Martina]

I am online at work. In fact I'm at work while I type this! They DO monitor internet usage and I'm always afraid my boss is going to call me into her office and show me my internet history. Yet I still do it.

My job gets incredibly boring the last 2 weeks of the month and I got sick of constantly begging for more work to do, so I just pretend I'm working to seem useful. If I keep emphasizing the fact that I have no work to do, they may eliminate my position. Yet, spending 8 hours a day online doesn't exactly protect my job!

I've tried using Content Advisor in Internet Explorer to block internet, specifically allowing sites I need for work like Wells Fargo. That worked for a while, until I got so desperate I went home and Googled the way to remove the password to Content Advisor. (I had set the password to something random which I didn't write down, so I wouldn't get back in)

I tried installing a parental control software, but our computers at work are set to not allow any new program installs without an administrator password.

My next option is to admit to my boss that I have a problem, and have my internet privileges completely revoked. But this is very scary. She could fire me for what I've done, and without internet there are certain aspects of my job I could not complete so they would have to re-assign those tasks.

My husband has parental controls set up at home to block specific sites that I've had problems with in the past. But I still surf way too much. Our computer is able to block certain times of the day, but it doesn't have a way to allow a specific time limit per day, like 1 hour of time online in the 24 hour period. I've seen some other parental control packages that do this, but they're more expensive.

[Martina]

Forgot to give you my advice!

It sounds like you're only online at home - right? Do you have a friend or family member that you trust? Find a good parental control software package, install it, and have your friend or family member put in the password. Set the settings to allow you to be online at certain times of the day or for a certain number of hours, and block specific sites that are a problem for you.

[Perna]

Originally Posted by happycheeks

If I go off my laptop I'll be bored and then I would want to go back on the internet again.

Find or create another interest, go volunteer for something or take a class, etc. You are not "addicted" to the internet, you are just not looking for other activities or are on the internet because it is easy. What would you like to do/be/try? Do something that will move you further in that direction.

If you don't want to spend as much time on Facebook, delete all your games and all your "friends" who you do not know in person and send all your friends a message that you are not going to be on very much anymore (that's what I did). I found a health site that was more helpful to me and had the same interaction opportunities as Facebook but about subjects more "useful" to me.

Take an online course from your local community college or university. "Working" online does not feel like you are wasting time as just wandering around, surfing or playing on Facebook can.

[Rose76]

I am becoming over involved with being on-line myself. This is fairly new for me, even though I've had internet access for years. I don't feel I have advice to offer. (I see some very good feedback in the replies above.) My reply here is just to say I think I understand something of what you're feeling. Like you, it just feels to me that this is getting a bit out of hand. In my own case, I think I've started clinging to the internet more out of loneliness than out of boredom. Since becoming unemployed, I feel extremely insecure. On-line interaction feels less intimidating than other means of connecting with other people. Though, I force myself to get out and do other things. But, I do believe that some of the time I spend on-line causes me to neglect responsibilities. I am living alone, which didn't used to seem so awful. Since becoming unemployed I am panicky at home and go on-line to escape that panic. So, it has become a way to try and combat anxiety and feeling isolated and unsupported. I know it is becoming an unhealthy form of escapism because of how much time I am at my desk.