Media addiction?

I don't know if this is media addiction, because I've had access to media all my life but this has never happened before.

Ever since late 2016 I seem to need constant TV or internet or radio as a distraction. I can't even imagine myself getting motivated to go for a long bike ride, or for a swim, anymore. Wherever I go, I use some form of media as a crutch, I think.

2016 was when I was particularly disciplined, I exercised, I meditated, I played my instrument more, etc etc . . . then I let go of that discipline one night,and since then I guess I've been reluctant to do anything. It's almost like I pushed myself too hard, and now I'm paying the consequences. Like I dieted hard, and then I gave up my diet and became obese, to use a weight analogy.

I also might have gotten 'addicted' to media because I had a constantly anxious 2017/18, and I do tend to use TV/internet to distract myself if I am nervous.

Anyone else experienced this?

I suffer from the same problem Yeah, I suppose it may become an issue. There's nothing wrong with using TV and Internet as a distraction, but it becomes problematic when it comes at the expense of everything else...

I’m pretty much the same. I get bored easily and cannot just relax. I can’t just watch a movie or TV show anymore. I need to have my iPad or kindle or phone with me to look at. I completely agree with the dieting analogy you used.

Well it's basically my entire life. But if I didn't have it I would probably just nap more or daydream, or maybe I'd eat more. I suppose it's sensory pleasures which I use to distract myself constantly.

This might not necessarily be a bad thing though. Keep that in mind, do what makes you feel good

Yep. I spend way, way too much time online. For the most part, being online is extremely stressful to me. In fact, it has caused my life to be almost unbearable at times. Today I've been thinking that the best thing for me to do is to shut down my computer so it's not as easy for me to hop online "for a few minutes", only to find that hours have passed. It's not the way I want to spend my time in life.

You say you use media as a distraction. Does this mean it is simply on in the background or are you actually actively sitting down to watch/listen to it? My TV or radio is constantly on more as background noise. I don't feel as lonely as I do when there is nothing but silence happening in my home. Just having voices makes the day a little easier.